varētu
Might: Varētu
Use varētu, the conditional of varēt, with an infinitive to say that something might be so: Rīt varētu līt (It might rain tomorrow).
How It Works
1. A possibility, not a certainty. Varēt means can. Its conditional varētu turns that into might or could:
- Tas varētu būt taisnība. (That might be true.)
- Rīt varētu līt. (It might rain tomorrow.)
- Autobuss varētu kavēties. (The bus might be late.)
2. Always an infinitive. The second verb is the dictionary form in -t, never a present-tense form: varētu līt, not varētu līst. Other words keep their usual case: Šī grāmata tev varētu patikt (You might like this book) has tev in the dative, as with patīk.
3. Might have. For a guess about something already done, use varētu būt and an -is participle, which agrees with the subject (see past participle agreement): Viņš varētu būt aizmirsis. Viņa varētu būt aizmirsusi. (He or she might have forgotten.)
4. Other jobs of varētu. The same form makes polite requests, Vai jūs varētu man palīdzēt? (Could you help me?), and, with no person, a careful opinion: Varētu teikt, ka ... (One could say that ...). The context shows which meaning is meant.
5. Varētu, varbūt and jābūt. Varbūt (maybe) is an adverb and leaves the verb as it is: Varbūt rīt līs. Jābūt makes a firmer guess: Viņam jābūt mājās (He must be at home).
Examples (6)
- Tas varētu būt taisnība.
That might be true.
Varētu + the infinitive būt: a possibility, not a claim.
- Rīt varētu līt.
It might rain tomorrow.
Līt is the infinitive. Its present form līst (Šodien līst) is not used after varētu.
- Viņš varētu būt aizmirsis.
He might have forgotten.
Varētu būt + aizmirsis makes a guess about the past. For a woman: aizmirsusi.
- Šī grāmata tev varētu patikt.
You might like this book.
The person who likes something stays in the dative: tev.
- Autobuss varētu kavēties.
The bus might be late.
- Tas varētu maksāt ap desmit eiro.
That might cost about ten euros.
Common Mistakes
Using a present-tense verb after varētu.
Tas varētu ir taisnība.Tas varētu būt taisnība.Varētu is always followed by an infinitive. Ir is the present of būt, so use būt.
Confusing līst (it rains) with the infinitive līt. Intended meaning: it might rain tomorrow.
Rīt varētu līst.Rīt varētu līt.Līst is the present form of līt, as in Šodien līst. It is also the infinitive of a different verb, to crawl, so Rīt varētu līst would mean that someone might crawl tomorrow. For rain, use the infinitive līt.
Leaving out būt in a guess about the past.
Viņš varētu aizmirsis.Viņš varētu būt aizmirsis.A past participle needs būt after varētu: varētu būt aizmirsis.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Varētu expresses possibility.
Related Patterns
- gribēt / varēt + InfinitiveWant to and Can
Varēt in the present means can; varētu softens it to might.
Level 1 - laikam / droši vien / varbūtProbably and Maybe
Adverbs such as varbūt express the same uncertainty without changing the verb.
Level 4 - jābūt for a GuessMust Be: Jābūt for a Guess
Jābūt makes a stronger guess than varētu būt.
Level 4 - būtu + -isWould Have
Another way to talk about what did not happen but could have.
Level 4 - es gribētuPolite Wishes: Es Gribētu
Varētu also makes polite requests, like es gribētu: Vai jūs varētu ...?
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice varētu in Bubblegum
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