Betekenis van might In het Nederlands

• 0 past simple of the verb may, used especially when reporting what someone has said, thought, asked, etc.:

  • I brought him some sandwiches because I thought he might be hungry.

  • Very politely the little boy asked if he might have another piece of cake (= he said "May I have another piece of cake, please?").

• 1 used to express the possibility that something will happen or be done, or that something is true although not very likely:

  • I might come and visit you next year, if I can save enough money.

  • Don't go any closer - it might be dangerous/it might not be safe.

  • Driving so fast, he might have had a nasty accident (= it could have happened but it did not).

  • The rain might have stopped by now.

• 2 used as a more polite form of may when asking for permission:

  • Might I ask a question?

  • I wonder if I might have a quick look at your newspaper?

• 3 used to make a suggestion or suggest a possibility in a polite way:

  • You might try a little more basil in the sauce next time.

  • I thought you might want to join me for dinner.

• 4 used to suggest, especially angrily, what someone should do to be pleasant, correct, polite, etc.:

  • You might at least try to look like you're enjoying yourself!

  • "I asked my boss over for dinner tonight." "Well, you might have asked me first!"

• 5 used to introduce a statement that is very different from the statement you really want to make, in order to compare the two:

  • The amount you save might be small, but it's still worth doing.

• 6 power, strength, or force:

  • Pizarro defeated the might of the Inca Empire with only a few hundred men.

  • She struggled with all her might to get free.

• 7 past simple of may

• 8 used to express the possibility that something will happen or be done or is true, although it may not be very likely:

  • We might come visit you in Atlanta in the spring.

  • He’s very fast and he might even finish in the top three.

  • The Beach Boys might well have been the most talented act to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival.

• 9 used to make a suggestion or suggest a possibility in a polite way:

  • I thought you might like to join me for dinner.

• 10 used to suggest, esp. angrily, what someone should do to be pleasant or polite:

  • You might at least try to look like you’re enjoying yourself!

• 11 power, strength, or force:

  • She struggled with all her might to lift the rock.