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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

Try as I might

Hi

What exactly is the meaning of the phrase "Try as I might"? Does it mean "However hard I may try"? Also, is it common both in spoken and written English?

Try as I might, I can't solve this question.
Try as she may, she will never reach there on time.

Are may and might interchangeable here?

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

" eg Try as I might, I could not lift the car --- past (complete) Try as I might, I have not lifted the car --- past (recent) Try as I might, I cannot not lift the car --- present or general Try as I might, I can never lift the car --- general Try as I might, I won't be able to lift the car --- future etc To me, 'might' feels stronger than 'may' with 'may' having less sense of it being attempted. d

— Meteorquake

  • " eg Try as I might, I could not lift the car --- past (complete) Try as I might, I have not lifted the car --- past (recent) Try as I might, I cannot not lift the car --- present or general Try as I might, I can never lift the car --- general Try as I might, I won't be able to lift the car --- future etc To me, 'might' feels stronger than 'may' with 'may' having less sense of it being attempted.
  • d
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1 Answers
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Correct; note that its understood tense depends on the tense of the verb that follows, it means "However hard I did try / am trying / can try [etc]..."
eg
Try as I might, I could not lift the car --- past (complete)
Try as I might, I have not lifted the car --- past (recent)
Try as I might, I cannot not lift the car --- present or general
Try as I might, I can never lift the
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