might
modal
noun
maɪt modal
1
POSSIBILITY
可能性
a. if something might happen or might be true, there is a possibility that it may happen or may be true, but you are not at all certain b. used as the past tense of ‘may’ when reporting that someone talked or thought about the possibility of something c. used to say that something was a possibility in the past but did not actually happen 〔表示过去可能会发生但实际没有发生〕
I might be a few minutes late.
我可能会晚到几分钟。
She might not want to come with us.
她可能不想和我们一起去。
He might have missed the train.
他可能错过了火车。
This might well be her last public performance (=it is fairly likely) .
这很可能是她最后一次公开演出了。
One of the guards might easily panic and shoot someone (=it is likely) .
可能会有卫兵惊慌起来开枪打人。
He might be able to help you.
他当时也许能帮你。
I thought they might have gone home.
我想他们可能已经回家了。
She was worried that we might get hurt.
她担心我们可能会受到伤害。
It was terrifying. We might have been killed.
好可怕，我们差点没命了。
2
SUGGESTING
建议
used to suggest politely what someone should do 可以〔用于礼貌地提出建议〕
If you need more information, you might try the Internet.
如果你需要更多的信息，可以试试因特网。
I thought we might go to the new Chinese restaurant on the High Street.
我想我们可以到大街上新开的那家中国餐馆去。
It might be a good idea to put those plants in the shade.
把那些植物放在阴凉处也许是个好主意。
We’re going to a concert. You might like to come with us.
我们要去听音乐会，你也许想和我们一起去吧。
3
ASKING PERMISSION
请求允许
a. used to politely ask for permission to do something b. used when reporting that someone asked for permission to do something 可以〔用于转述某人的请求〕 spoken especially BrE
Might I borrow your pen?
我能借用你的钢笔吗？
I wonder if I might speak to your son.
我想知道我是否可以和你的儿子谈谈。
He asked if he might come in and look around.
他问他是否可以进来看看。
4
SB SHOULD HAVE DONE STH
某人本该做某事
used when you are annoyed because someone has not done something that you think they should do 应该，本该〔表示说话人因某人还没做某事而不满〕
You might at least say thank you.
你至少应该说声谢谢。
They might have cleaned up before they left.
他们应该打扫干净再走的。
5
PAST PURPOSE
过去的目的
used after ‘so that’ or ‘in order that’ to say that someone did something in order to make something else happen or be possible 〔用于 so that 或 in order that 之后，指某人做某事而使另一件事发生或成为可能〕
I asked for names and addresses so that I might pass on details to the police.
我问了姓名和地址以便把详情报告给警察。
6
might I say/ask/add etc
used to politely give more information, ask a question, interrupt etc [口，尤英] 我可否说/问/补充等〔用于礼貌地提供更多信息、提问、插话等〕 spoken especially BrE
Might I ask how old you are?
我能问一下你多大岁数吗？
Might I just say how lovely it is to see everyone here today.
我想说，今天看到大家都在这里，多好啊。
7
I might say/add
used to emphasize what you are saying [口] 我要说的是〔用于强调所说的话〕 spoken
I was, I might say, not surprised.
我要说的是，我并不觉得惊讶。
8
I might have known/guessed etc
used to say that you are not surprised at a situation [口] 我就知道/猜到等〔表示对某种情况不感到吃惊〕 spoken
I might have known it was you!
我就知道是你！
I might have guessed I’d get no sympathy from my family.
我就猜到我家人是不会同情我的。
9
might (just) as well
a. used to suggest that someone should do something, because there is no good reason to do anything else b. used to say that the effect of an action or situation is the same as if it was another one 还不如，倒不如〔用于表示某个行为或情况似与另一个效果相同〕
I suppose we might as well go home.
我想我们还是回家为好。
They might as well have a badge on them saying ‘Steal me’.
他们倒不如别枚徽章，写上“把我偷去吧”。
He might as well have been a million miles away.
他倒不如在千里之外。
10
ALTHOUGH
虽然
used to say that even though something is perhaps true, something different or opposite is also true 虽然，也许〔表示尽管某事或许是事实，但与其不同或相反的事也是事实〕
He might be nearly seventeen but he’s still very immature.
他虽然快 17 岁了，但还很不成熟。
Surprising as it might seem, some tourists actually enjoy the British weather.
也许让人奇怪的是，有些游客竟然喜欢英国的天气。
Although she might understand his beliefs, she could not accept them.
虽然她可能理解他的信仰，但她接受不了。
Try as I might (=although I tried hard) , I couldn’t work out the answer.
虽然我很努力，但我仍然解不出答案。
11
FORMAL QUESTION
正式的问题
used to ask a question in a formal and rather unfriendly way 〔用于正式而不友好的询问〕
And who might you be, young man?
你又是谁呢，年轻人？
12
might well
12. used to say that there is a good reason for a reaction, question, or feeling 有充分理由，足以
‘What do they hope to achieve?’ ‘ You might well ask .’
“他们希望达到什么目标呢？”“问得好。”
a system of which we in Britain might well be envious
足以让我们英国人羡慕的一种制度
This caused a few gasps, as well it might .
这件事引起不少惊讶声，确实是够让人吃惊的。
noun
13 great strength and power 力量; 威力; 权力
two individuals who took on the might of the English legal system
挑战英国法律制度威严的两个人
He swung the axe again with all his might .
他用尽全力再一次抡起斧头。
14
might is right might makes right
; might makes right AmE [美] used to say that powerful people and countries are able to do whatever they want, especially when you disapprove of this 强权就是公理〔含贬义〕 BrE AmE