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| MODAL VERB |
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| /maɪt/ |
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| 1 | used for showing possibility
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| | 1a | used for saying that there is a possibility that something is true , or that something will happen , especially when it is not very likely 可能，也许（用于表示某事可能是真的或可能发生，尤指可能性很小） | | You never know what might happen in the future. 你永远无法知道将来可能发生什么事情。 | | I was afraid that someone might recognize me. 我担心有人可能会认出我。 | | Did you say anything that might have upset her? 你说过什么可能使她心烦意乱的话吗？ | | might just (=used when something is difficult or unlikely but possible) We might just get there in time if we hurry. 或许；没准 | |
| | 1b | used when something was possible but did not in fact happen 本来会（指某事可能发生，但事实上并未发生） | | You might have been killed. 你本来可能会丧命的。 | | How different things might have been, if your father had stayed. 如果你父亲留下来了的话，情况就可能大不一样。 | | With a bit more effort we might have won the match. 如果再努力一点，我们也许就赢得比赛了。 | |
| | 1c | used when you imagine what the situation would perhaps have been if something had not happened, although it did in fact happen 也许不会/也许永远不会做某事 | | If I had not discovered Oliver’ s letter, I might never have known. 如果我没有发现奥利弗的信，我也许永远不会知道。 | |
| | 1d | used for saying that something is likely to happen or is likely to be true 很可能 | | We might well have to wait six months before we know the answers. 我们很可能得等上6个月才能知道答案。 | | The crisis might very easily lead to war. 这场危机很可能导致战争。 | |
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| 2 | used for asking for or giving permission
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| | 2a | used for very politely asking permission to do something 可以（用于礼貌地请求允许做某事） | | Might I ask the president a question? 我可以问总统一个问题吗？ | | I wonder if I might use your telephone. 不知道我是否可以用你的电话。 | | John asked if he might accompany me, and I agreed. 约翰问他是否可以陪我，我同意了。 | |
| | 2b | if someone said in the past that you might do something , they gave you permission to do it 可以（允许某人做某事） | | Mr Binks had said that we might borrow his pickup truck. 宾克斯先生说我们可以借用他的轻型货车。 | |
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| 3 | spoken used for suggesting sth
used for making a suggestion 或许（用于提建议） |
| You might like to see what we’ ve done to the garden. 你或许想看看我们把花园怎么样了。 |
| I thought we might have a walk round the town. 我本来想我们或许可以绕镇子走走。 |
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| 4 | spoken used when criticizing sb
used for showing that you are annoyed with someone because they have not done something that they should do 应该（表示恼怒） |
| He might have warned me he was going to be late. 他本该预先通知我他会迟到。 |
| In future you might try to be a little more polite. 以后你应该更礼貌一点。 |
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| 5 | spoken used for showing a purpose
used for saying that someone did something in order to achieve a particular purpose 可以，能（用于说明目的） |
| I refused an invitation so that I might spend Sunday with you. 我回绝了一个邀请，这样我就能和你共度星期天。 |
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| 6 | used for saying how sth seems to you
used for talking about the way in which someone remembers or thinks of a situation 好像，似乎（用于谈论回忆或想起某个情景的方式） |
| I remember that day so clearly, it might have been yesterday. 那一天的情景我记得非常清楚，就好像是发生在昨天一样。 |
| PHRASES |
| - | as you might expect/imagine spoken
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| used for showing that you do not think that something is surprising |
| 如你所料；如你所想 |
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| As you might expect, this top-of-the-range model is not cheap. 如你所料，这种顶级型号不便宜。 |
| As you might imagine, the Conservatives are delighted at Blair’ s embarrassment. 不出所料，保守党对布莱尔的窘境感到幸灾乐祸。 |
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| - | I might have known/guessed spoken
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| used for saying that you are not or should not be surprised at a situation |
| 我早就知道；我早想到 |
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| I might have known he would be late. 我早就知道他会迟到。 |
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| - | I might say/add spoken
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| used for emphasizing a new piece of information |
| 我可以说（用于强调新信息） |
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| I’ ve had an offer – a very generous offer, I might add. 我得到一个报价，可以说是一个非常慷慨大方的报价。 |
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| - | might...but spoken
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| used for saying that although something is perhaps true , this does not change the main fact that you are stating |
| 也许…但是 |
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| Armstrong might not be a brilliant player, but he’ s a good captain. 阿姆斯特朗也许不是个杰出的运动员，但他是个好队长。 |
| This might sound crazy, but I think someone is following me. 这也许听起来荒唐，但我想有人在跟踪我。 |
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| - | might (just) as well informal
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| 1 | used to suggest doing something because you cannot think of anything better to do 倒不如 | We might as well sit down while we’ re waiting. 我们倒不如坐下来等。 | | You might as well enjoy your money while you’ ve got it. 既然你有钱倒不如好好享用。 | |
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| 2 | used for saying that it would not make any difference if you did something else 不妨，不如（用于说明如果做别的事情也没什么不同） | The meeting was a complete waste of time. I might just as well have stayed at home. 这次会议完全是浪费时间，我还是呆在家里算了。 | |
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| - | might well ask/wonder
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| used for saying that it would be reasonable to ask or think something |
| 可能会问；想知道 |
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| You might well wonder why we need all these rules. 你可能想知道我们为什么需要所有这些规则。 |
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| - | try/strive as sb might literary
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| used for saying that although someone tries as hard as they can to do something , they do not succeed |
| 虽然某人尽力 |
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| Try as she might, Gina could not stop the tears. 吉娜虽然已经努力，却不能止住眼泪。 |
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| - | what/who/where etc might...? spoken
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| used for asking someone to tell you something , especially when you think they do not want to tell you |
| 什么/谁/哪里…？（用于要求某人告知某事，尤其是当他们不想告诉的时候） |
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| And where might you be going at this time of night? 你晚上这个时候会上哪儿去？ |
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