might could
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
In many Germanic languages and dialects modals can be stacked to combine their meanings; compare Scots micht cud.
Verb[edit]
- (double modal / stacked modal, used in some dialects, chiefly Southern US) might be able to (used to soften "could" or make it even more conditional)
- 1972-1991, Cyrus Colter, The Rivers of Eros →ISBN, page 133 [1]:
- "Grammaw, Mr. Hammer said today you know things you won't talk about. That if he knew more about what's goin' on he might could go to the police, or to a lawyer, and maybe have Dunreith Smith arrested again."
- 2002-3, Michael Johnston, In the Deep Heart's Core →ISBN, page 172 [2]:
- "He might could go there anyway and stay on academic probation for a year and then start running, but they won't accept him if he don't have a high school diploma."
- 1972-1991, Cyrus Colter, The Rivers of Eros →ISBN, page 133 [1]:
Usage notes[edit]
The conjugation (with the full verb "go", for example) is:
- I might could go.
- You might could go, John.
- She might could go.
- We might could go.
- Y'all might could go. / Both of you might could go.
- They might could go.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Nagle, Stephen J. (1994) “The English Double Modal Conspiracy”, in Diachronica, volume 11, number 2, Coastal Carolina University: John Benjamins Publishing Company, →ISSN, pages 199-212