考向1 情態動詞
一、can, could與be able to
1. 表示能力(體力、知識、技能)。
Can you lift this heavy box?(體力)
Mary can speak three languages.(知識)
Can you skate?(技能) 此時可用be able to代替。
can只有一般現在時和一般過去式;而be able to則有更多的時態。
I』ll not be able to come this afternoon.
當表示"經過努力才得以做成功某事"時應用be able to,不能用can。如:
He was able to go to the party yesterday evening in spite of the heavy rain.
2. 表示請求和允許。
—Can I go now?
—Yes, you can. / No, you can’t.此時可與may互換。
在疑問句中還可用could, might代替,不是過去式,只是語氣更委婉,不能用於肯定句和答語中。
—Could I come to see you tomorrow?
—Yes, you can. (No, I’m afraid not.)
3. 表示客觀可能性(客觀原因形成的能力)。
They』ve changed the timetable, so we can go by bus instead. This hall can hold 500 people at least.
4. 表示推測(驚訝、懷疑、不相信的態度),用於疑問句、否定句和感嘆句中。
Can this be true?
This can’t be done by him. How can this be true?
二、may, might
1. 表示請求和允許。
might比may語氣更委婉,而不是過去式。否定回答時可用can’t或mustn’t,表示"不可以,禁止"。
——Might/ May I smoke in this room?
——No, you mustn’t.
——May/Might I take this book out of the room?
——Yes, you can. (No, you can’t / mustn’t. )
用May I...?徵徇對方許可時比較正式和客氣,而用Can I...?在口語中更常見。
2. 用於祈使句,表示祝願。
May you succeed!
might為may的過去式,但也可以代替may,語氣較為婉轉客氣或更加不肯定。
He might not come today.今天他也許不來了。(語氣不肯定)
You might also get a headache when you work too hard.當你工作太努力時,你也可能患頭痛。
三、must, have to
1. 表示必須、必要
You must come in time.
在回答引出的問句時,如果是否定的,不能用mustn’t(禁止,不準),而用needn’t, don’t have to(不必)。
——Must we hand in our exercise books today?
——Yes, you must. /No, you don’t have to / you needn’t.
2. must是說話人的主觀看法,而have to則強調客觀需要。
must只有一般現在時,have to有更多的時態形式。
I really must go now.
I had to work when I was your age.
3. must表示推測、可能性(只用於肯定的陳述句)
You’re Tom’s good friend, so you must know what he likes best.
Your mother must be waiting for you now.
must開頭的疑問句,其否定回答通常用don’t have to或needn’t。而不用mustn’t。
—Must I finish my homework first?我必須先完成作業嗎?
—No, you don’t have to/ needn’t.不,你不必。
can和must在表推測時,can一般用於否定句中,而must常用於肯定句中。
It can not be Li Lei.那個人不可能是李磊。
It must be Li Lei.那個人肯定是李磊。
四、dare, need
1. dare作情態動詞用時,常用於疑問句、否定句和條件從句中,過去式形式為dared。
How dare you say I’m unfair?
He daren’t speak English before such a crowd, dare he?
If we dared not go there that day,we couldn’t get the beautiful flowers.
2. need 作情態動詞用時,常用於疑問句、否定句。在肯定句中一般用must, have to, ought to, should代替。You needn’t come so early.
—Need I finish the work today?
—Yes, you must. / No, you needn’t.
注意:
dare和need作實義動詞用時,有人稱、時態和數的變化。在肯定句中,dare後面常接帶to的不定式。在疑問句和否定句中,dare後面可接帶to或不帶to的不定式。而need後面只能接帶to的不定式。
I dare to swim across this river.
He doesn’t dare (to) answer.
He needs to finish his homework today.
五、shall, should
1. shall 用於第一人稱,徵求對方的意見。
What shall we do this evening?
2. shall 用於第二、三人稱,表示說話人給對方的命令、警告、允諾或威脅。
You shall fail if you don’t work hard.(警告)
He shall have the book when I finish it.(允諾)
He shall be punished.(威脅)
3. should表示義務、職責等,意為"應該"。
You should be strict with yourself as an officer.
作為一名官員,你應該嚴格要求自己。
六、will, would
1. 表示請求、建議等,would更委婉。
Will / Would you pass me the ball, please?
2. 表示意志、願望和決心。
I will never do that again.
They asked him if he would go abroad.
3. would表示過去反覆發生的動作或某種傾向。would表示過去習慣時比used to正式,且沒有"現已無此習慣"的含義。
During the vacation, he would visit me every other day.
The wound would not heal.
七、should, ought to
1. should, ought to表示"應該",ought to表示義務或責任,比should語氣重。
I should help her because she is in trouble.
You ought to take care of the baby.
2. 表示勸告、建議和命令。should, ought to可通用,但在疑問句中常用should。
You should / ought to go to class right away.
Should I open the window?
3. 表示推測should , ought to (客觀推測), must(主觀推測)。
He must be home by now. (斷定他已到家)
He ought to/should be home by now.(不太肯定)
This is where the oil must be.(直爽)
This is where the oil ought to/should be.(含蓄)
考向2 情態動詞+have done
1."must have done"
表示對過去事情的肯定推測,譯成"一定做過某事",該結構只用於肯定句。
It must have rained last night, for the ground is wet.昨晚一定下雨了,因為地面還是溼的。
You must have been mad to speak to the servant.你和僕人說話,一定是發瘋了。
2."can』t have done"
表示對過去事情的否定推測,譯成"不可能做過某事"。
MrSmith can’t have gone to Beijing, for I saw him in the library just now.
史密斯先生不可能去北京了,我剛才還在圖書館見過他。
Mary can’t have stolen your money. She has gone home.
瑪麗不可能偷你的錢,她回家去了。
3."can have done"
表示對過去行為的懷疑,用於疑問句,譯成"可能做過……嗎?"。
There is no light in the room. Can they have gone out?
屋裡沒有燈,他們可能出去了嗎?
There is nowhere to find them. Where can they have gone?
到處找不到他們,他們可能到什麼地方去呢?
4."could have done"
是虛擬語氣,表示對過去事情的假設,意思是本來能夠做某事而沒有做。
He could have passed the exam, but he was too careless.本來他能夠通過考試,但是他太粗心。
5."may have done"
表示對發生過的事情的推測,意思是"可能已經"或"也許已經",用於肯定句中。
—What has happened to George?喬治發生了什麼事?
—I don’t know. He may have got lost.我不知道,他可能迷路了。
6."might have done"
表示對過去事情的推測,might與may意思相同,但可能性更小。多用於虛擬語氣結構中。
She might have achieved greater progress, if you had given her more chances.
如果你多給她點機會,她可能已經取得了更大的成績。
7."would have done"
虛擬語氣,表示對過去事情的假設,意思是"本來會……"。
I would have told you all about the boy’s story, but you didn’t ask me.
我本來會告訴你這個小男孩的故事,但是你沒有問我。
8."should have done"
意思是"本來應該做某事,而實際沒做"。"shouldn’t+have+done"表示本來不應該做某事,而實際做了。含有指責對方或自責的含義。
Tom, you are too lazy. The work should have been finished yesterday.
湯姆,你太懶惰了,這項工作本來應該昨天就做完的。
Look, Tom is crying. I shouldn’t have been so harsh on him.
看,湯姆哭了,我本不應該對他如此嚴厲的。
9."ought to have done"
表示過去應該做而實際並沒有做,譯成"理應做……",往往表示遺憾。與"should have done"用法基本一樣。
I ought to have gone home last Sunday.我理應上星期日回家。
You ought not to have given him more help.你不應該幫助他那麼多。
10."need have done"
表示本來需要做某事而實際沒有做。"needn’t have done"則表示"本來不需要做某事而實際做了"
I needn’t have bought so much wine—only five people came.
我本來沒有必要買這麼多酒,只來了五個人。
He need have hurried to the station. In that case, he wouldn’t have missed the train.
他本來需要快點去車站的,那樣的話,他就不會誤了火車。
難點剖析
情態動詞表猜測的用法:
一、can / could用於表推測的用法
(1) 從使用句型上看,can通常只用於否定句或疑問句,一般不用於肯定句,而could可用於肯定句、否定句和疑問句。兩者沒有時間上的差別,只是could比can更委婉,更不確定。如:
It can’t [couldn’t] be true.那不可能是真的。
What can [could] they be doing?他們會在幹什麼呢?
We could go there this summer.今年夏天我們可能要去那兒。
註:can 有時也用於肯定句中表示推測,主要用於表示理論上的可能性(即從理論上看是可能的,但實際未必會發生),或表示"有時"之意。如:
Even experienced teachers can make mistakes.即使是有經驗的教師也可能出錯。
She can be very unpleasant.她有時很令人討厭。
(2) 從時間關係看,對現在或將來情況作推測,後接動詞原形;對正在進行的情況作推測,後接be doing結構;對過去情況作推測,後接動詞完成式。如:
He could have gone home.他可能已經回家了。
He can’t [couldn’t] have understood.他不可能理解了。
Why does he know this? Can [Could] someone have told him about it?
他怎麼知道? 會是哪個人告訴他了嗎?
(3) "could+完成式"除表示對過去的推測外,還有以下重要用法:
表示過去沒有實現的可能性,常譯為"本來可以"。如:
I could have lent you the money. Why didn’t you ask me?
我本來可以借這筆錢給你的。你為什麼不向我提出?
用來委婉地責備某人過去應該做某事而沒有去做,常譯為"本來應該"。如:
You could have helped him.你本來應該幫助他的。
表示"差點兒就要"。如:
I could have died laughing.我差點兒笑死了。
二、 may / might用於表推測的用法
表示推測,兩者都可用,只是 might 比may語氣更不確定,表示的可能性更小。
(1) 在句型使用方面:兩者均可用於肯定句和否定句,但用於疑問句時,may通常不用於句首,但可用於疑問句的句中(如特殊疑問句等),而might儘管可以用於疑問句的句首,但不算普通,通常會改用其他句式(如用could等)。如:
He may [might] know the answer.他可能知道答案。
He may [might] not believe you.他可能不會相信你。
And who may [might] she be?那麼她會是哪一位呢?
(2) 從時間關係看,對現在或將來情況作推測,後接動詞原形;對正在進行的情況作推測,後接be doing結構;對過去情況作推測,後接動詞完成式。如:
He may [might] tell his wife.他也許會告訴他妻子。
He may [might] be writing a letter.他可能在寫信。
She may [might] have read it in the papers.她可能在報上已讀到過此事。
(3)"might+完成式"除表示對過去的推測外,還有以下重要用法:
表示過去某事可能發生而實際上卻並沒發生。如:
It was really very dangerous. I might have killed myself.那真的是太危險了,我差點沒命了。
A lot of men died who might have been saved.很多人本來可以獲救的卻死了。
表示委婉的批評或責備。如:
You might have made greater progress.你的進步本來可更大一些的。
You might at least have answered my letter.你至少可以回我一封信嘛。
三、must表示推測的用法
must 表示很有把握的推測,其意為"一定會""肯定會",只用於肯定句,一般不用於否定句或疑問句。表示對現在或未來的情況作推測,後接動詞原形;表示對過去情況的推測,接動詞完成式。如:
I must be the happiest woman on earth!我一定是世界上最幸福的女人了。
No, he must be lying.不,他一定在撒謊
He must have mistaken my meaning.他一定誤會了我的意思。
考向3 虛擬語氣
一、虛擬語氣在條件句中的應用
包含條件從句的句子稱為條件句。條件句分為兩類:一類是真實條件句,一類是虛擬條件句。
如果假設的情況很可能發生,就用真實條件句。
If he has time, he wil come.如果他有時間,他會來的。
He won’t succeed unless we plan well.他不會成功的,除非我們計劃好。
如果假設的情況發生的可能性不大,則用虛擬條件句。虛擬條件句分為三種,見下表:
If he had time now,he would(could,might)go with you.
要是他現在有時間,他會和你一起去的。(與現在事實相反)
If you had come a few minutes earlier,you would(could,might) have met the famous singer.
如果你早來幾分鐘,你就會見到那個著名歌手了。(與過去事實相反)
If it were to snow this evening,they would not go out.
如果今天晚上下雪,他們就不會出去。(與將來事實相反)
二、幾種特殊的虛擬條件從句
1.省略if形式的虛擬語氣
在if虛擬條件句中,若省略if,則將should,were,had前置,構成主謂倒裝句式。
Had I worked harder,I would have succeeded.
如果我當時努力學習的話,我就會成功的。
Were she my daughter(Should she be my daughter),I wouldn’t allow her to study abroad.
如果她是我的女兒的話,我就不讓她出國學習了。
2.混合虛擬語氣
若主句和從句所表示的時間不一致,就構成了混合虛擬語氣或錯綜虛擬語氣,此時,主句和從句的時態形式根據實際的時間概念來定。
If she had followed the doctor’s words,she would feel better now.
如果當初她聽從了醫生的建議,現在就會好多了。
3.含蓄虛擬語氣
有時候假設的條件不是通過條件從句表達,而是隱含在某些介詞短語中,如without...,連詞but for,otherwise,or等中。
Without music(=If there were no music),the world would be dull.
世界若無音樂將會很枯燥。
I’m really very busy,otherwise I would certainly go there with you.(otherwise=if I were not so busy)
我真的是太忙了,不然我就會同你一道去了。
三、虛擬語氣在賓語從句中的應用
1.動詞wish後的賓語從句。
表示現在的情況,從句謂語用過去式;表示過去的情況,從句謂語用過去完成式;表示將來的情況,從句謂語用"would/ should/could/might +動詞原形"。
I wish I were ten years younger now.我希望我現在年輕十歲。
I wish I had met him yesterday.我昨天能遇到他就好了。
I wish I would be a scientist.我希望將來成為科學家。
2.在表示請求、建議、命令、要求等動詞後的賓語從句中,謂語用"should +動詞原形",should可省略常見的這類動詞有:suggest,recommend,insist,order,require,advise,demand,command,ask,request,propose等。
He suggested that we (should) be here in time.他建議我們及時到那兒。
The doctor advised that he (should) change his job.醫生勸他換工作。
3.在would rather後的賓語從句中,謂語常用過去式來表示現在或將來的情況,用過去完成式表示過去的情況。
I would rather you told me the truth.我願意你跟我講真話。
I would rather you had been present.我倒願意你當時在場。
4.在"It is (about/high) time+that從句"中,謂語動詞常用過去式或"should+動詞原形"表示虛擬語氣,注意should不可省略。
It’s high time that we devoted ourselves to environmental protection.
是我們致力於環境保護的時候了。
5. as if,as though引導的表語從句和方式狀語從句中常用虛擬語氣,與現在事實相反用一般過去時;與過去事實相反用過去完成時。
They talked and talked as if they would never meet again.
他們談啊談好像永遠不會再見面一樣。
6. if only引導的感嘆句中,用虛擬語氣表示願望。
Look at the trouble we’re in.If only we had taken our teacher’s advice!
看看我們所處的困境,要是我們接受老師的建議就好了!
難點剖析
錯綜時間條件句的虛擬語氣
當條件狀語從句表示的行為和主句表示的行為所發生的時間不一致時,被稱為"錯綜時間條件句",動詞的形式要根據它所表示的時間做出相應的調整。
If you had followed the doctor’s advice,you would be better now.
如果你當時聽醫生建議的話,你現在就好多了。