---
title: might — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «might» in the school dictionary: Used to say something is possible but not sure. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# might

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, She, You, I, ice, We · **What happens:** use, say, be, not be, report, come · **To what, where:** coat, park, heads · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«might» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [might in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/might.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used to say something is possible but not sure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m1:1
# text = Used to say something is possible but not sure.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | possible *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It might rain."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m1e:1
# text = "It might rain."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Past of "may" in reported speech.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m2:1
# text = Past of "may" in reported speech.
1	Past	past	ADP	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	reported	report	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"She said she might come."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m2e:1
# text = "She said she might come."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come** *in a quote* | might | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used for polite suggestions or requests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m3:1
# text = Used for polite suggestions or requests.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	suggestions	suggestion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	requests	request	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for polite suggestions or requests | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You might try again."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m3e:1
# text = "You might try again."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** *in a quote* | might | You |  |  |  | again |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a noun, great power or strength.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m4:1
# text = As a noun, great power or strength.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"with all his might".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:m4e:1
# text = "with all his might".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	5	det:predet	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It might rain later, so take a coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x1:1
# text = It might rain later, so take a coat.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | infinitive |  | a coat |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I might go to the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x2:1
# text = I might go to the park.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | might | I |  |  | the park |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to park=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You might be right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x3:1
# text = You might be right.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | might | You |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ice might be thin, so stay off it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x4:1
# text = The ice might be thin, so stay off it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | might | the ice |  |  |  |  | thin *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | off ice | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We might as well walk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x5:1
# text = We might as well walk.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	as	as	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	5	cc	_	_
4	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	fixed	_	_
5	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | might | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He pulled with all his might.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x6:1
# text = He pulled with all his might.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She might have forgotten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x7:1
# text = She might have forgotten.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	forgotten	forget	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** | might · perfect | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A coin might land on heads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:might:x8:1
# text = A coin might land on heads.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	land	land	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **land** | might | a coin |  |  | heads |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme on head=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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