might
Meaning: Used to express possibility; past tense of may; great power or strength
'Might' is a modal verb expressing possibility, often with less certainty than 'may'. It can also be the past tense of 'may' in reported speech. As a noun, 'might' means great strength or power ('with all his might'). 'Might have' expresses past possibility that didn't happen.
Examples
- It might rain later, so bring an umbrella. 晚些时候可能会下雨,所以带把伞吧。Podría llover más tarde, así que lleva un paraguas.後で雨が降るかもしれないので、傘を持っていってください。나중에 비가 올지도 모르니 우산을 가져가세요.
- I might have left my keys at the office. 我可能把钥匙忘在办公室了。Puede que haya dejado mis llaves en la oficina.鍵をオフィスに置いてきたかもしれません。사무실에 열쇠를 두고 왔을지도 모릅니다.
- They tried with all their might to push the car. 他们用尽全力推那辆车。Intentaron con todas sus fuerzas empujar el coche.彼らは全力で車を押そうとしました。그들은 온 힘을 다해 차를 밀려고 했습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old English 'miht' (noun, meaning 'power') and 'mihte' (verb, past tense of 'may'). Both derive from Proto-Germanic '*mahtiz'. Related to German 'Macht' (power) and 'möchte' (would like). The verb and noun senses share a root of 'ability'.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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