情態(tài)動詞表示說話人對某一動作或狀態(tài)的態(tài)度,認(rèn)為“可能”、“應(yīng)當(dāng)”、“必要”等等,但本身詞義不完全,不能單獨作謂語動詞,必須和不帶“to”的動詞不定式(即動詞原形;ought 除外)連用。情態(tài)動詞沒有人稱和數(shù)的變化。朗讀時,情態(tài)動詞的肯定式一般不重讀。
1. can和could(could是can的過去式)
(1) 表示“許可”、“驚異”、“可能性”、“能夠”等。在口語中,can 可以代替may,而may比較正式。
1) You can go now. (許可)
2) He said I could borrow his bike. (許可)
3) What on earth can this mean? (驚異)
4) At that time I thought the story could not be true. (可能)
5) Some of us can use the computer now, but we couldnt three years ago. (能力)
【高考鏈接】 1. I have a word with you? It wont take long.(2014年 北京卷27)
A. CanB. Must
C. ShallD. Should
(2) could可以代替can,表示①語氣較為婉轉(zhuǎn),②可能性較小。
1) Could you wait a few days for the money?
2) Could you be here at eight oclock tomorrow morning?
【高考鏈接】 2. —Happy birthday! (2012年 江蘇卷35)
—Thank you! Its the best present I for.
A. should have wishedB. must have wished
C. may have wishedD. could have wished
(3) can和be able to都可以表示能力,意思上沒有區(qū)別,但can 只有現(xiàn)在式和過去式(could),而be able to則有更多的形式。
1) No one is able to do it. (No one can do it.)
2) We shall be able to finish the work next week.
3) I havent been able to find the book.
2. may和might(might是may的過去式)
(1) 表示允許或征詢對方許可,有“可以”的意思。用作此意時,它的否定形式可用may not,但在表示“不可以”、“禁止”、“阻止”等意思時,常用must not (mustnt) 代替may not.
1) You may go now.
2) He said that I might borrow his bike.
3) —May I watch TV after supper?
—Yes, you may.
—No, you mustnt.或No, you may not. (或No, youd better not.)
在請求對方許可時,可用Might I...? 代替May I...? 表示更禮貌一些。如:
Might I use your telephone?
(2) 表示可能性,有“或許”、“可能”的意思。may或might + 不定式,都可表示可能性。用might則語氣更加不肯定。
1) He may be right.
2) I hear there may be a few copies left.
3) He may come today (tomorrow).
4) He might come today (tomorrow).
5) She might have some fever.
【高考鏈接】 3. Life is unpredictable; even the poorest become the richest. (2014年 江西卷30)
A. shallB. must
C. needD. might
【高考鏈接】 4. Had they known what was coming next, they second thoughts.(2012年浙江卷19)
A. may haveB. could have
C. must have hadD. might have had
3. must, have to和ought to
(1) must表示“必須”、“應(yīng)該”。否定式must not(mustnt)表示“不應(yīng)該”、“不許可”、“不準(zhǔn)”、“禁止”等。
1) Everybody must obey the rules.
2) The work must be finished as soon as possible.
3) You mustnt lend it to others.
4) You mustnt speak like that to your mother.
在回答帶有“must”的問句時,否定式常用need not (neednt) 或dont have to,表示“不必”,而不用must not,因為must not表示“不可以”。如:
—Must I be home before eight oclock?
—Yes, you must.
—No, you neednt.或No, you dont have to.
(2) must表示推測(“一定”、“必定”),只用在肯定句中。
1) You must be hungry after the long walk.
2) The Chinese language must have the largest number of speakers.
“must + have + 過去分詞”表示對過去事情的推測。
【高考鏈接】 5. Harry is feeling uncomfortable. He too much at the party last night.(2013年 遼寧卷31)
A. could drinkB. should drink
C. would have drunkD. must have drunk
(3) have to表示“必須”,“不得不”,在這個意義上與must很接近,但must表示的是說話人的主觀看法,而have to表示的卻是客觀需要。have to比must 有更多的形式。
1) I must go now. (主觀看法)
I have to go now. (客觀看法)
2) You dont have to worry about that.
3) He had to spend his childhood on hard work, helping his father on their small farm.
4) The students of today will have to know how to use the computers of tomorrow.
5) A poor boy like me couldnt go to school in those days. Thats why I always had to work when I was your age.
(4) ought to表示應(yīng)該做的事情(和should差不多,只是口氣稍重一些)或非??赡艿氖虑椤?/p>
1) You ought to follow your fathers advice.
2) The emperor thought that he ought to have nothing to fear for himself.
3) —Ought he to go?
—Yes, I think he ought (to).
4. need和dare
(1) need表示“需要”、“必需”。通常用在否定句或疑問句中。neednt have done主要表示某事已經(jīng)做了,但后來覺得沒必要去做,因此常含有責(zé)備或遺憾之意,譯成漢語通常是“本來不必……”。
1) He neednt pay for it.
2) —Need you go now?
—Yes, I must.
—No, I neednt.
【高考鏈接】 6. —Ive prepared all kinds of food for the picnic. (2014年 湖南卷25)
—Do you mean we bring anything with us?
A. cantB. mustnt
C. shantD. neednt
【高考鏈接】 7. We have bought so much food now that Suzie wont be with us for dinner.(2012年 江西卷22)
A. may notB. neednt
C. cantD. mustnt
(2) dare表示“敢”。通常用于否定句、疑問句和條件從句中。
1) How dare you say Im unfair?
2) She dare not do so.
注:need 和dare也可以用作行為動詞,其變化與一般動詞相同。
1) We need to think it over.
2) Does he need to know it?
3) She didnt need to go.
4) Who dares to go?
5) I dont dare (to) ask her.
5. shall和should
(1) shall作為情態(tài)動詞,用于第二、三人稱,表示說話人的意愿,有“命令”、“警告”、“威脅”、“強制”、“允諾”等意思。
1) You shall do as I say.
2) Tell him that he shall have the book tomorrow.
【高考鏈接】 8. One of our rules is that every student wear school uniform while at school.(2012年 遼寧卷24)
A. mightB. could
C. shallD. will
(2) 在疑問句中,shall用來征詢對方意見或請求指示,用于第一、三人稱。
1) Where shall I wait for you?
2) Shall he come at once?
3) Shall we start the meeting now?
(3) should作為情態(tài)動詞,表示“勸告”、“建議”時,可譯作“應(yīng)該”;還有可能用于虛擬語氣中。
1) You should keep your promise.
2) We should be strict in all our work.
3) Young people should learn how to use computers.
【高考鏈接】 9. It was sad to me that they, so poor themselves, bring me food.(2014年 江蘇卷31)
A. mightB. would
C. should D. could
【高考鏈接】 10. My mom suggests that we eat out for a change this weekend.(2013年 陜西卷 12)
A. shouldB. might
C. couldD. would
6. will和would
A. will
(1) will表示“意志”、“意愿”,可用于各種人稱。
1) I will tell you all about it.
2) Well help him if he asks us (to).
3) He wont go.
(2) will在疑問句中用于第二人稱時,表示詢問對方的意愿或向?qū)Ψ教岢稣埱蟆?/p>
1) Im going down to the shop after school. Will you go with me?
2) Will you please give him a message when you see him?
3) Wont you sit down?
(3) 表示習(xí)慣性動作,有“總是”、“慣于”的意思。
1) Fish will die out of water.
2) Hell talk for hours if you give him the chance.
B. would
(1) would 是will的過去式,表示過去時間的“意志”、“意愿”,用于各個人稱。
1) They said that they would help us.
2) I promised that I would do my best.
【高考鏈接】 11. Days later, my brother called to say he was all right, but say where he was.(2012年 江蘇卷28)
A. mustntB. shouldnt
C. wouldntD. mightnt
(2) 表示說話人的意愿或向?qū)Ψ教岢稣埱螅Z氣比will婉轉(zhuǎn)。指的是現(xiàn)在時間。
1) Would you like some bananas?
2) Id like to see your tenspeed bicycles.
3) —Would you like to see a film?
—Yes, Id like to.
—Thanks. Im afraid I wont be able to.
注:在口語中,I would like to和I should like to都可以說。I would like to即Id like to.
(3) 表示過去的習(xí)慣動作。
1) She would sit like that for hours.
2) Every day she would get up at six oclock and light the fire.
【高考鏈接】 12. I still remember my happy childhood when my mother take me to Disneyland at weekends.(2014年 四川卷6)
A. mightB. must
C. wouldD. should
答案與解析
1. A。本題考查的是情態(tài)動詞基本意義辨析。can能夠,可能;must必須,一定;非得;shall將要;should應(yīng)該。句意:我可以和你談?wù)剢幔?不會花很多時間的。根據(jù)句意可知本題使用can I...? 表示詢問對方是否允許。
2. D。本題考查的是情態(tài)動詞+完成式。A項意為“本應(yīng)該期望而實際上并非如此”;B項意為“一定希望”;C項意為“也許希望”;D項意為“可能希望”。句意為:——生日快樂!——謝謝你!這是我所能期望的最好的禮物了。
3. D。本題考查的是情態(tài)動詞辨析。shall將要;must必須,一定;need需要;might也許。句意:生活是無法預(yù)測的,甚至最貧窮的人也許會成為最富有的人。根據(jù)前句:Life is unpredictable。說明一切都有可能,所以使用might表示存在的可能性。
4. D。本題考查的是虛擬語氣中的情態(tài)動詞。本句是一個倒裝句,可還原為:If they had known what was coming next, they might have had second thought。根據(jù)had known提示,可知是與過去事實相反,因此虛擬語氣主句中應(yīng)該用would / might +have done,由此可見答案D符合語境。
5. D。本題考查情態(tài)動詞表示猜測的用法。根據(jù)時間狀語last night可知,本句講的是過去的事情,故先排除選項A、B。would have done是與過去事實相反的虛擬語氣的主句結(jié)構(gòu)。must have done表示對過去情況猜測,“肯定做過……”。由句意理解,這里是表示猜測,故選D。句意:亨利看起來似乎不舒服。他肯定是昨晚的晚宴上喝多了。
6. D。題干意思是:——我已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好了野餐要帶的各種食物?!愕囊馑际俏覀儾槐貛澄锪藛幔坑纱丝芍钤~意思是“不必”,故選D。
7. B。本題考查情態(tài)動詞表示推測。本題要注意后面的now that從句:Suzie不與我們一起吃飯。所以前面是在說我們本沒有必要,neednt have done主要表示某事已經(jīng)做了,但后來覺得沒必要去做,因此常含有責(zé)備或遺憾之意,譯成漢語通常是“本來不必……”,句意:我們本來不必買這么多食物的,既然Suzie不與我們一起吃飯。
8. C。Shall用于第二、第三人稱,表示說話人給對方命令、警告、允諾或威脅。這兒是說根據(jù)學(xué)校規(guī)定學(xué)生在校時都必須要穿校服。
9. C。本題考查的是情態(tài)動詞的特殊意義。might也許;would會,過去常常做某事;should應(yīng)該,竟然;could能夠。句意:讓我難過的是,如此貧窮的他們竟然給我?guī)砹耸澄?。根?jù)句意可知本句中的should表示“竟然”。
10. A。題干關(guān)鍵詞為suggest,表示建議,其后所接的名詞性從句應(yīng)用“(should)+動詞原形”的虛擬語氣。
11. C。mustnt意為“禁止”;shouldnt意為“不應(yīng)該”;wouldnt意為“不愿意”;mightnt意為“或許不”。句意:幾天后,我哥哥打電話說他一切很好,但不愿意說他在哪兒。
12. C 。此題考查的是would表示過去的習(xí)慣性動作,可譯為“過去常?!?。句意:我仍舊記得我快樂的童年,那時我的母親常在周末帶我去迪斯尼樂園。
【特別提醒】 情態(tài)動詞除表示一定的意思外,大都同時表示說話人的口氣、神態(tài)、感情等。閱讀時要結(jié)合上下文,使用時要注意到這一點。
(作者:吳濤,南京市第三高級中學(xué))