高一英语情态动词总结

高一英语情态动词总结（通用7篇）

高一英语情态动词总结 篇1

选择题 1．A．can’t

． B．couldn’t

C．may not

D．might not ．

D．had been broken D．can’t;shouldn’t

2．A．breaks 3． B．has broken．C．were broken

．

A．won’t;can’tB．mustn’t;may C．shouldn’t;must

4．--Shall I tell John about it?

I’ve told him already． B．wouldn’t

C．mustn’t

D．shouldn’t

A．needn’t5．--Alice, why didn’t you come yesterday?

．

B．would B．would

C．was going to

C．could

D．did get out． D．was able to

A．hadA．had to

6．7．--When can I come for the photos? I need them tomorrow afternoon．

--They________ be ready by 12:00． A．can

B．shouldC．mightD．need

8．Peter_______ come with me tonight, but he’s not sure yet．

A．mustB．mayC．canD．will 9．--Will you stay for lunch?

--Sorry,________．My brother is coming to see me． A．I mustn’t

B．I can’t

C．I needn’t

D．I won’t

10．--Are you coming to Jeff’s party?

--I’m not sure．I_______ go to the concert instead． A．must

B．would

C．should

D．might

11．The two strangers talked as if they _______ friends for years．

—1—

A．should be

--Of course． B．would beC．have beenD．had been 12．--The room is so dirty, ________we clean it?

A．WillB．Shall

A．needn’tC．WouldD．Do 13．Michael_______ be a policeman, for he’s much too short． B．can’tC．shouldD．may

14．--Could I call you by your first name?

--Yes, you________．

A．willB．could

license________ take an eye test．

A．canB．mustC．wouldD．may

D．should C．mayD．might 15．According to the local regulations, anyone who intends to get a driver’s 16．I should have been there, but I ______not find the time． A．wouldB．couldC．might

17．--Write to me when you get home．--_______．

D．I can A．I mustB．I shouldC．I will

ceremony? 18．Mr Bush is on time for everything．How ________it be that he was late for the opening

A．canB．shouldC．mayD．must

19．You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman_______be so rude to a lady.A．mightB．needC．shouldD．would

20．--I hear you’ve got a set of valuable Australian coins．_________I have a look?--Yes, certainly．

A．DoB．MayC．ShallD．Should

21．--Is John coming by train?

--He should, but he________not．He likes driving his car．

A．mustB．canC．need

papers have been collected．

—2— D．may 22．It has been announced that candidates_________remain in their seats until all the

A．canB．willC．mayD．shall

23．Naturally, after I told her what to do, my daughter_______ go and do the opposite!

A．mayB．canC．mustD．should

24．--I hear they went skiing in the mountains last winter．

--It_______ true because there was little snow there．

A．may not beB．won’t beC．couldn’t beD．mustn’t be

25．A left-luggage office is a place where bags__________ be left for a short time, especially at a railway station．

A．shouldB．canC．mustD．will

26．How_________ you say that you really understand the whole story if you have covered only part of the article?

A．canB．mustC．needD．may

27．--Who is the girl standing over there?

--Well, if you______ know, her name is Mabel．

A．mayB．canC．mustD．shall

28．“The interest_________ be divided into five parts, according to the agreement made by both sides,” declared the judge．

A．mayB．shouldC．mustD．shall

29．--I don’t mind telling you what I know．

--You_________.I’m not asking you for it．

A．mustn’tB．may notC．can’tD．needn’t

30．I________ pay Tracy a visit, but I am not sure whether I will have time this Sunday．

A．shouldB．mightC．wouldD．could

31．I often see lights in that empty house．Do you think I_______ report it to the police?

A．shouldB．mayC．willD．can

32．--Excuse me, but I want to use your computer to type a report．

--You________ have my computer if you don’t take care of it．

A．shan’tB．might notC．needn’tD．shouldn’t

33．--Excuse me ．Is this the right way to the Summer Palace?

—3—

--Sorry, I am not sure．But it________be．

A．mightB．willC．mustD．can

34．--Mum , I’ve been studying English since 8 o’clock．_________ I go out and play with Tom for a while.--No, I’m afraid not ．Besides , it’s raining outside now ．

A．Can’tB．Wouldn’tC．May notD．Won’t

35．Children under 12 years of age in that country________be under adult supervision when in a public library．

A．mustB．mayC．canD．need

36．--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．won’tD．may not

37．You ________ be tired--you’ve only been working for an hour．

A．must notB．won ’t beC．can’tD．may not

38．--Tom graduated from college at a very young age．

--Oh, he________have been a very smart boy then．

A．couldB．shouldC．mightD．must

39．You might just as well tell the manufacturer that male customers ______ not like the design of the furniture．

A．mustB．shallC．mayD．need

40．Tom, you___________leave all your clothes on the floor like this!

A．wouldn’tB．mustn’tC．needn’tD．may not

D．Need 41．John, look at the time．___________you play the piano at such a late hour?A．MustB．CanC．May

it________ be very slow．

A．shouldB．mustC．willD．can 42．The World Wide Web is sometimes jokingly called the World Wide Wait because

43．--Lucy doesn’t mind lending you her dictionary．

--She_________．I’ve already borrowed one．

—4—

A．can’tB．mustn’tC．needn’tD．shouldn’t

44．--I’ve taken someone else’s green sweater by mistake．

--It_______Harry’s．He always wears green．

A．has to be

A．can’tB．will beC．mustn’t beD．could be 45．You know he is not going to let us leave early if we_______get the work done． B．may notC．shouldn’tD．mustn’t

46．--What’s the name?

--Khulaifi．________I spell that for you?

A．Shall

A．can’tB．WouldC．CanD．Might 47．There’s no light on--they_______be at home． B．mustn’tC．needn’tD．shouldn’t

48．--Mr Gordon asked me to remind you of the meeting this afternoon．Don’t you forget it!

--OK, I_________．

A．won’tB．don’tC．willD．do

49．--Is Jack on duty today?

--It_________be him．It’s his turn tomorrow．

A．mustn’tB．won’tC．can’tD．needn’t

50．--I think I’11 give Bob a ring．

--You________．You haven’t been in touch with him for ages．

A．will

A．needB．mayB．mustC．have toC．shouldD．shouldD．can 51．We hope that as many people as possible_________join us for the picnic tomorrow．

52．Some aspects of a pilot’s job________be boring, and pilots often___________work at inconvenient hours．

A．can;have to

C．have to;may

53．--May I smoke here?

--If you________, choose a seat in the smoking section．

—5—B．may;can D．ought to;must

A．should

A．can

tough task．B．couldC．mayD．must 54．--Could I have a word with you, mum?B．must--Oh dear, if you______． C．mayD．should 55．Black holes ________ not be seen directly,so determining the number of them is a

A．canB．shouldC．mustD．need

56．--How’s your tour around the North Lake? Is it beautiful?

--It_________be, but it is now heavily polluted．

A．willB．wouldC．shouldD．must

57．In crowded places like airports and railway stations, you_______take care of your luggage．

A．canB．mayC．mustD．will

58．My MP4 player isn’t in my bag．Where _________ I have put it?

A．canB．mustC．shouldD．would

59．As a result of the serious flood, two-thirds of the buildings in the area________．

A．need repairing

C．needs repairingB．needs to repairD．need to repair

60．The boss has given everyone a special holiday, so we________go to work tomorrow．

A．can’tB．mustn’tC．needn’tD．shouldn’t

61．-What does the sign over there read?

--“No person_______smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe in this area．”

A．willB．mayC．shallD．must

62．--What do you think we can do for our aged parents?

--You___________do anything except to be with them and be yourself．

A．don’t have toB．oughtn’t toC．mustn’tD．can’t

63．--Turn off the TV, Jack．_________your homework now?

--Mum, just ten more minutes, please．

A．Should you be doing

B．Shouldn’t you be doing D．Will you be doing C．Couldn’t you be doing

高一英语情态动词总结 篇2

一情态动词的基本用法

第一, 表示征求对方意见或许可的情态动词有must, can, could, may, might, shall等, 如:

——Must I hand in my homework today?——Yes, you must.Yes, you have to.

——No, you needn’t.No, you don’t have to (用mustn’t是讲不通的)

Can I come in and have a good look at your house with my girlfriend now? (比较口语化)

——Could I use your mobile phone as mine is power off? (语气委婉)

——Yes, you can. (回答不能用could)

MayMight I use your bicycle? (比较正式, 用might语气更委婉)

Shall I open the window to let in some fresh air? (shall此用法只用于第一和第三人称)

Shall he come to sit in this seat and listen to your speech? (同上)

第二, 表示邀请或请求的情态动词有can, will, would, could, 一般用于第二人称;用would和could时表示语气更加委婉, 如:

CanCould you lend me some money to buy some books and dictionaries?

WillWould you please tell us a story or joke for pleasure?

第三, 表示允许或许可的情态动词有can, may, 如:

You can sit here and do your homework because the seat is not occupied.

You may go to bed and get up as late as you like;nobody cares about that.

第四, 表示禁止的情态动词有can’t, mustn’t, shan’t等否定形式, shan’t多表按照某规定“不能”如:

They can’t wear whatever they like when they are at school.

Anybody mustn’t take books out of the library without permission.

You shan’t hand in your papers ahead of time in the examinations according to the regulations.

第五, 表示建议或劝告的情态动词有ought to, should, had better, need等, 如:

Parents ought to take care of their children when they are young and children ought to look after their parents when they are old. (ought to表示义务, 为别人做某事)

You should do a lot of exercise regularly to improve your health. (should表建议, 多指为自己做某事)

You had better put more clothes in case it is cold on the mountain, boy! (多用于上级对下级, 长辈对晚辈之间)

In order to learn English well, you need practice speaking English more often besides reading. (比较口语化)

第六, 表示能力的情态动词有can, could, be able to等。can表示现在的“能力”, could表示过去的“能力”, be able to用来填充can, could没有的时态, 但waswere able to除了表示过去的能力以外还表示“过去设法做成功某事”, 等于managed to do something或succeeded in doing something, 此用法不能被could代替, 如:

When I was in China I couldn’t speak English, but now in USA I can speak it fluently.

I am sure that this promising young man will be able to support his family in the future.

They charged 20 thousand dollars for the car but I was able to bring the price down. (managed tosucceeded in…)

第七, 表示推测的情态动词有may, might, must, can, could, should, ought to等。must表推测语气最强, 但只用于肯定式, 否定式中用can’t或couldn’t代替;mustmaymightcan’tcouldcouldn’t+have done表示对过去发生事情的推测;should, ought to表示“按理说应该”, 如:

It may be the headmaster’s office.I am not sure. (把握性不大)

He was careless.He might have won the first place otherwise. (过去的可能性很小)

——Who can it be? (can代替must)

——It must be our manager.

——No, it can’t he him.He is in Japan at the moment. (must不能用于否定句, 由can’t代替)

——Was it in the street that he played football yesterday?

——It could be in the street, but I am not sure. (可能性不大)

There were five men in your car during the long journey.It must have been uncomfortable. (=It couldn’t have been comfortable.可能性很大)

He was with me in the class at that time yesterday.He couldn’t have played basketball on the playground yesterday. (动词是过去式时用couldn’t have done, 不用can’t have done)

He should be over fifteen years old, because he is a student in the 11th grade.

She ought to turn up at any moment, for she is always on time for work.

第八, 表示轻微埋怨、责备或后悔的情态动词有shouldought toneedn’tcouldmight+have done, 如:

The movie star has died.You shouldought to have come here earlier. (过去该做而没做)

She is unhappy now.I shouldn’toughtn’t to have told her the bad news. (过去不该做而做了)

I needn’t have carried so much cash.All my bank cards could be available actually. (做了没必要做的事)

You could have married me at that time.I loved and love you but he doesn’t. (过去本可以做但没做)

She was out of mind.She might have passed the exam otherwise. (过去也许会但没有)

第九, 表示警告、允诺、命令或威胁的情态动词是shall, 常用于第二、三人称, 如:

You shall take the book to read as long as I finish it before Friday.

All the candidates shall remain at their seats until the bell rings announcing the end of the exam.

第十, 表示偏执的情态动词是must, 如:

If you must want to know my age, which is a privacy, let me tell you unwillingly.

Must you smoke at a no-smoking area?You will be punished seriously.

第十一, 表示怀疑的情态动词有should (竟然) , dare, can’t, 如:

Such a high official should be so rude to that little girl.What a shame!

How dare you say that I treated you unfairly?Actually I did it right.

Why can’t you know my telephone number and email address?We are good friends.

第十二, 表示习惯性的情态动词有will, would, will表示现在反复, would表示过去反复, 如:

After work he will go to the caféto have a cup of coffee every day.

Whenever and wherever he met him, he would stop the soldier and ask the same questions again and again in the army.

二情态动词用法区别

第一, must&have to。must表示主观上“必须”, have to表示客观逼迫“不得不”, 如:

We must study English very hard, which I like very much.

I have to study English very hard, because I have to pass the exam in the NMET.

第二, would, used to, be used to doing&be used to do sth。would表示过去反复的动作, 而uesd to则侧重“过去如此, 现在已经不是那样了”以及“过去存在的状态”;be used to doing是表示“习惯于做某事”, 其中be有时态和人称的变化, 后跟动名词;be used to do something表示“某东西被用来做某事”, 如:

When he was in that factory, he would go to that coffee shop at the corner after work every day.

He used to smoke and drink a lot, but now he doesn’t.

There used to be a big temple where there is a school now. (过去的状态)

He has been used to working in such bad conditions.

Wood can be used to make desks and chairs as well houses.

第三, didn’t need to do&needn’t have done。didn’t need to do表示“过去没必要做也没做”, 而needn’t have done表示“过去没必要做但已经做了”, 如:

It was raining yesterday.I didn’t need to work in the fields, so I stayed at home. (没去工作)

It was Sunday yesterday.I needn’t have gone to school.But I forgot it and went as usual. (去学校了)

第四, need&dare。这两个词既可用作情态动词, 也可用作实义动词, 一般来说, 情态动词多用于否定和疑问句;实义动词用于各种句式, 后跟动词不定式, I dare say是固定短语, 意为“我认为、我相信”, 如:

——Need I finish my report by six o’clock today? (情态动词)

——Yes, you mustyou have to.

——No, you needn’tyou don’t have to.

As a Chinese high school student, I need to work at least 10 hours a day. (实义动词)

My car needs repairingto be repaired thoroughly. (实义动词, 后跟动名词主动表被动)

Tom daren’t go out alone when it is dark at night. (情态动词)

Dare you go home to face your parents when you haven’t done well in the exams? (情态动词)

I don’t dare to feel the snake even if it is dead. (实义动词)

第五, can’t have done&couldn’t have donecould have done。can’t have done和couldn’t have done均可表示must的否定推测, 强调从现在角度出发推测过去某事“不可能”;但当主句的谓语动词是过去式时, 就必须用couldn’t have done;could have done表示“过去有能力或有可能做某事但没有做”, 有惋惜、遗憾、批评、责备等意思, 如:

His jacket is still here, so he can’t (couldn’t) have gone home. (must的否定式)

My sister met him at the Grand Theatre yesterday, so he couldn’t have attended your lecture. (过去不可能)

You could have walked here instead of taking a taxi;it is so near.

第六, would like to do&would like to have done。would like to do表示现在或将来“想做某事”, 而would like to have done表示过去“想做某事但没做成”, 如:

I would like to go to the concert tonight, but my parents don’t allow me to.

I would like to have gone to the concert last night but I had to review lessons for the exams.

参考文献

[1]张道真.实用英语语法[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社, 2002

中考英语情态动词跟踪练习 篇3

—No，you_____. You_____do it later.

A. mustn’t； must B. mustn’t； may

C. needn’t； may

2.—______I know by what time you want the

project to be done？

—By the day after tomorrow. ______ you finish

it on time？

A. May； Can B. Must； Need C. Could； Must

3.—Who’s singing in the garden？

—It_____be Mr. Brown. He always practices

singing at this time.

A. must B. can’t C. need

4. I ______follow you. Would you please repeat it？

A. can’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t

5. —Must I hand in my homework now， Mr. Smith？

—No， you _______.

A. can’t B. shouldn’t C. needn’t

6.—Excuse me， may I keep the book a little longer？

—Sorry. You ________ return it today.

A. must B. mustn’t C. can

7. —Is the man over there Mr. Brown？

—It ______him. He has gone to Brazil to watch

the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

A. may not B. can’t be C. shouldn’t

8. Children _______ sit in the front seat of a car.

It’s too dangerous.

A. need B. needn’t C. mustn’t

9. —I forgot to bring my dictionary. Could I use yours？

—Yes， you ______.

A. can B. must C. could

10. The man is feeling much better now， so you ______

call a doctor.

A. needn’t B. can’t C. mustn’t

11. —Is the long-haired man Bruce？

—No， it _______ be him. He’s in New York now.

A. can’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t

12. People _______ wait until the traffic becomes

green. That’s the traffic rule.

A. must B. can C. need

13. If you _____ smoke， please go outside .

A. can B. may C. must

14. After you read the article “Why fast food is slowly

killing you？”， you______stop eating fast food.

A. can B. may C. have to

15. Look at the “No parking” sign. You _____park

your car here.

A. should B. must C. mustn’t

英语语法情态动词解析 篇4

为什么要细分一下呢?因为它们是有区别的：

基本助动词有三个：be, have, do

情态动词有大约14个：may, might; can, could; will, would; shall, should;must, need, dare, used to, ought to. had better

构成时态或语态的助动词，提前或否定时出现的动词。

换句话说就是：助动词是当形式需要它的时候才出现，不该它出现就哪儿凉快哪儿呆着。

比如由于时态或语态的要求，比如疑问句或否定句的要求等等，需要它的时候才出现，不需要的时候并没它们什么事。

它们的区别：

1、每个情态动词都有基本意义，基本助动词则没有，只具有语法作用。

2、情态动词后面接原形动词，也就是秃头不定式;助动词要看时态或语态等等情况变化。

3、情态动词没有人称和数的变化，而助动词则有。

4、只有现在和过去两种形式，但可以表示过去、现在和将来时间。

5、情态动词没有非谓语动词形式，而助动词有。

英语情态动词的用法与探讨 篇5

英语情态动词从意义上可以分为两类,以had或may为情态动词的“建议”和以would为情态动词的.“愿望”类.这是在学习和使用英语时的难点,在学习英语过程中,解决了这一难点,就可以正确的使用英语的情态动词.

作 者：杨军  作者单位：哈尔滨理工大学公共外语教学部,黑龙江,哈尔滨,150080 刊 名：科技信息（学术版） 英文刊名：SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION 年，卷(期)： “”(20) 分类号：H3 关键词：情态动词   学习过程   用法  

高一英语情态动词总结 篇6

根据情态动词的使用程度及其属性可把情态动词分为3类:核心情态动词 (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) 边缘情态动词 (dare (to) , need (to) , ought (to) , used to) 和半情态动词 (have to, (had) better, (have) got to, be supposed to, be going to) 。系统功能语言学家Halliday根据情态类型、取向、值和归一性, 建立了一个庞大的情态系统, 并对情态系统做了详细描述, 他把情态动词看作是主观隐性的情态手段, 用以表达概率程度 (probability) 、经常程度 (usuality) 、职责义务 (obligation) 和倾向性 (inclination) 。情态动词具有情态的高、中、低二级量值之分, 情态值高的情态动词有 (must, ought to, need, has to) 等;情态值中的情态动词有 (will, would, shall和should) 等;情态值低的情态动词有 (may, might, can和could) 等。could等。此外, 语言学家汤普森指出, 情态的取向系统决定了每一种情态意义的体现方式。根据他的观点, 情态取向可分为4种:显性主观、显性客观、隐性主观和隐性客观。如果情态取向不同, 那情态的类型就会出现不同的体现形式。

根据分析发现would和will在新闻语篇中出现的次数最多。而might, must, shall出现次数较少.除高频率和低频率出现的核心情态动词外, 其他核心情态动词could, can, may和should也占有一定比例。英语政治新闻中, would和will既可以表示意志、决心或愿望 (此时多用于直接引语中) , 表达说话人对事件的看法, 也可以表示可能性 (此时多用于间接引语中) , 是报道者对说话人话语意义的传达。例如:

(1) He projected that government spending would reach 49%of national output this year《泰晤士报》Greens vow to stamp out corruption.Mar8, 2009) .

(2) On the floor of the Democratic National Convention last summer, Newsom told TIME that he hoped to run in 2010--but first he wanted to see if voters would embrace Obama's campaign focus on youth and generational change《时代周刊》California's Big Race to Succeed Schwarzenegger (Feb16, 2009) .

(3) Morrell also noted the release as scheduled would come as thousands of new U S troops head into Afghanistan's volatile south《华盛顿邮报》.

这些新闻报道中, 形态动词would的使用, 体现出了说话者的一种愿望。人们的语言选择和言语行为在很大程度上与思想意识和社会语境相关。在言语实践中, 作者/说话者的观点和态度必然通过语篇中的各种词汇语法手段体现出来。同一种语言, 语类不同, 表达观点、态度的词汇语法手段及其分布也会不一样。情态动词will和would表示概率、可能性或某种程度的意愿、意图, 主观性较强。Would和will在英语政治新闻语篇中的使用频率最高, 并且经常出现在引语中, 其中间接引语出现的频率要远高于直接引语。目前, 大众传播媒体越来越倾向于使用间接引语, 从而模糊转述者话语和被转述者话语之间的界限, 用转述者的语言淹没被转述者的语言意思, 目的是把“官方的主观的观点转化为大众的广为接受的语言”, 以便这些观点能被公众广泛而自然地理解和接受, 以满足政治新闻交际功能中信急传递的有效性要求。语篇中直接引语报道的往往是被报道者的确切的语言, 时间, 地点, 人物以及事件都很明确, 对读者有很强的说服力。报道者大量引用直接引语, 是为了给报道增添真实感, 显示报道的客观公正及语言的准确严谨, 从而使读者确信报道者并未掺杂其个人的观点或情感。间接引语是以报道者的语言描述被报道者的观点, 便于记者利用以展示自己的观点。即使是直接引语也不可以说它们就是公正的, 因为采访谁、引用谁的话, 都是由报道者自己决定的, 这就不可避免地、潜意识地把报道者自身的观点和态度掺杂在报道中, 从而使报道处于主导地位, 读者处在了被动、受影响的地位。

情态动词will和would所表达的也是一种猜测有时候是一种愿望, 报道者在对事件进行陈述报道时, 为给自己及其所代表的权力机构留下回旋余地, 往往会使用具有不确定性意义的情态动词来表达思想, 而不用情态值很高的词如:must, ought to等词汇。这样既可以有效地宣传和和叙述了事件, 同时也维护了权力机构的利益, 又可以进行自我保护。因此, 通过情态动词, 报道者可以使读者不知不觉地接受他们对事件的看法, 使他们与媒体保持一致, 并且这个过程是权威性的。

英语政治新闻语篇中might.must和shall所占的比例非常小。主要是因为must在表达推断性时语气很强, 表示一种十分肯定的推断;shall则常常表示说话人给对方警告、命令或允诺。相反, might在表达可能性、肯定性及推断性上的语气最弱, 如果大量使用, 会显得报道者对命题的真实性、准确性以及时效性信心不足, 从而导致读者对报道的真实性产生怀疑。报道者既要避免由于语气过于强硬, 招致读者或所代表权力机构的不满, 又要强调报道的真实性, 所以对各情态动词的使用做出不同的选择。

英语政治新闻语篇中, 中、低值核心情态动词的使用频率明显高于高值核心情态动词的使用频率, 是因为新闻报道者希望其所作的报道能得到读者肯定的评价, 在潜移默化中影响读者的思想, 达到为其所代表的权力机构服务的目的。使用中、低值情态动词, 一方而能用较为缓和、婉转的语气向读者传达其思想观点;另一方而又能避免给人武断、强加于人或盛气凌人的感觉, 从而达到更容易使读者接受的目的。中值核心情态动词的使用频率高于低值核心情态动词的使用频率, 是因为低值情态动词语气较弱, 所含不确定性程度较高, 而英语政治新闻具有一定权威性, 其语言都要求准确、严谨、客观。相对于低值情态动词而言, 中值情态动词的使用既能使语言具有非绝对性, 又能委婉地表达报道者的思想观点, 从而便于报道者灵活地掌握和控制。分析英语新闻语篇中核心情态动词的使用特点。研究显示, 在英语新闻语篇中大量使用中、低值核心情态动词。其中, 核心情态动词中的中值情态动词would与will在英语新闻语篇中的出现频率最高, 低值核心情态动词的出现频率次之, 高值情态动词的出现频率最低。并且揭示出其背后所要体现的意义:报道者既要显示日报道的客观、准确, 实时性, 又要含而不露地宣传出新闻所要宣传的内容, 同时不能强加自己主观意识和看法以保护自身利益, 避免一些可能的麻烦。对情态动词的深入研究, 有助于培养读者的理解新闻内涵, 客观又批判性的分析新闻内容。

摘要：在英语新闻语篇中大量使用中、低值核心情态动词。其中, 核心情态动词中的中值情态动词would与will在英语新闻语篇中的出现频率最高, 低值核心情态动词的出现频率次之, 高值情态动词的出现频率最低。对情态动词的深入研究, 有助于培养读者的理解新闻内涵, 客观又批判性的分析新闻内容。

英语情态动词多义性的认知阐释 篇7

关键词：情态动词 语义 语法化 动力语义学 隐喻扩展

一.引言

对情态的研究可追溯到亚里士多德时代，研究的是必然性、可能性等逻辑关系。从那以后，其一直是逻辑学、哲学和语言学等学科的重点研究对象。语言学家从不同的角度对情态进行过广泛深入的研究，如传统语法、语义学、语用学，系统功能语言学和认知语言学等。英语情态动词在具体使用中容易造成歧义和混淆，其根本原因是我们对情态动词语义把握不够准确，本文拟从认知的角度，从共时和历时两个方面来探究情态动词各个义项之间的历时演变和共时联系。

二.情态的定义和分类

不同的学者就情态这一范畴给出了不同的定义。Lyons将情态定义为“说话者用以表达其对句子表达的命题或者命题描述场景的观点或态度的手段”。[1]Saeed认为情态是说话者对表达的事实进行不同程度的强调和弱化，他将情态分为道义情态和认识情态。[2]Halliday认为情态是介于肯定和否定之间的表达，可分为情态和意态。[3]总结起来，情态这一范畴是用于表达对命题行为作出不同程度的承诺（commitment）或对命题内容表达不同程度的信念和判断（belief and judgment）等，主观性是情态的重要特性。情态可以通过不同的语言手段来表达，如情态形容词、副词，时态等，其中最重要的表达方式便是情态动词。

学者们普遍认可将情态分为认识情态（epistemic modality）和道义情态（deontic modality）。认识情态用以表达说话者对命题内容的了解，信念和态度，道义情态是在道德和法律框架下表达义务、责任或许可等。[4]Palmer又引入了动力情态（dynamic modality），用以表达能力（ability）和意愿（volition），并将道义情态和动力情态称为根情态（root modality）。如例（1a），（1b）和（1c）分别表达了情态动词can的三种用法：

（1a）Smoking can do harm to our health.

（1b）You can leave them there.

（1c）Lily can run a mile in four minutes.

情态动词自身意义存在模糊性，语言学家对情态动词的语义分析持3种观点：多义观（the polysemy view）、单义观（the monosemy view）以及歧义说（the ambiguity view）。持多义说者认为，情态动词是多义的，并且各义项之间并非毫不关联，认识情态是根情态的语义扩展。持单义观者认为情态动词有一个基本核心义，具体语境中表达的意义可通过语用推理获得。而持歧义说者认为情态动词编码的是一组各不相同，互无联系的意义。[5]本文认为，正如其他许多开放词类，情态动词是多义共存的，其多个义项之间并不是毫无联系，杂乱无章的。为了对情态动词多义性作出更好的阐释，消解其语义模糊，本文拟从历时和共时的角度，用认知语言学的语法化理论、动力语义框架及隐喻扩展理论探究情态动词多义的历时演变和其多义项之间的共时联系。

三.情态动词语义发展的历时演变

情态动词作为封闭词类，其范畴成员和用法都是相对固定的。即便是用法稳定的情态范畴成员，也经历了语法化这一过程，继而成为助动词类。通过研究情态动词的语法化过程，我们可以探究情态动词根义和认识义在情态动词语义系统中出现的先后顺序。而通过认知的语法化理论，我们也可以一窥其背后的深层动机。

法国语言学家Meillet最先提出语法化这一术语，语法化研究的是“自主词向语法成分之作用的演变”。[6]语法化在汉语里被称为实词虚化，对其的研究可追溯到18世纪。语法化究其本质就是词汇词或实义词虚化获得语法功能或者现存语法功能词进一步虚化的过程，情态动词是语法化研究的重要范畴。认知语言学家发现，情态动词的演变过程遵循单向性原则，并且各情态动词的语法化过程体现了惊人的相似性， 比如在其由“实”到“虚”的过程中，说话者的主观性也随之增加。对于语法化这一现象，认知语言学内部存在三种解释理论，分别是隐喻扩展理论，召请推理理论（invited inferencing thory）和主观化理论（subjectification theory）。[7]下面以“must”和“can”的语法化过程为例来说明。Traugott和Dasher通过对“must”的语法化过程研究发现，从古英语到现代英语，“must”的语法化过程可分为三个阶段：

第I阶段：must1：能力（2）；许可（3）（古英语）

（2）Ic hit pe ponne gehate pet pu on Heorote most sorhleas swefan.

‘I promise you that you will be able to sleep free from anxiety in Heorot.

（Eighth century， Beowulf） [8]

（3）ponne rideq elc hys weges mid qan feo&hyt motan habban eall.

‘Then each rides his own way with the money and can keep it all.

（c.880， Orosius） [8]

第II阶段：must2：义务/道义情态（古英语后期–中古英语早期）

（4）Ac qanne hit is pin wille at ic pe loc ofrin mote.

‘But then it is Thy will that I must offer Thee a sacrifice.

（c.1200，Vices and Virtues）[8]

第III阶段：must3：认识情态 （中古英语–现代英语）

（5）For yf that schrewednesse makith wrecches， than mot he nedes ben moost wrecchide that longest is a schrewe.

‘For if depravity makes men wretched， then he must necessarily be most wretched that is wicked longest.

（c.1380， Chaucer， Boece） [8]

由此可以看出，“must”在古英语中为实义动词，意思是“能够”，有各种曲折和形态变化。在中古英语时期，其表达许可、义务的道义义才开始出现。而涉及知识和信念的认识情态义到现代英语中才被广泛使用。而就其词义演变的动机，Traugott和Dasher提到，最开始，实义词“must”表达许可意义， 而由于给出许可的通常是处于权威地位国王或者教堂，因而在具体的语境中衍生出了义务义这一用法，随着这一词义使用的增加，才衍生出涉及言语活动主体主观判断的认识义，在其语法化和语义发展过程中，说话者主观性是逐步增强的。

笔者通过搜集语料发现，情态动词“can”的语法化过程也可分为三个阶段：

第I阶段：can1：知道（古英语）

（6）nu hit is openlic cup et pa selestan geselea on nanum orum gesceaftum ne sint buton on gode

‘now it is openly known that the best blessings in no other creatures not are except in God[9]

第II阶段：can2：一般能力/动力情态（中古英语）

（7）Thou canest not with one view peruse the wide compasse of it.[10]

第III阶段：can3：许可/道义情态；推测/认识情态（现代英语）

（8）We can wear what we want at work.（许可）

（9）Smoking can do harm to our health.（推测）

“can”在古英语中的词形为“cunnan”， 是一个实义动词，其过去式为“cun”，意为“知道”或者“熟悉”。在中古英语中，作为情态助动词表一般能力的“can”使用很广泛。在现代英语中，“can”表“知道”的意义已不再使用，在其“一般能力”的词义上演变出其表“许可”的意义。此外，“can”表“推测”，涉及说话者的态度、推理、判断的词义也开始使用。

英语中情态助动词大都是通过表示身体能力或者精神愿望的实义动词演变而来，比如“will”在古英语中意为“欲望”，may是从表“身体力量”和“强壮”古英语词“magan”演变而来。[11]情态动词的语法化过程是沿着“实义词”–“道义义”–“认识义”这一路径进行的。认知语言学的语法化理论认为演变的内在机制包括隐喻和转喻，并且在其词义演变过程中，主体的主观性作用越来越强。

四.情态动词多义项的共时联系

情态动词的的根义和认识义在共时条件下是共存的，那么这两种语义的关系是什么？在认知语言学家看来，情态动词的多个意项之间并非不相关，大量的历史发生学，社会语言学和心理语言学的证据都支撑着“情态动词的认识义是对其根义的隐喻扩展”这一论断。[5]50就情态范畴而言，Sweester认为我们是凭借涉及外在物理世界具体经验的道义情态域来理解推理和判断的这一认识情态域的。借助Talmy的动力语义学框架，她首先分析了情态动词的根义，并认为认识义是通过现实世界向认识世界的投射来理解的。

Talmy动力语义学框架来源于我们在日常生活中对物体间相互作用力的体验，如力的释放（exertion）及抵抗（resistance）， 力的阻碍（blockage）和阻碍的移除（removal of such blockage）等。在动力图示框架中有两个相互作用的物体，主动方（Ago： agonist）和应对方（Ant： antagonist），双方存在力量的抗衡，一旦后者的力量大于前者，前者的运动状态将发生改变。主动方的作用态势可能是趋向行动（toward action）也可能是趋向静止（toward rest），应对方的作用力刚好是相反的趋向。[12]我们首先看一个语言实例，如图1：

（10）[The ball]Ago kept rolling because of [the wind]Ant.

其作用力图式如图1：

在Talmy的动力图式框架中，“圆”代表的是主动方，“凹陷形状”代表的是应对方，“·”表示主体的意向是趋向静止或者不作为，而“>”代表主体的趋向是趋向运动或者作出某行为，“+”标记双方中力量较强的一方，下方横线表示主体运动途径，其上的“·”或者“>”标记表明主体最终的结果状态。例句中由于风的作用力较强，球的运动状态发生了改变，这一因果关系便体现在作用力图式中。

借助这一动力图式框架下的“力”以及“阻碍”等概念，接下来我们来看情态动词根义的作用力图式。

（11a）You[Ago] can come anytime.

（11b）Jenny[Ago] may go to the playground

（11c）You[Ago] must pay your income tax.

（11d） John[Ago] cant bring his mobile phone.

（11e）You[Ago] may not leave the house

（11f）You[Ago] mustnt skip classes.

在Talmy看来，情态动词“can”和“may”在其根义的用法上面有很多重叠之处，因而例（11a）和例（11b）可以合成一个图式， 如图2所示，此处的反作用力暗含的是一个可能存在但此时并不存在的阻碍，因而主体的行为未被阻碍。如图3，在“must”根义的肯定用法中，应对方的反作用力强大到使主语不得不并且只能进行指定的行为，在此处即纳税。

如图4，在“can”和“may”根义的否定用法中，潜在障碍的存在使得主语无法进行他原本打算进行的行为；在“must”根义的否定用法中，外界的强大的压力使主体不能做出某行为。

从这些作用力图式可以看出，情态动词根义中的义务、责任、许可都概念被形象化为物理世界中不同强度的作用力，正如作用力可以引起物体运动状态的改变，不同情态动词的使用有着不同的语义暗含，对主体施加的道义力度不一样，产生的行为结果自然也不同。Sweester总结了其他的情态动词的根义，如“shall”表明说话者有一种内驱力促使他作出某行为，“will”表明某一行为或者意图的完成，“ought to”表明主语在社会外力的作用下去进行某一行为，“have to”表明外在权威迫使主体去作出某一行为，“need to”表明作者的内驱力。[13]

借助Talmy的动力语义学框架，我们对情态动词的根义有了深刻的理解，并且正是由于我们将道义域中的责任、许可看做是物理世界中不同强度的作用力，我们可以将情态动词的道义义和认识义联系起来，这一联结机制便是隐喻扩展。我们对抽象概念域的理解通常是借助具体概念域的结构进行的，原始域和目标域之间进行映射。涉及情态动词的多义性，始发域是外在社会物理世界，其中存在着力和阻碍，目标域是内在认识世界，始发域中的力和阻碍对应于内心世界中的证据和前提（premises）， 认识世界的推理过程也被看做是空间中的一段路径。

我们通过一组例句来看情态动词根义和认识的对应关系：

（12a）John may leave the house.

“John is not barred by authority from leaving the house.”

“没有外界权威力阻止约翰离开这所房子。”

（12b） John may be wrong.

“I am not barred by my premises from the conclusion that he is wrong.”

“没有证据前期阻止我得出‘他错了这一结论。”

（13a） You must come home by ten （Mom said so.）

“The direct force （of Moms authority） compels you to come home by ten”

“母亲的直接威慑力使得你必须在10点以前回家”

（13b） You must have been home last night.

“The available （direct） evidence compels me to the conclusion that you were home”

“大量的直接证据迫使我得出‘昨晚你在家这一结论。”

（14a） I can lift fifty pounds.

“Some potentiality enables me to lift 50 lbs.”

“某种潜力使我能够举起50磅。”

（14b） You cant have lifted fifty pounds.

“Some set of premises dis-enables me from conducting that you lifted 50 lbs.”

“存在证据前提使我不能够得出‘你能举起50磅这一论断。”

在认识域，正如物理世界中不同强度的力引起了主体运动状态的不同变化，不同情态动词表明的认识义也使主体作出不同强度的可能性判断，其认知结构得到了不同程度的改变。通过借助动力图式框架和隐喻扩展理论来分析情态动词的多义现象，我们摆脱了成分分析的困扰，为其语义分析另辟蹊径，情态动词语义的模糊性得到了统一的阐释。

五.结语

英语情态动词由于其语义模糊性一直给语言学习者带来了困扰，因而探讨情态动词多义项之间的关系变得十分必要。本文研究发现，通过追溯情态动词的语法化过程，情态动词大多由表示身体能力的实义词演变而来，并且认识义的用法晚于其道义义，在这一过程中，隐转喻是其词义演变机制。从共时的角度看，情态动词根义和认识义是共存的，各情态动词的根义用动力语义学的框架可以得到很好的解释，通过隐喻扩展理论，涉及力和障碍等概念的具体的社会经验被用来理解推理演绎等心理过程，情态动词多个义项得到了统一的解释。

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