I think I will VS I think I might

Language English Grammar & Usage
1

Are both of these sentences OK gramatically or not…

  1. I think I will go shopping.
  2. I think I might go shopping.
2

Yes, but with number 1 shopping seems more likely.

3

I couldn’t say though:

I don’t think I might go shopping.

But I could say…

I don’t think I will go shopping.

Correct, yes no?

4

[quote=“TomHill”]I couldn’t say though:

I don’t think I might go shopping.

But I could say…

I don’t think I will go shopping.

Correct, yes no?[/quote]

That’s only because the first sentence uses a pluperfect conditional qualifier as subject precedent, whereas the second uses an affirmative declaratory linking verb as object antecedent.

Hell, I don’t know.

I guess it’s cuz “I might” is not definite; it implies the possibility of might not. On the other hand, “I will” is definite. It means I will and does not imply the possibility of will not. So it doesn’t make sense to put the negative “not” prior to a statement that already includes both possibilities, but it does make sense before the definite statement “I will.”

That’s my theory.