might
part of speech
modal verb (might — like may, no -s form); noun (might — power, strength)
meaning for a pupil
1) Used to say something is possible but not sure: "It might rain." tree →
2) Past of "may" in reported speech: "She said she might come." tree →
3) Used for polite suggestions or requests: "You might try again." tree →
4) As a noun, great power or strength: "with all his might". tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: As a noun it is the power of God or of a person, as in loving God "with all thy might". Interpretation: The Shema's "with all your might" is read by tradition as loving God with all one's wealth or with all one's strength, even at the cost of one's life. In the primary lessons: In maths, probability words: "might" means possible, not certain (between impossible and certain). In safety: think about what might happen before you act. In stories, "with all his might" shows great effort. Phrases: might as well, might have, with all your might.
examples
- And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!' (Torah GEN.17.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Laban said: 'Behold, would it might be according to thy word.' (Torah GEN.30.34, JPS 1917) tree →
- that Moses and Aaron and his sons might wash their hands and their feet thereat; (Torah EXO.40.31, JPS 1917) tree →
- That they might keep His statutes, and observe His laws. (Writings PSA.105.45, JPS 1917) tree →
- Or who was His counsellor that he might instruct Him? (Prophets ISA.40.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thus might we procure great evil against our own souls.' (Prophets JER.26.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- It might rain later, so take a coat. tree →
- I might go to the park. tree →
- You might be right. tree →
- The ice might be thin, so stay off it. tree →
- We might as well walk. tree →
- He pulled with all his might. tree →
- She might have forgotten. tree →
- A coin might land on heads. tree →
note
"Might" never takes -s and is followed by a plain verb: "she might go". "Might" sounds like "mite" (a tiny bug). In probability, "might" = possible, chance between 0 and 1.
In the corpora
- And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!'
- And Laban said: 'Behold, would it might be according to thy word.'
- And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
- that they might be double beneath, and in like manner they should be complete unto the top thereof unto the first ring.
- that Moses and Aaron and his sons might wash their hands and their feet thereat;
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «might» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.