might

modal verb

1. （may的过去时，用于间接引语）可能，可以
   used as the past tense of may when reporting what sb has said
   1. He said he might come tomorrow.
      他说他明天可能来。
2. （表示可能性）可能
   used when showing that sth is or was possible
   1. He might get there in time, but I can't be sure.
      他有可能准时到达，但我不敢肯定。
   2. I know Vicky doesn't like the job, but I mightn't find it too bad.
      我知道维基不喜欢这工作，但我也许并不觉得它很差。
   3. The pills might have helped him, if only he'd taken them regularly.
      他当时要是按时服药，也许可以对他有帮助的。
   4. He might say that now (= it is true that he does) , but he can soon change his mind.
      他现在也许会那么说，但他很快就会改变主意。
3. （用于有礼貌地提出建议）可以
   used to make a polite suggestion
   1. You might try calling the help desk.
      你可以试着给服务台打个电话。
   2. I thought we might go to the zoo on Saturday.
      我觉得周六我们可以去动物园。
4. （用于有礼貌地提出请求）可以
   used to ask permission politely
   1. Might I use your phone?
      我可以用一下你的电话吗？
   2. If I might just say something…
      要是叫我说…
5. （用于询问）
   used to ask for information
   1. How might the plans be improved upon?
      这些计划还能怎么改进呢？
   2. And who might she be?
      那么她会是谁呢？
6. （对某人未做某事表示不满）应该
   used to show that you are annoyed about sth that sb could do or could have done
   1. I think you might at least offer to help!
      我认为你至少应该主动提出帮忙吧！
   2. Honestly, you might have told me!
      说实话，你事先应该告诉我呀！
7. （表示不感意外）
   used to say that you are not surprised by sth
   1. I might have guessed it was you!
      我猜就是你！
8. （强调提出了重点）
   used to emphasize that an important point has been made
   1. ‘And where is the money coming from?’ ‘You might well ask!’
      “钱又从哪里来呢？”“你这就问到点子上了！”

noun

1. 强大力量；威力
   great strength, energy or power
   1. America's military might
      美国的军事力量
   2. I pushed the rock with all my might .
      我用尽全力推这块石头。

MODAL USES 情态用法

Might is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. might 为情态动词，与动词原形连用。


1. MODAL 也许;有可能会
   You use might to indicate that something will possibly happen or be true in the future, but you cannot be certain.
   1. Smoking might be banned totally in most buildings...
      绝大多数建筑中可能会全面禁止吸烟。
   2. The two countries might go to war...
      两国有可能交战。
   3. I might well regret it later...
      我很可能以后会对此后悔的。
   4. He said he might not be back until tonight.
      他说他有可能要到今晚才回来。
2. MODAL 或许(是);可能(是)
   You use might to indicate that there is a possibility that something is true, but you cannot be certain.
   1. She and Simon's father had not given up hope that he might be alive...
      她和西蒙的父亲还没有放弃他或许还活着的希望。
   2. You might be right...
      你或许是对的。
   3. They haven't seen each other for five years; he might not be interested in her any more.
      他们已经5年没有见面了。他或许对她不再感兴趣了。
   4. ...a suit that looks as though it might contain polyester.
      一套看上去似乎含有涤纶成分的西装
3. MODAL 可能(会发生或属实)
   You use might to indicate that something could happen or be true in particular circumstances.
   1. America might sell more cars to the islands if they were made with the steering wheel on the right.
      如果制造的汽车方向盘是装在右边的，美国可能会在这些岛屿卖出更多的汽车。
   2. ...the type of person who might appear in a fashion magazine.
      那种可能会登上时装杂志的人
4. MODAL 可能(表示已经发生或过去某件事可能属实，但不确定；有时用于对某事提供一种可能的解释)
   You use might have with a past participle to indicate that it is possible that something hap-pened or was true, or when giving a possible explanation for something.
   1. I heard what might have been an explosion...
      我听见了一声巨响，可能是爆炸声。
   2. She thought the shooting might have been an accident...
      她想这次枪击可能是一次意外。
   3. The equipment needed to clean up the spill might not have arrived yet...
      清理漏油所需要的设备可能还没有送到。
   4. The letters might not have been meant for me at all.
      这些信件可能原本就不是写给我的。
5. MODAL 本来可以；原本可能
   You use might have with a past participle to indicate that something was a possibility in the past, although it did not actually happen.
   1. If she had had to give up riding she might have taken up sailing competitively...
      如果她当时不得不放弃骑自行车的话，她或许就从事她很有优势的帆船运动了。
   2. Had the bomb dropped over a populated area of the city, there might have been a great deal of damage...
      如果炸弹投在了该市人口密集的地区，那损失就大了。
   3. The report might have been better written...
      这份报告本来可以写得更好。
   4. I didn't give my name because if I did I thought you might not have come.
      我没有留下我的名字，因为如果我这么做的话，我想你可能就不会来了。
6. MODAL 可能，也许(表示虽然接受某一事实，但将其与更为重要的方面对比)
   You use might in statements where you are accepting the truth of a situation, but contrasting it with something that is more important.
   1. He might be a bore, but he was as quick-witted as a weasel...
      他也许是个很无聊的人，可是却像黄鼠狼一样机灵。
   2. They might not have two cents to rub together, but at least they have a kind of lifestyle that is different.
      他们也许穷得叮当响，但他们至少拥有一种不同的生活方式。
7. MODAL 应该(强调某人应该做某事，尤指对某人未做某事感到气愤)
   You use might when you are saying emphatically that someone ought to do the thing mentioned, especially when you are annoyed because they have not done it.
   1. And while I'm out you might clean up the kitchen...
      我不在的时候，你打扫一下厨房总该可以吧。
   2. You might have told me that before!
      你之前应该告诉我那件事情！
8. MODAL 可以，不妨(用于委婉提出建议或忠告)
   You use might to make a suggestion or to give advice in a very polite way.
   1. They might be wise to stop advertising on television...
      他们不妨停止在电视上做广告，这样做可能是明智之举。
   2. You might try the gas station down the street...
      你可以到街那头的加油站试试。
   3. You might want to consider cycling...
      你或许可以考虑骑自行车。
   4. I was just wondering if you might like to go feed the cat...
      不知道你是否愿意去喂那只猫。
   5. I thought we might go for a drive on Sunday...
      我想星期天我们可以开车去兜风。
   6. It might be a good idea to tell your husband.
      告诉你的丈夫不失为上策。
9. MODAL 可不可以，能否(用于礼貌地打断别人、提出问题、做出请求或引出接下来要说的话)
   You use might as a polite way of interrupting someone, asking a question, making a request, or introducing what you are going to say next.
   1. Might I make a suggestion?...
      我能否提个建议？
   2. Might I ask what you're doing here?...
      我可不可以问一下，您在这里干什么？
   3. Might I trouble you for a drop more tea?...
      能否麻烦您再添一点茶？
   4. I was wondering if I might talk to you for a moment...
      不知道我能否跟您谈一会。
   5. Might I draw your readers' attention to the dangers in the Government's proposal.
      请各位在阅读时注意一下政府提案中的风险。
10. MODAL （表示接下来的陈述并不令人惊讶）可以，能够(预料)
    You use might in expressions such as as you might expect and as you might imagine in order to indicate that the statement you are making is not surprising.
    1. 'How's Jan?' she asked. — 'Bad. As you might expect.'...
       “简怎么样？”她问道。——“如你所料，情况不好。”
    2. The drivers, as you might imagine, didn't care much for that.
       和想象中的一样，这些司机对此并不太在意。
11. MODAL 我可以这么说(表示强调接下来的陈述)
    You use might in expressions such as I might add and I might say in order to emphasize a statement that you are making.
    1. Relatives ring up constantly, not always for the best motives, I might add...
       亲戚们不断打电话过来，不客气地说，他们并非全都出于最好的动机。
    2. It didn't come as a great surprise to me, I might say.
       可以这么说，这并没有令我大吃一惊。
12. MODAL 我早该知道/我早该猜到(表示对某件令人失望的事情或情况并不吃惊)
    You use might in expressions such as I might have known and I might have guessed to indicate that you are not surprised at a disappointing event or fact.
    1. I might have known I'd find you with some little slut...
       我早该知道你会跟哪个小娼妇在一起。
    2. 'I detest clutter, you know.' — 'I didn't know, but I might have guessed.'
       “我特别厌恶杂乱无章，你是知道的。”——“我可不知道，不过我早该猜到了。”
13. might as well → see: well

NOUN USES 名词用法

1. N-UNCOUNT 权力;力量;能力
   Might is power or strength.
   1. The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
      军事力量可能会成为决定性的因素。
2. PHRASE 全力以赴;竭尽全力
   If you do something with all your might, you do it using all your strength and energy.
   1. She swung the hammer at his head with all her might.
      她使出全身力气抡起榔头砸向他的脑袋。

1. I thought we might go for a drive on Sunday
   我想星期天我们可以开车去兜兜风。
2. Smoking might be banned totally in most buildings
   绝大多数建筑中可能会全面禁止吸烟。
3. The two countries might go to war
   两国有可能交战。
4. I might well regret it later
   我很可能以后会对此后悔的。
5. He said he might not be back until tonight.
   他说他有可能要到今晚才回来。
6. She and Simon's father had not given up hope that he might be alive
   她和西蒙的父亲还没有放弃他或许还活着的希望。
7. You might be right
   你或许是对的。
8. America might sell more cars to the islands if they were made with the steering wheel on the right.
   如果制造的汽车方向盘是装在右边的，美国可能会在这些岛屿卖出更多的汽车。
9. I heard what might have been an explosion
   我听见了一声巨响，可能是爆炸声。
10. She thought the shooting might have been an accident
    她想这次枪击可能是一次意外。
11. The equipment needed to clean up the spill might not have arrived yet
    清理漏油所需要的设备可能还没有送到。
12. If she had had to give up riding she might have taken up sailing competitively
    如果她当时不得不放弃骑自行车的话，她或许就从事她很有优势的帆船运动了。
13. Had the bomb dropped over a populated area of the city, there might have been a great deal of damage
    如果炸弹投在了该市人口密集的地区，那损失就大了。
14. The report might have been better written
    这份报告本来可以写得更好。
15. I didn't give my name because if I did I thought you might not have come.
    我没有留下我的名字，因为如果我这么做的话，我想你可能就不会来了。
16. He might be a bore, but he was as quick-witted as a weasel
    他也许是个很无聊的人，可是却像黄鼠狼一样机灵。
17. They might not have two cents to rub together, but at least they have a kind of lifestyle that is different.
    他们也许穷得叮当响，但他们至少拥有一种不同的生活方式。
18. And while I'm out you might clean up the kitchen
    我不在的时候，你打扫一下厨房总该可以吧。
19. You might have told me that before!
    你之前应该告诉我那件事情！
20. They might be wise to stop advertising on television
    他们不妨停止在电视上做广告，这样做可能是明智之举。
21. You might try the gas station down the street
    你可以到街那头的加油站试试。
22. You might want to consider cycling
    你或许可以考虑骑自行车。
23. I was just wondering if you might like to go feed the cat
    不知道你是否愿意去喂那只猫。
24. Might I make a suggestion?
    我能否提个建议？
25. 'How's Jan?' she asked. — 'Bad. As you might expect.'
    “简怎么样？”她问道。——“如你所料，情况不好。”
26. Relatives ring up constantly, not always for the best motives, I might add
    亲戚们不断打电话过来，不客气地说，他们并非全都出于最好的动机。
27. I might have known I'd find you with some little slut
    我早该知道你会跟哪个小娼妇在一起。
28. The might of the army could prove a decisive factor.
    军事力量可能会成为决定性的因素。
29. She swung the hammer at his head with all her might.
    她使出全身力气抡起榔头砸向他的脑袋。

n.

might is right

• 强权即公理
  having the power to do sth gives you the right to do it
  1. Their foreign policy is based on the principle that ‘might is right’.
     他们的外交政策遵循“强权即公理”的原则。

noun

1. physical strength

   Synonym:    mightinesspower