情态动词的用法总结

情态动词的用法总结

情态动词的用法总结 篇1

那到底为什么叫情态呢?这个两个字啊也不好理解。这里我说一下，情态这里其实它的意思是语气，也就是语气助动词是更好的名称。那情态动词表达的是语气，比如说我们有一个情态动词很常见，叫should你应该做某事，you should do that。这就叫强硬的语气。

再比如说 would you go with me?试探性的.问，唉你可以跟我一起走吗?would you go with me?这个时候呢特别害怕别人说啊我不跟你走。would you go with me，这就是一种试探性的语气。

再比如说 could you speak English?这个could you就比这个can you要更加的礼貌，所以同样有一个礼貌的语气。再比如说它还有虚拟语气在里面，比如说I could have been a better student，could have done这里的could就表达的是一种虚拟语气，我本来就可以成为一个更好的学生，这里用的是could。好，总结一下情态动词表语气，它并不是动词，它是助动词，一定要用在动词之前协助着一起成为谓语。它更好的名称呢叫做语气助动词。这就好理解了。又表语气又是助动词，所以情态动词呢更好的说法叫语气助动词。

那接下来，我们重点看一下can到底怎么理解。can呢表示能够嘛，那一定是接动词，因为can是助动词，刚才讲了那一定是接动词，can do一定是动词原形。因为这里涉及到一个助动词的规则，就是但凡出现助动词的话，我任何变形式都变的是助动词，不能再变动词，那这个时候谓语动词就只能用动词原形。

情态动词的用法总结 篇2

2.没有人称和数的变化。

3.不能单独作谓语, 具有助动词的作用。

一、can, could的用法

1.表示能力, 意为“能, 会”。

eg.He can sing, but he can’t dance.

-Could you swim last year?

-Yes, I could.

2.在表示请求中, could不表示过去时, 而只是语气比can要委婉, 但在回答中不用could。

eg.-Could you help me?

-Yes, I can./No, I can’t.

3.表示推测, 常用于否定句和疑问句中。can和could不表示时态, could仅仅表示比can的可能性小, 时态通过结构表示, 后跟动词原形表示对现在或将来的推测。后跟have done表示对过去的推测。

eg.He can’t be at home today.

He can’t have stayed at home yesterday.

二、may的用法。

1.表示请求, 许可, 意为“可以”。

eg.May I borrow your book?

(在否定回答时, 一般用can’t或mustn’t, 不用may not。意为“不可以, 不准”。

eg.May I come in?

No, you can’t.

May I smoke here.

No, you mustn’t.

2.表示推测, 意为“可能, 也许”, 一般用于肯定句。用于否定句时意为“可能不”。

eg.He may come tomorrow.

3.maybe, may be, perhaps的用法。

maybe, perhaps放在句首, 为副词, may be放在句中, 是情态动词加be动词。

eg.Maybe/Perhaps he is at home.

He may be at home.

can和may都可用于征求意见或语序, 意为“可以”, 一般可以互换使用。may的语气比can委婉。

三、must的用法

1.表示“必须、应该”;否定回答一般用needn’t。

-Must I finish my homework now?

-No, you needn’t.needn't=don’t have to

2.must表示推测, 用于肯定句。

eg.Jack’s name is on the book, so it must be his.

3.must和have to的区别。must强调主观意愿, have to强调客观因素导致不得不去做的。

eg.“You must finish your homework at home.”The teacher says.

It rained outside heavily, so we have to stay at home.

四、need的用法

1.need sth.需要……

2.need to do需要做

3.need do需要做

前三个情况need是实意动词, 有人称和数的变化。第四种情况need为情态动词, 后面跟动词原型, 没有人称和数的变化。当need是情态动词时, 句子一般为否定句和疑问句。

eg.He needs to go to school. (实意动词)

He needn’t go to school today. (情态动词)

五、be able to

be able to和can表示能力时用法相同。但在时态上, can没有将来时和完成时的结构, be able to可用于任何时态。

eg.Jim couldn’t swim last year, but he can swim now.

We will be able to come back next week.

随堂练习:

1.Is he watching TV in the room?

No, he______be watching TV.The TV in the room broke down last night.

A.may not B.needn’t C.can’t D.mustn’t

2.Must I clean the floor now, Mom?

______

A.No, you mustn’t.B.No, you needn’t.C.No, you can’t.

3.Whose exam paper is it?

It______be Li Lei’s.He always forgets to write his name on it.

A.can’t B.mustn’t C.must D.needn’t

4.She______ buy some books.

A.need B.need to C.needs D.needs to

5.I have not got enough money to buy the computer, so I______buy it next month.

A.must B.have to C.can D.may

情态动词的“推测”用法 篇3

英文的情态动词（Modal Auxiliary Verbs）主要有十个：can/could, may/might, will/would, shall/should, must和ought to。情态动词是用在实义动词前面，以增添某种意思。比如我们来比较下列句子用与不用情态动词的差别：

1) John isn’t in class. He is sick.

约翰今天没上课，他病了。

2) John isn’t in class. He must be sick.

约翰今天没上课，他一定是病了。

1)句没有使用情态动词，只用了一般现在时态is，表达的是一个客观陈述。2)句用了情态动词must，则表示说话人的主观猜测。所以，我们看到，因为有了must，使2)句比1)句带有更多的主观色彩，意思有所不同了。我们再看看下列3)句：

3) I must go to school today.

今天我得上学去。

比较2)句和3)句，我们发现两句中的同一个情态动词must意思是不一样的：2)句中的must表示推测，而3)句中的must表示“必须”。

有时，甚至同一个句子也可能因为不同的语境，句中情态动词有不同的含义，比如：

4) He must drink a lot of milk.

这句话如果出自一个医生之口，我们显然就会把它理解成是医生对病人的一个忠告，这时我们就把这句话理解为“他得多喝牛奶”，言外之意，说明喝牛奶对他的健康是有好处的。因此，此时must表示的是“必须”之意。我们再想象这句话可能出现的另一个场景，比如有一天在商店里我看到一个人买了很多牛奶，这时我可做出推断说“He must drink a lot of milk.”显然我要说的是“他准是爱喝很多牛奶”。因此，此时must表示的是“推测”之意。

推测现在

尽管情态动词意思众多，但它们有一个共性用法——表示推测，即英文中除了shall之外其它9个情态动词都可以表示推测，也就是表示说话人对某件事情发生的可能性大小做出判断。我们来看下面这篇短文，讲到了上网可能使人消沉：

5) Internet may cause depression. Internet use may cause a decline in psychological well-being, according to research at Carnegie Mellon University. The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in well-being, researchers hypothesized. Faceless, bodiless “virtual” communication may be less psychologically satisfying than actual conversation, and the relationships formed through it may be shallower. Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives.

（上网可能会使人消沉。卡耐基·梅隆大学的一项研究表明，上网可能会引起心理健康水平下降。研究人员认为，经常泡在网络上必然会减少与家人朋友相处的时间，从而导致心理健康水平下降。那种看不见、摸不着的虚拟网上交流给人们带来的心理满意度可能会低于现实中的面对面交流，而网络上的交往也可能较为肤浅。另外一个原因可能是，上网者通过网络所接触到的世界比真实世界要大得多，这可能会使他们对自己的现实生活感到不满意。）

我们看到上文突现部分中的may，并不是大家所熟悉的表示“允许、可以”之意，而是表示某种程度的推测。在英文中，对现在或当前情况的推测，我们可以用“情态动词＋动词原形”这一结构，当然不同用词表明说话人对某件事的确信程度不同，下列我给出一个肯定程度的差别比较：

6) A: Why isn’t John in class?

B: He is sick.

100%肯定，客观事实的陈述。

B: He must be sick.

90％肯定，很有把握的陈述。

B: He may be sick.

50％肯定，不太有把握的陈述。

B: He could/might be sick.

25％肯定，很没有把握的陈述，只是提供一种可能。

当然，以上数字不是绝对的，只是为了让大家比较直观地了解不同情态动词所表达的确定程度的差别而已。比如，用must肯定要比用could或might表示说话人的把握要大得多。用could或might，说话人只是为约翰没来上学提供一种解释而已，他的言外之意会是：

He might be sick. I don’t really know. He could be at home watching TV. He might be at the library. He could be out of town.（他有可能病了，但我真的不肯定，也有可能在家看电视，也有可能在图书馆，还有可能出门了。）所以，这里到底用什么词，比如是must还是might或是may，完全取决于说话人当时的确信程度。

我记得以前在大学的English Corner上，为了让我们这些“哑巴”学生张口说句英文，外教可是想尽了各种办法。其中一个绝招就是带我们做各种游戏，这样我们可以一边做游戏一边用英语讨论、交流，从而也练习了口语。有一个游戏是这样的，就是让小组里一位同学在脑子里想一个常见或常用的物品，然后其他组员去猜。但猜的时候，要用一般疑问句对这个东西的性质特征进行发问，比如“Is it white?”，而不能问“Is it white or black?”这样的选择问句，也不能问“What color is it?”这样的特殊问句，因为对方只能回答“Yes / No”。我们就这样一边发挥想象，一边围绕它的特征一点点追问，这样逐渐把思考的范围缩小，最终才能猜到答案。比如，一个同学提示说到：

7) A: I am thinking of something made of metal that you can find in my pocket.

A: 我在想的东西是金属做的，你可以在我口袋里找到的。

然后围绕这个线索，其他同学就跟着猜。但也有同学因为不知道规则，一上来就七嘴八舌地这样猜起来：

B: It could be a pen. (可能是笔。)

C: It could be some keys. (可能是钥匙。)

D: It might be a paper clip. (可能是曲别针。)

E: It may be a small pocket-knife. (可能是小刀。)

F: It could be a coin. (可能是硬币。)

……

因为就这样漫无目的地瞎猜，所以在这样场合用must这个极为确信的词就不合适了。当然这样直接猜是违反游戏规则的。不过，我们也就因此学会了情态动词的推测用法。

再比如在《老友记》(Friends)里，有一场戏里Chandler正在搞网恋，在网上认识一个女孩，两人感情急剧升温。这时Phoebe却给他泼冷水，提醒Chandler不要当真，因为对方可能是一个90岁的老人，或者是一个双头怪物，甚至是一个男人也说不定。

8) Phoebe: Are you the cutest?

Chandler: I’m afraid I might just be.

Phoebe: You know, what I think is so great that you are totally into this person and yet for all you know she could be like 90 years old, or have two heads, or it could be a guy.

Chandler: Okay, it’s not a guy, all right, I know her.

Phoebe: It could be like a big giant guy.（对方可能是一个彪形大汉。）

当然，Phoebe在这里只是故意打击Chandler而已，因此这里她的推测纯属胡诌，不足为信，因而她也就选用了肯定程度最低的一词could，而没有用may甚至must。

否定推测

我们也可以对当前的情况做一个否定的推测，比如：

9) A: The restaurant is always empty.

B: It isn’t good.

100%肯定，客观事实的陈述。

It can’t/couldn’t be good.

90％肯定，很有把握的陈述。

It may not be good.

50％肯定，不太有把握的陈述。

It might not be good.

25％肯定，很没有把握的陈述，只是提供一种可能。

纵观以上阐述，我们发现以下四点是值得读者注意的：

A．在否定推测中，没有must，因为must表示推测一般只用在肯定句中，否定的mustn’t常用于表示命令别人不要做什么，译为“千万别”。

B．与must相反，can表示推测不能用在肯定句中，只用在否定句和疑问句中。因此，must不能在否定句表示推测这一空白正好由can’t来填补，也就是说表示推测的must，否定时要改为can’t，而不是mustn’t。比如：

You must be joking. You can’t be serious.

你准是在开玩笑，你不可能当真吧。

C．在肯定推测时could肯定程度很小，但在否定推测时，couldn’t则表示十分确信，译为“不可能”。

D．Could，might虽然是过去形式，但在这里并不是表示过去推测，而是表示现在推测。

对现在的推测，我们常用的情态动词就是must/may/might/could，在否定句中还有can’t（来替换must）。不过will和should也可以用来对现在的推测，肯定程度等同于must。比如：

10) Ring his home number. He誰l be at home now.

给他家打电话吧，他现在会在家。

用will，表示“我肯定他在家”，相当于：He must be at home now.

11) A: Someone is knocking at the door.

B: That誰l be the postman.

A: 有人在敲门。

B: 准是邮递员。

12) A: This should be the 5th Street up here.

B: It’s not. I think you should have turned left at the last intersection.

A: 这儿应该就是第五大街了。

B: 不是。你应该在上个十字路口左转。

前面提过，每个情态动词都有很多意思，而不同意思就有不同的用法。所以，情态动词用法和词义变化多端、纷繁复杂，因此也是更让我们中国学生“摸不着头脑”的一种英语谓语变化形式。这也可以理解，因为情态动词即是说话人微妙心态变化的反映，native speakers就是通过运用各种功能强大的情态动词以极其微妙的方式来“言传心声”的。我们本期所讨论的情态动词的推测用法是很常用的，读者朋友关键是要掌握不同用词所表达的不同肯定程度，并注意此时的might/could并不表示过去的行为，而是表示发生可能性较小的推测。

思维训练

读者朋友可以仿照所给的例子，针对下列情景做出推测：

例子：

A: I am thinking of something made of metal that you can find in my pocket. What could it be?

B: It could be a pen. It could be some keys. It might be a paper clip. It may be a small pocket-knife. It could be a coin.

A: I was thinking of the keys in my pocket.

1. Something has four legs and is found on a farm.

2. Something is sweet and you can eat it.

3. Something you can play on a large field.

4. Something that has wheels.

读者朋友若对本文有什么疑问或感想，或是在学习过程中遇到任何语法难题，请e-mail到：clintzhang36@163.com。我们将请作者回复，并选取问题刊登。一经选用，我们将免费为您寄送《新东方英语》杂志一本，所以请在来信或邮件中写明通信地址。

回音壁

读者王金花来信：

张老师：

您好！我是一名大三的学生，结识贵刊已经一年多了，非常喜欢它。尤其是这个栏目，帮助广大的英语学习者答疑解难，是学习的好帮手，它在读者与您之间架起一座桥梁。

我有一些问题想请教您，下面两个句子怎么翻译：

(1). I do not teach because teaching is easy.

我认为应该译为：我不教书因为教书容易。可是却译为：我选择教书并非因为教书容易。

(2). The poetry is very realistic. I do not care for it very much.

我觉得应译为：这首诗是写实的，我很不喜欢。而答案却是：这首诗是写实的，我不太喜欢。这是为什么呢？这里有什么语法问题吗？望您赐教！谢谢您！

张满胜回复：

王金花同学：

你好。感谢你的来信及所提出的问题。我先来回答你的第一个问题。你所给的这个英文句子“I do not teach because teaching is easy”在没有上下文的情况下是有歧义的，也就是说该句可以有两种翻译：“我不教书因为教书对我来说太容易”和“我选择教书并非因为教书容易”。比如我可以就这两种翻译分别给出以下不同的语境。

1）I do not teach because teaching is easy for me. I want to do something more challenging.

我不教书因为教书对我来说太容易，我想做一些更有挑战性的工作。

2）Certainly I do not teach because teaching is easy for me. Teaching is the most difficult job in the various ways. Nor do I teach because I think I know answers, or because I have knowledge I feel compelled to share.

我选择教书，并不是因为教书对我来说很容易，相反我选择教书的工作在许多方面是最难的。也并不是因为认为自己学识渊博因而想要急切去炫耀。

显然，对于上述句1）的译文，我们应该比较好理解，因为这正好就是英文的字面意思。句2）的译文则较难，因为它涉及到英文里一个重要的语言现象——否定转移，即句2）中的否定词not虽然还是跟在do后边，但不是否定teach，而是否定because从句中的形容词easy，也就是说not easy，这就是所谓的否定转移。由此可见，because的否定句会有歧义的——not既可以否定主句谓语，也可以否定从句谓语。具体要看上下文。但对于某些句子，只能有一种理解，比如：

3） I don’t study English just because I like to.

这句话显然不能理解成：我不学英文，就是因为我喜欢它。而只能翻译为：我学英文并不是因为我喜欢英文（而是因为其他原因，比如工作需要）。也就是说这里也是发生了否定转移，not否定的是like。这种否定转移在口语中，说话人一定会重读被否定的词，如easy和like。由此，这种否定转移并不仅限于because从句中，在简单陈述句中也会出现，此时被否定的词不一定是句子谓语，而是句中其它被重读的词，比如：

4） I didn’t spend three hours repairing your vacuum so it could sit in the closet.

我花了3小时把吸尘器修理好并不是为了把它放在储藏室不用。

此句sit重读，即被否定，所以not不是否定spend，不能译成“我没有花3个小时”。

5）He won’t go to just any school.

此句中any重读，即表明它被否定，所以原句意思不是说他不愿上学，而是强调他并不是随随便便上一个学校就算了，而是对上什么学校是很挑剔的。英文里这种否定转移的思维习惯是我们中国学生很不熟悉的，所以要特别留心。

至于第二个问题则较简单，这里not否定very much，一般译为“不是非常”，如果是强调否定，我们就会说成not at all或not in the least这种形式。

祝学习进步！

中考英语：情态动词的特殊用法 篇4

1. 表示意愿will 表示现在的意愿，would表示过去的意愿。

如：

Go where you will

你愿到哪里就到哪里。

2. 表示征求意见或提出请求

主要用于第二人称的疑问句中，will和would均可用，would此时并不表过去，而表示委婉语气.

Would Sunday night suit you?

星期天晚上适合你吗?

would有时用于提出想法，通常与like, love, hate, prefer, be glad, be happy等连用，若用于第一人称有时也可将would换成should：

如：

I’d like [love] to have a look at it.

我想看看它。

I would prefer not to go out today.

我今天不想出去。

3. 表示习惯和倾向性

will表示现在的习惯，would表示过去的习惯。

如：

Oil will float on water.

油总是浮在水上。

This window won’t open.

这扇窗户经常打不开。

When he was a child, he would often go skiing.

他小时候经常去滑雪。

4.will 还可表示许诺、指示、叮嘱等，而would还可用于评论某一特定的行为等。

如：

You will do as I told you.

你得照我说的去做。

That’s just what he would say.

他就是爱那样讲话。

You would never do anything to hurt me.

你绝不会做伤害我的事的。

情态动词may(might)

might的特殊用法为表示责备，如

You might ask before borrow my book.

在借我书之前本可以说一声嘛!

用于固定习语

如：You may as well give him the letter.

你还是把信给他为好。

I might as well stay at home tonight.

我今晚还是待在家里吧。

情态动词shall和should

1. Shall用于第一人称，表示征求对方的意愿。

如：

What shall we do this evening?

我们今天晚上做什么呢?

2. Shall用于第一、第三人称疑问句中,表示说话人征求对方的意见或向对方请示.如：

Shall we begin our lesson?

我们可以开始学习了吗?

When shall he be able to leave the hospital?

他什么时候才可以出院呢?

3. Shall用于第二、第三人称，表示说话人给对方命令、警告、允诺或威胁。

如：

You shall fail if you dont work harder. (警告)

如果你不努力的话一定会落后的。

Tell him that he shall have the book tomorrow. (表允诺)

告诉他这本书明天给他。

You shall suffer for this. (表威胁)

你会为此事吃苦头的。

4.此外，Why(or How) + should结构表示说话人对某事不能理解，感到意外、惊异等意思。意为竟会。

如：

⑧ Why should you be so late today?

你几天怎么来得这么晚?

⑨ ― Where is Betty living? ― 贝蒂住在哪里?

― How should I know? ― 我怎么会知道呢?

⑩ I dont know why you should think that I did it.

情态动词的用法总结 篇5

I.情态动词+不定式完成式结构的意义分类

表达意义的类别 情态

动词 具体意义 例句

推测

may

/might

当时有可能 Tom hasn’t come back yet. He may have missed the bus again.

Sorry I’m late. I might have turned off the alarm clock and gone back to sleep again.

They might not have gone to the movies yesterday evening.

can

/could

当时可能 She can have failed again.

Jack can’t have arrived yet; otherwise he would have telephoned me.

My sister met him at the Grand Theater yesterday afternoon, so he couldn’t have attended you lecture.

should

/ought to

当时比较可能 He set out early in the morning, so he should have arrived home by now.

They started at nine o’clock this morning. They oughtn’t to have arrived there by now.

will

/would

当时很可能 You will have heard the news, I’m sure.

The police would have gone through every room last night.

His brother would not have been elected as president.

must

当时肯定 I didn’t hear the phone. I must have been asleep.

The children must have watered the tomatoes yesterday, didn’t they?

The minister must have arrived in Shanghai, hasn’t he?

They must have been very tired yesterday, weren’t they

需要 must 必须曾经 Any candidate for the job must have practiced for no less that three years.

情感(近似虚拟语气用法)

责备

不满

遗憾

might

mightn’t 本来可以/可能而实际没有;本来/可能可以不而实际做了 You might have been more careful

He might not have bothered her.

You are lucky enough. You might have been killed like that.

could 本来能够而实际没有 You could have come earlier.

---I didn’t go to class last night because my car broke down.

---you could have borrowed mine. I wasn’t using it.

should

shouldn’t

ought to /ought not to 本来应该而实际没有;本来不应该而实际做了 We should/ought to have studied last night, but we went to the concert instead.

They shouldn’t/ought not to have let you out of hospital so soon; otherwise, you would feel better.

needn’t 本来不必而实际做了 There was plenty of time. She needn’t have hurried.

We needn’t have watered the flowers for it is going to rain.

赞叹

惊奇

怀疑

should 当时居然 It’s wonderful that you should have achieved so much in these years. (赞叹)

I can’t think why he should have said that; it wasn’t my fault. (惊奇)

To think that should have happened to me! (吃惊)

It is a pity that he should fail in such exam.

can

/can’t

could

/couldn’t 当时可能/不可能

当时居然 Can she really have behaved so badly? (惊奇、怀疑)

Tony can’t have done that, he hasn’t the strength.(怀疑)

I’m surprised that he could/should have left without telling a word.(吃惊、不满)

申辩 would 本来应该、愿意、打算 Oh, what a pity. I would have been so easy for me to bring those photographs. I wanted to show you but I’ve left them at the table at home.

I would have come to help you with your work yesterday, only I was rather busy.

I would have visited you but it rained yesterday.

虚拟(与过去事实相反) might 可能当时 Had he come earlier, he might not have missed the train.

If I were you, I might have bought that car.

could 当时能够、可能 Had you attended the meeting last night, you could have met her.

If she hadn’t learned English hard, she could not have passed the examination.

should 当时可能、应该、愿意 If I had met you yesterday, I should have told you about it.

If he were wise, he should have come to see me.

I should have joined you yesterday evening, only I have been rather busy.

would 当时很可能、愿意 If he had caught the first bus this morning, he would not have been late for class.

He would have come and worked together with us, but he was not here yesterday.

I ought to have done so sooner，it would have saved me numerous misfortune.

II.情态动词+不定式完成式结构的分类练习

can/could

1. Some women _____ a good salary in a job instead of staying home, but they decided not to work for the sake of the family.

A. must make B. should have made C. would make D. could have made

2.It is not like Jack to be unfriendly, so he _____ you when you called.

A. can’t have seen B. should not have seen C. must not have seen D. need not have seen

3. Bob_____ to Norfolk yet. He knows nothing about the place at all.

A. can’t have been B. mustn’t have been C. shouldn’t have been D. needn’t have been

4. ---I’m told that John had another car accident this morning.

---I believe not. He ____ so careless.

A. shouldn’t have been B. wouldn’t have been C. couldn’t have been D. mustn’t have been

5. My sister met him at the Grand Theatre yesterday afternoon, so he _______ your lecture.

A. couldn’t have attended B. needn’t have attended

C. mustn’t have attended D. shouldn’t have attended

6. ---Did you go to the movie the day before yesterday?

---No, We ______, but we decided not.

A. should have gone B. could go C. should go D. could have gone

7. The room is in a terrible mess; it ________ cleaned.

A. can’t have been B. shouldn’t have been C. mustn’t have been D. wouldn’t have been

8. ---We didn’t see him on the exhibition yesterday.

---He ______ it.

A. mustn’t visit B. can’t have visited C. should have gone to see D. may see

9. Mary ______ may letter, otherwise she would have replied before now.

A. should have received B. has received C. couldn’t have received D. ought to have received

10. I _______ a little earlier, but I met a friend of mine on the way.

A. may come B. may have come C. could have come D. must have come

11. Under more favourable conditions, we ______ better.

A. need have done B. should do C. could have done D. might be doing

must

1. I have lost one of my gloves. I ________ it somewhere. (,北京，春招)

A. must drop B. must have dropped C. must be dropping D .must have been dropped

2.We’ve been waiting for hours to see the famous pop singer, but the airplane ________ behind the timetable.

A. must be B. will be C. would have been D. must have been

3. John’s sore in the test is the highest in the class; he ______ last nigh.

A. should study B. should have studied C. must have studied D. must have to study

4. Mary was not in her bedroom yesterday afternoon. She _______ in her classroom.

A. should have been B. must have been C. must be D. should be

5. Bob said he was going to join our club but he didn’t. He _______ his mind.

A. can’t have changed B. wouldn’t have changed

C. must have changed D. shouldn’t have changed

6. The road was muddy. It _____ last night.

A. must rained B. must have rained C. must be rained D. could have rained

7. He must have finished his homework, _____he?

A. mustn’t B. must C. needn’t D. hasn’t

8. He must have attended the meeting yesterday, _______he?

A. didn’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t D. hasn’t

should

1.We _____ for her because she never came.

A. needn’t wait B. mustn’t have waited C. shouldn’t have waited D. can’t have waited

2. I’m rather surprised you haven’t reported him to your teacher. In my opinion, you ____ this as soon as you found out he was cheating.

A. must have done B. might have done C. could have done D. should have done

3. ---We expected you yesterday.

---I’m sorry, I ______ you to say that I couldn’t be here until today.

A. must have called B. would be calling C. could have been calling D. should have called

4. I was really anxious about you. You ______ home without a word.

A. mustn’t leave B. shouldn’t have left C. couldn’t have left D. needn’t leave

5.Oh, I’m not feeling well in the stomach. I ______ so much fried chicken just now.

A. shouldn’t eat B. mustn’t have eaten C. shouldn’t have eaten D. mustn’t eat

6.Mr. White ______ at 8:30 for the meeting, but he didn’t show up.

A. should have arrived B. should arrive C. should have had arrived D. should be arriving

7. With all the work on hand, he ______ to the cinema last night.

A. mustn’t go B. shouldn’t have gone C. could not go D. couldn’t have gone

8. Eve was late for class again. She _______ earlier.

A. should get up B. must get up C. need to get up D. should have got up

9. I didn’t send out my application form last week, but I _____ .

A. had B. would do C. should have D. might have

10.--- They have not finished the work up to now.

--- Well, they ______.

A. should have B. should C. ought to D. ought have

11. Walking alone in the deserted village, John was scared. He thought he ______ Tom to go with him.

A. might have asked B. should asked C. must have asked D. should have asked

may/might

1. Research findings show we spend about two hours dreaming every night, no matter what we _____ during the day.

A. should have done B. would have done C. must have done D. may have done

2. Nobody knows how people first came to these islands. They _______ from South America on rafts.

A. must have sailed B can sail C. might have sailed D. should have sailed

3. It was really very dangerous; you _______ him seriously.

A. might have injured B. could injure C. should have injured D. must injure

4. --- Why hasn’t Jane arrived yet?

--- She ______ again in the morning.

A. shouldn’t have overslept B. may have turned off the alarm clock

C. must have no one to call her D. should have someone to wake her up

ought to

1.You _____ this morning if you really wanted to see it yourself.

A. ought to come B. may have come C. ought to have come D. could come

2. We ______ the letter yesterday, but it didn’t arrive.

A. must receive B. ought to receive C. must have received D. ought to have received

3. When I got to the cinema, the film had already started; I ____ there earlier.

A. ought to get B. ought to have got C. must have got D. must get

4. He didn’t do well in the exam. He _______ hard at his lessons.

A. must have worked B. ought to have worked C. would have worked D. has worked

5. --- Mr. Young, everything is ready for the meeting.

--- I’m sorry. I ______ to tell you the meeting had been put off.

A. should phone. B. ought to have phoned C. need to phone D. should have been phoned

needn’t

1. As it turned out to be a small house party, we _____ so formally.

A. needn’t dress up B. didn’t have to dress up

C. might not have dressed up D. needn’t have dressed up

2.It was very kind of you to do the washingup, but you ____ it.

A. mustn’t have done B. wouldn’t have done C. mightn’t have done D. needn’t have done

3. You ______ all those clothes! We have a washing machine to do that sort of thing.

A. needn’t have washed B, shouldn’t have washed

C must not have washed D. can not have washed

4. You _______ to town to see the film yesterday. It will be on TV tonight.

A. needn’t go B. had better not go C. should not go D. needn’t have gone

would

1. Oh, what a pity. It ______ so easy for me to bring those photographs. I wanted to show you, but I’ve left them at the table at home.

A. would have been B. would be C. had been D. was

2. I ________ you a valuable present for your birthday, but I was short of money.

A. would have liked to give B. liked to give C. have liked to give D. would like to give

3. ---Why didn’t come to my party? I was so disappointed at your absence.

--- I’m very sorry. I ______ but I had a visitor at the last minute.

A. would like have B. would like to C. would like to have D. would like

4. He hesitated for a moment before kicking the ball, otherwise he _______ a goal.

A. had scored B. scored C. would score D. would have scored

5. ---Your sister nearly ______all her spare time to her course during the three years.

---That’s right, or she ________ the first place in her school in the College Entrance Examination.

A. spent; wouldn’t take B. devoted; wouldn’t have taken

C. hadn’t devoted; hadn’t taken D. hadn’t spent; couldn’t take

II.情态动词意义分类

可能推测 需要职责 请求许可

许诺 意图打算 意愿决心 能力才能习惯倾向 功用(拟人)

辩解

注定

胆敢

can

could √

will

would √

would √

shall

should √

should √

ought to √√

have (got) to

must √

need

dare

used to

be to

1. shall 的用法。 shall 用作情态动词，主要用于疑问句中征求对方意见，意为“要不要”、“。。。好吗”：

Shall I get a chair for you?

What shall we do this evening?

2. should 的用法。 should 作为情态动词，主要表示“应该”：

You should study hard.

We should help him.

You should ask her first.

(1)有时表示“应该”，其实是一种推测，语气比 may, might 等表推测时要强：

The book should be interesting.

(2)有时用于第一人称的疑问句形式表示征求意见，与 shall 用法相似：

Should I open the window?

What should we do now?

(3)若用于谈论过去的情况，应用“should+have+过去分词”结构：

The train should have already left.

You should have told us earlier.

(4) 用于 should like / should love 可视为习语，意为“想要”，其后接名词、代词或不定式：

I should like you to stay here.

I should love to ask you a question.

Anthony

1 should的其他用法

A 当说话人对某种设想是否合理或正当提出疑问时，可把

should用于 can’ t think why/don’t know why/see no reason why：等后面：

I don’t know why you should think that I did it.

我真不知道你凭什么竟会认为这件事是我干的。

I see no reason why you should interfere in their quarrel.

我不明白你有什么理由竟然会介入他们的争吵。

当这种设想与过去的事情有关时则用完成式：

I can’t think why he should have said that it was my fault.

我真不明白他怎么能说这是我的过错。

B 作为一种惯用表达法，should与 what，where，who连用以形象生动地表达惊奇的感情：

What should I find but an enormous spider!

怎么也想不到我看见的竟是一只巨大的蜘蛛!

这种惊奇经常掺杂着令人为难的因素：

Who should come in but his first wife!

怎么也想不到进来的竟是他的前妻!

C should用在 lest后面，有时也用在 in case后面：

1 在书面语中，lest…should结构有时放在表示惧怕或担心的词后面：

He was terrified lest he should slip on the icy rocks.

他害怕在结冰的石块上滑倒。

对过去的动作表示担心时用should+完成式：

She began to be worried lest he should have met with some accident.

她开始担心他出了什么事。

2 lest也可用于目的从句，表示 for fear that(惟恐)：

He dared not spend the money lest someone should ask where he had got it.

他不敢花这笔钱，怕有人问他钱是从哪儿来的。

如上所示这是一种书面形式。

在这种情况下 in case较 lest更常用，后面可跟 should或一般现在时或一般过去时：

in case someone should ask/someone asked

惟恐万一有人问起(另参见第227节与第337节。)

D should 有时用于目的从句以代替 would/could：

He wore a mask so that no one should recognize him.

他戴了一个面罩，好让别人认不出他来。(参见第336节。)

E 在条件句中用should代替现在时态：

If the pain should return take another of these pills.

疼痛复发时，可再吃一片这些药。(参见第224节。)

F should 还用于颇为正式的间接命令，这种命令不一定是向对方直接发出的：

He ordered that Tom should leave the house.

他下命令叫汤姆离开这所房子。(参见第321节B。)

与下面一句比较一下：

He ordered Tom to leave.

他命令汤姆离开。(他亲自告诉汤姆。)

2 can 的用法大搜索

情态动词can有一定的词义,但不能独立存在,它必须与动词原形一起构成谓语。情态动词can没有人称和数的变化。其具体用法如下:

1. 表示“能、会”,指脑力或体力方面的“能力”。例如:

I can speak English. 我会讲英语。

Jim can swim but I can’t. 吉姆会游泳,但我不会。

2. 表示“可能”,常用于否定句或疑问句中,指某种可能性。例如:

Han Mei can’t be in the classroom. 韩梅不可能在教室里。

Can he come here today, please? 请问他今天能到这里来吗?

3. 表示“可以”,常用于口语中,指许可或请求做某事。例如:

Can I have a cup of tea, please? 请问我可以喝一杯茶吗?

You can go out. 你可以出去了?

补给站:

①can在口语中可以代替may,表示许可或可以。

②can’t在口语中代替mustn’t时,表示禁止或不准。例如:

You can’t play football in the street. 不准在马路上踢足球。

③情态动词can的过去式could,用于现在时,可使语气更委婉、更客气。例如：

Could you help me with my English? 你能帮助我学习英语吗?

情态动词can的基本句型

1. 肯定句型为:主语+can+动词原形+其它。例如:

They can play basketball. 他们能打篮球。

She can dance. 她会跳舞。

You can go to watch TV. 你可以去看电视了。

2. 否定句型为:主语+can not(can’t/cannot)+动词原形+其它。表示“某人不能(不会、不可能)做……”。其中can’t是can not的缩略式,英国多写成cannot。例如:

You cannot pass the ball like this. 你不能像这样传球。

I can’t ride a motorbike. 我不会骑摩托车。

3. 疑问句句型分为:一般疑问句句型和特殊疑问句句型两种类型

一般疑问句句型为:

Can+主语+动词原形+其它。表示“某人会(能、可以)做……吗?”,用于口语时,常表示请求或许可。其肯定答语用“Yes, 主语+can.”作答;否定答语用“No, 主语+can’t.”作答。注意答语中作主语的人称代词,应根据问句中的主语作相应的变化。其变化规则为:第一人称问,则第二人称答;第二人称问,则第一人称答;第三人称问,第三人称答。例如:

①-Can you sing an English song for us? 你可以为我们大家唱一首英语歌吗?

-Yes. 行。(注意在Yes后面常省略I can)

②-Can I skate? 我可以滑冰吗?

-Yes, you can. 可以。

③-Can she climb hills? 她能爬山吗?

-No, she can’t. 不,她不能。

特殊疑问句句型为:

a. Who+can+动词原形+其它。该句型中who相当于主语。例如:

-Who can sing in English in your class? 你们班上谁会用英语唱歌?

-Lily can. 莉莉会。

b. 特殊疑问词(作定语)+名词+can+主语+动词原形+其它。该句型中的特殊疑问词常用how many, how much等。例如:

-How many boats can you see in the river? 你能看见河中有多少只船吗?

-Only one boat. 仅有一只。

c. 特殊疑问词+can+主语+动词原形+其它。该句型中的特殊疑问词常用what, where, when等,一般用肯定陈述句作答。例如:

-What can you see in the picture? 你能在图画中看到什么?

-I can see some birds and two big trees in it. 我能看到一些鸟儿和两棵大树。

情态动词只有情态意义 篇6

情态动词的特征：

1.在形式上，情态动词没有实义动词的各种变化。

2.在意义上，大多数情态动词有多个意义。

3.在用法上，情态动词与助动词一样，须后接动词原形。

情态动词各自的基本意义及用法

一、can 与could用法对比表

对比点 can could

1、表“能力” Can you lift this heavy box? I couldn’t understand what he said at all.2、表“许可” You can use a different material instead.He said I could borrow his bike.3、“怀疑” No, no, it can’t be true.What on earth can this mean? We thought the story could not be true.How could you be so careless?

4、can与be able to 区别 1.could代替 can，表示语气更为婉转。

Eg.Could I use your bike? Yes, you can.2.can(能够)=be able to(仅表能力时)，但be able to 表示一番努力后，才能做得到，且有更多的时态。

He was a good swimmer, so he __________ swim to the river bank when the boat sank.A.could B.might C.shall D.was able to

二、may与 might用法对比表

对比点 may Might

1．表“询问” May I „?(=Can I „?)Might I „?(=Could I„?)(但比用may 更客气)1

2.表“允许” You may take the boy there.He told me he might come.(might 与told相呼应)

3．表“可能”“或许” She may nor like this place.I’m afraid he might not like this play.注： 1.May I„?的答语。

2.may可表示期望或祝愿

May you succeed!

3.may(might)用于目的状语从句中 肯定：Yes, you may.否定：No, you mustn’t 不行（语气强硬）

No, you may not 或No, you’d better not.The emperor gave them some gold in order that they might begin their work at once.三、must与have to的用法对比表

对比点 must have to

1．表“必须”（主观看法）必须；没有过去式，可用于间接引语中。He told me I must do according to what he said.（客观需要）不得不，有多种时态。It’s raining heavily, we can’t go now.2.疑问句 Must I „?

Yes, you must.（一定）

No, you needn’t./ you don’t have to.(不必)Do you have to go today?

Yes, we do.否定句：You don’t have to worry about that.四、need与dare的用法对比表

对比点 need dare

1.情态动词+动词原形

1）否定式

2）疑问式 He need not(needn’t)go.----Need we do it again?

---No, you needn’t do it again.He dare not say so.2

Dare she go out alone at night?

How dare you say I’m unfair?

If he dare do that, he’ll be punished.(条件句)

I dare say.(固定用法)

2.行为动词+带to不定式

1）肯定式

2）否定式

3）疑问式 He needs to go.He doesn’t(does not)need to go.Does he need to do it again?

No, he doesn’t need ot do it again.He dares to say.He does not(doesn’t)dare to say.If you dare to jump into the water from here, so dare I.3.did not need to do

表示过去没有必要做 She didn’t need to attend the meeting yesterday, and she stayed with her children.(她没有参加)

五、should与ought to用法对比表

对比点 should ought to

1、表“应该” 表劝告、建议

You should listen to the doctor’s advice.We should learn from Zhang Hua 表示“有责任有必要”做某事

You ought to finish your work before you go home.We ought to help each other.2、表“估计”

They should get home by now.表示“非常可能”的事，可译为“总应该”

If we start to work right now, we ought to finish it before lunch.(午饭前应当能干完)

注： 1）、should还可在虚拟语气中的使用

2).注意：ought to的疑问式及否定式

----Ought he to go?----Yes, I think he ought to.No, he oughtn’t to.否定式：ought not to a或oughtn’t to do(不说ought to not do)

反疑问句：oughtn’t ______?

六、shall与will的用法对比表

shall Will

1.征询对方意见或请求指示，用于第一、三人称：

Shall I(we)„?

Shall he(she)„? Where shall I(we)wait for you? 1． 询问对方的意思或向对方提出要求：

Will you(please)„? Won’t you„?

Would you like to„?(用would替代will更客气)

----Won’t you go and see the film?你不去看电影吗？---Yes, I think I will.不，我想去。

2.表示说话人的“意愿”有“命令”“警告”“强制”“允诺”“决心”等，用于第二、三人称，要重读。

You shall do what I tell you(to do).我叫你干什么你就干什么。

Everything shall be done to save the ship.一定要竭尽全力来拯救这艘船。表示“意志”“意愿”，用于各种人称：

I won’t do anything you don’t like.我不会做任何你不喜欢的事。

Would表示过去时间的“意志”“意愿”

Shylock would not take the money earlier.夏洛克先前是不肯要钱的。

七：used to与would用法对比表

used to would

1.表示过去的动作、状态，重在与现在情况的对比，不一定要有时间状语。

I used to play cards a lot, but now I seldom play.4

My hometown is not what it used to be.1.只表示过去动作的重复，有明确的时间状语

I would go to see my grandfather on Sunday when he was in the middle school.2.would 后只接表动作的动词，不接表认识或状态动词

He used to be nervous in the exam.2.表示过去的习惯有时可互换：

When we were very young, we used to / would go skating every winter.2.表示过去的次数时，不能使用：

(√）We went to the Great Wall five times when we were young.(X)We used to go / would go to the Great Wall five times when we were young.注：used to do的否定式：usedn’t to do 或didn’t use to do(usedn’t也可写作usen’t)

疑问式： Did you use to do ? Didn’t you use to do?

Used you to do? Usedn’t you to do?

情态动词表推测

情态动词表推测的意义：

1、大多数情态动词（除表‘能力、许可、意志’外），都可以表示推测，其程度有差异。按其可能性程度的高低排列为： Must ﹥will ﹥would ﹥ought to ﹥ should ﹥ can ﹥ could﹥ may ﹥ might

肯定 完全可能 很可能 可能 有可能

2.注意区分情态动词的否定的含义：

may not或许不、可能不 might not可能不 can’t 不可能

mustn’t不许、禁止 shouldn’t不应该 needn’t 不必

3.情态动词表推测具体运用：情态动词可以对现在、进行、过去推测

S主+情态动词+be+adj 对“性质”“特征”的推测

S主+情态动词+be+n 对“职业”“事物”的推测

S主+情态动词+V原 对经常性行为的推测

S主+情态动词+be+V-ing 对进行着的行为的推测

S主+情态动词+have+PP 对过去的行为的推测

特别提醒：情态动词表推测时

1、can只能用于否定句和疑问句

2、must只能用于肯定句（它的否定句和疑问句其实就用can来代替了）

3、如句中有情态动词 + 完成时，定是对过去的推测。

4、句中如有表示不肯定的话语，如：I am not sure;I don’t know 之类，常选may /might的各种形式

4.记住下面几组表示反劝的特殊的表推测的形式

1).could + have + PP表示本来能做到，但事实上没有做到。He could have finished the task on time, but the heavy snow came.2).couldn’t +have + PP表示本来不能做到，但已经做到了。She could not have covered the whole distance, but in fact she arrived ahead of time.3)needn’t + have + pp表示本不必做的，但已经做到了。She needn’t have attended the meeting yesterday, but she did.4.)should/ought to +have + PP表示 该做而没有做 The plant is dead.I should/ought to have given ot more water.5)shouldn’t/ oughtn’t to +have + PP表示 不该做而做了。You oughtn’t to / shouldn’t have taken her bike without permission.5.记住下面对比：

must只能用于肯定句（它的否定句和疑问句其实就用can来代替了）

1.must + have + PP 表示对过去肯定的推测，译为“一定是，准是” The road is wet.It must have rained yesterday.2.can + have + PP 表示对过去的推测（限于问句中）Can she have said so? 他可能这样说吗？

3.can’t + have + PP 表示对过去的否定推测 He cannot have said such a foolish thing.情态动词表推测的反意疑问句

情态动词表推测的反意疑问句，简单来说，就是以情态动词后的时态为淮，如句子里有明确的时间状语，则以其为准。以 must 为例：

eg.1.You must be hungry now, aren’t you?

2.He must be watching TV , isn’t he ? Tom must have lived her for a long time, hasn’t he ?

4.She must have arrived yesterday, didn’t she?

情态动词的用法总结 篇7

一、情态助动词shall

a) 表示预言, 如:

例 (1) We shan’t know the results until next week.我们下星期才能知道结果。

例 (2) Shall we be there in time for tea?咱们能及时赶到那里吃下午茶点吗?

例 (3) I said I should be glad to help.我说过我很愿意帮忙。

b) 用于第一人称征求对方的意愿或决心, 如:

例 (4) Shall we sing?我们唱歌好吗?

例 (5) You shall have a new dress for your birthday.你过生日一定得有件新连衣裙。

例 (6) She was determined that we should finish on time.她坚决要我们按时完成。

[注]美国英语亦可用will, 如:Will I see you in the morning?No?Then good luck to you. (我明天见你好吗?不行?那就祝你好运。)

c) 表允诺 (现已少见) , 如:

例 (7) She shall get her share.她可以得到她的一份。

例 (8) You shall have it back tomorrow.你明天可以将她拿回。

例 (9) The finder shall receive a reward.拾者可得赏。

如果“允诺”是令人不快的, 变成了“威胁”, 如:

例 (10) You shall pay for it.你要受到惩罚的。

d) 表命令 (现已少见)

例 (11) You shall do as you see me do.你照我的样子办。

例 (12) He shall be punished if he disobeys.他如不服从就处罚他。

e) 表法律等条文中的规定 (等于must, 第三人称作主语) , 如:

例 (13) The vendor shall maintain the equipment in good repair.卖方须完好地维护设备。

例 (14) There shall be no adultery.不许通奸。

f) 表坚强的信念和决心 (一般用于第一人称)

例 (15) We shall not fail.我们决不会失败。

例 (16) I shall return.我一定回来。

g) 表必然, 不可避免的命运, 如:

例 (17) Our day shall come.我们的出头之日一定会到来。

h) 表敢于, 有资格 (常用于修辞性问句) , 如:

例 (18) When doctors disagree, who shall decide?医生们有了分歧, 谁还会做决定呢?

二、情态助动词should

情态助动词should一般不应该被认为是情态助动词shall的过去式。其主要用法如下:

a) 用于第一人称疑问句询问对方的意愿, 但语气较委婉温和, 如:

例 (19) Should I open the window?我可以开窗户吗?

例 (20) What should we do now?我们现在该怎么办呢?

b) 表义务或责任, 意谓着“应该”, 如:

例 (21) You should do what your parents tell you.你应该照你父母的话做。

例 (22) He should do some work, but he doesn’t want to.他应该做些工作, 但是他不想做。

例 (23) We should learn about the computer and make full use of it.我们应该懂得计算机, 充分利用计算机

例 (24) He shouldn’t stay up so late.他不应该睡得这么晚。

c) 用以表示劝告或推荐, 而用于第二人称时可变为温和的命令或建议, 如:

例 (25) He should stop smoking.他应该戒烟。

例 (26) You should be careful.你应该小心。

有时语气却很强烈, 如:

例 (27) You should mind your own business.你该只管自己的事。

d) 用以表示试探性的推断, 表期待, 意谓“可能”, 如:

例 (28) He should be here in a minute.他马上就会到这儿来。

例 (29) Three weeks should suffice.三个星期可能足够了。

例 (30) That should be easy.那不会太难吧。

有时有“有根据或把握”的含义, 如:

例 (31) I should know her among a thousand.在千百人中, 我也会认识她。

例 (32) The book should appeal to all lovers of poetry.这本书会吸引所有诗歌爱好者。

e) 表示惊讶等感情, 如:

例 (33) That it should come to this.事情竟到了这种地步。

例 (34) I’m surprised that he should say so.我很惊讶, 他竟说这样的话。

例 (35) I’m sorry that you should be so obstinate.我很遗憾, 你竟如此固执。

有时用在特殊疑问句中表强烈的感情, 如:

例 (36) Why should I go?我干吗要去?

例 (37) How should I know?我怎么知道?

例 (38) Who should I see but Mr.Brown?我所见到的竟然是布朗先生。

f) 表温和的建议和指正, 如:

例 (39) This name is wrong;it should be spelled Smythe, not Smith.这个名字写错了, 它应该拼成Smythe而不是Smith.

例 (40) Only men with strong constitutions should climb the Himalayas.只有体魄健壮的人才可以爬喜马拉雅山。

g) 表委婉语气, 常和say, surely等动词连用, 如:

例 (41) I should say he is over thirty.要我说, 他有30多岁了。

例 (42) I should think it’s a good film.我看哪, 那是一部好片子。

有时should等于must或surely, 如:例 (43) You two should have so much in common.你们两个确有许多共同之处。

例 (44) I think it should do.我认为它是可以的。

有时should有讽刺意味, 如:

例 (45) I should think so.我想是的吧。 (重读think, 意思相当于“当然如此!”)

有时表示是反话 (主要在美国英语中) , 如:

例 (46) I should worry.我才不担心呢。

h) 可用于进行时和完成时。完成时表示过去应做而未做的事。如:

例 (47) A young man should be looking forward.年轻人应该向前看。

例 (48) At the age of thirty-five, I should have understood.以35岁之龄, 我本应该懂得了。

但当should的完成式带有感情色彩时则可表已完成的动作, 如:

例 (49) It’s strange that he should have left without telling us.奇怪, 他竟没和我们说以一声就走了。

例 (50) I’m sorry that this should have happened.我很遗憾, 竟发生了这事儿。

由此可见, 虽然情态动词表示可能、必要、允许、愿望、猜测等意义, 它们本身所有一定词义, 但不能独立用作谓语, 也没有人称和数的区别。should与shall在英语时语境的不同需要选用不同的词来对应。汉语中的词义相对模糊, 而英语的词义和用法相对精确。在使用和翻译should和shall时, 只有根据其所处的特定语境, 才能作出贴切的翻译。

参考文献

[1]牛津高阶英汉双解词典.北京:牛津大学出版社, 2001.

表示推测的情态动词的用法 篇8

must表示推测时，它的肯定程度比may, might, could大得多，一般只用于肯定句，意为“肯定”“一定会”“必然”。如：

①You must be very hungry now. It’s half past 13.

你一定很饿，现在已经下午一点半了。

②Jane must get very bored with her job. She does the same thing every day. 简肯定对她的工作厌烦了，她每天都做同样的事。

[注]must do（这时do通常为状态动词或系动词），表示对现在状态的推测,如句①和②； must be doing表示对现在动作或状态的推测；must have done表示对过去的动作或状态的推测。

[注]must表示推测时通常只用于肯定句，否定句和疑问句要用can, could来代替must。如：

③He’s just had his lunch. He can’t be hungry.

他刚吃过午饭，不会饿的。

④They have just arrived here. They can’t know many people.

他们刚到这里，不可能认识很多人。

can表示推测时，常用于否定句中表示“不可能”，用于疑问句中表示“也许会/可能……”。用于肯定句中，表示“可能”“有时会”。如：

⑤She usually gets up very early. She can’t miss the train.

她通常起得很早，不可能误火车的。

⑥He cannot be at home. He’s said to have gone to Shanghai.

他不可能在家，据说他去上海了。

[注]在此种用法中，can和could没有时态的区别，只是表示可能性的大小，can表示推测的可能性比could大。

[注]can’t have done sth.表示对过去行为的推测，意为“不可能做过某事”“应该不会做过某事”。

may表示推测时,可译为“可能”“也许”，常用于肯定句或否定句中。might表示推测时的可能性要比may小，此时无时态之别，但当主句谓语动词为过去式时，则通常用might。如：

⑦Xiao Yang may/might know his address.

小杨可能/兴许知道他的地址。

⑧I may be right or may not be right, but that’s what I think.

我可能对，也可能不对，但这是我的想法。

[注]may表示推测时一般不用于疑问句中，在疑问句中通常用can来代替。如：

⑨Can he be at home? 他可能在家吗？

⑩Can it be true? 这可能是真的吗？

[注]在may not表示可能性的句子中，not否定的不是may，而是句中的谓语动词。如：

■You may not see him. 你可能还没见过他。（而不是“你不可能见过他。”）

■He may not be there now.

他现在可能不在那儿。（而不是“他不可能在那儿。”）

[注]may/might have done sth.意为“可能/兴许已经”，表示对过去行为的推测，把握性远不如must have done sth.。试比较：

■She may/might have read about it in the papers.

她可能/兴许已经在报纸上看到这个消息了。

■She must have read about it in the papers. She asked me many questions about it this morning. 她肯定已经在报纸上看到这个消息了，今天早上她问了我好多有关这方面的问题。

[跟踪练习]

根据句意，从所给选项中选出最佳选项。

1. Helen ____ go on the trip with us but she isn’t quite sure yet.

A. may notB. mustC. mayD. can’t

2. ——Isn’t that Ann’s husband over there?

——No, it ____ be him. I’m sure he doesn’t wear glasses.

A. can’tB. must notC. canD. may not

3. ——Someone is knocking at the door.

——Who ____ it be?

A. mightB. mustC. needD. can

4. ——I just found a video cassette on my desk. Whose cassette is this?

——Oh, that ____ be John’s. He’s been looking for the cassette for an hour. He will be so thankful that you found it.

A. mustB. mightC. mayD. can’t

5. ——Is Peter here yet?

——Not yet, but he ____ be here soon. He is usually on time.

A. wouldB. couldC. shouldD. must