"might be"

[teleostomi]

1) He might have been forgetful. He didn't even mention it.

2) He might be forgetful. He didn't even mention it.

It is my understanding that the sentence 1) can be interpreted as "I now think that perhaps he was forgetful." Besides 2) means "I now think that possibly he is forgetful." I wonder whether it can also mean "I then thought that he was perhaps forgetful." or not.

In other words, is "he might be forgetful." always interpreted as "perhaps he is forgetful?" Is it possible that it means "I thought he was perhaps forgetful?"

[Rusty]

1) He might have been forgetful. He didn't even mention it.

2) He might be forgetful. He didn't even mention it.

It is my understanding that the sentence 1) can be interpreted as "I now think that perhaps he was forgetful." Besides 2) means "I now think that possibly he is forgetful." I wonder whether it can also mean "I then thought that he was perhaps forgetful." or not.

In other words, is "he might be forgetful." always interpreted as "perhaps he is forgetful?" Is it possible that it means "I thought he was perhaps forgetful?"


1) He might have been forgetful. He didn't even mention it.

2) He might be forgetful. He didn't even mention it.

It is my understanding that the sentence 1) can be interpreted as "I now think that perhaps he was forgetful." (Right).
Besides 2) means "I now think that possibly he is forgetful." (Right).
I wonder whether it can also mean "I then thought that he was perhaps forgetful." or not. (No).

In other words, is "he might be forgetful." always interpreted as "perhaps he is forgetful?" (Yes).
Is it possible that it means "I thought he was perhaps forgetful?" (No. You could say, "I thought that he might be forgetful," meaning that you thought then, that he was perhaps forgetful).