情态动词是用来表达主体对客体,主体与主体之间,能力与义务,可能与不可能,请求与许可,劝告与命令,具有实际意义的语法功能性动词。
绝大多数情态动词在使用上,没有受到人称与数量的限定,情态动词与不带"to" 的不定式一起构成复合谓语,情态动词本身是功能词,可以作为助动词使用,其否定形式直接在其后面加not。情态动词用法的难点是如何通过语境来判定其语气及可能性的大小。
大多数情态动词都有推测性用法,情态动词的推测性用法可分为肯定语气推测,否定语气推测,以及介于肯定与否定之间的可能性推测。
扩展资料
1、情态动词并不需要特别改为其他时态,也不用加s或es。
2、除了have to 和ought to以外,其馀情态动词之后若要加上句子或是其他词性之语词,直接写即可,并不需要如To等介系词连接。
情态动词有can(could),may(might),must(must),have to,shall(should),will(would),need(need),dare(dared),ought to等。情态动词无人称和数的变化。它不能单独使用,必须与其后的动词原形构成谓语。情态动词的具体用法如下。
(一) can和could的用法
1.表示能力。例如:
Can you finish this work tonight ?
Man cannot live without air .
2.表示请求和允许。例如:
Can I go now ?
You can have the book when I have finished it .
3.表示可能性(可以,可能)。例如:
We can call for you at nine .
You can’t sell the cow and drink the milk, as the saying goes .
4.表示推测某人或某物一时的情况(有时候会……)。例如:
SARS can be very dangerous .非典型肺炎会很危险。
He can be very friendly at times .他有时会很友好。
The road can be blocked .路可能会被堵塞了。
Our house is on the top of the hill, and in winter the winds can be pretty cold .
5.表示惊异、怀疑、不相信的态度(主要用在否定句、疑问句或感叹句中)。例如:
Can this be true ?
How can you be so careless !
This cannot be done by him .
注意:can的将来时,可用be able to代替。例如:
I’ll not be able to come this afternoon .
但当我们要表示“某件事已做成功”时,应用was(were) able to,不能用could。例如:
He was able to go to the party yesterday evening and he enjoyed himself very much .
6.could表示客气地提出要求或陈述看法。例如:
Could you come and see next Sunday .
I’m sorry I couldn’t lend you the book now .
7.could也可以表示请求,语气较委婉,主要用于疑问句,不用于肯定句,答语应用can。
例如:
—Could I come to see you tomorrow ?
—Yes, you can .(否定句答语可用:No, I’m afraid not .)
8.注意can的惯用语。
1) cannot but +原形动词,意为:“不得不”。例如:
I cannot but tell her the truth .
2) Cannot help +动名词,意为:“不得不”。例如:
I cannot help laughing .
3) Can but +原形动词,意为:“只好;不得不”。例如:
We can but agree with him .
4) Cannot … too意为:“怎么……也不为过;不嫌太过……”。(参阅形容词和副词)
A man cannot have too many ties .男人有再多的领带也不为过。
(二)may和might的用法
1.表示许可。表示请求、允许时,might比may的语气委婉。否定回答时可用can’t或mustn’t,表示“不可以”、“禁止”、“阻止”之意。例如:
—Might I use your pen ?
—No, you mustn’t .
—May I take this book out ?
—Yes, you can .(No, you can’t (mustn’t) .)
用May I …征询对方许可,在文体上比较正式,在语气上比较客气。在日常口语中,特别在现代口语中,用Can I …征询对方意见更为常见。
2.用语祈使句,表示祝愿。例如:
May you succeed !
3.表示推测,意为“可能”(不用于疑问句)。从语气上判断,may所表示的可能性比might大一点,而might则表示较多的怀疑。例如:
He may be very busy now .(可能性较大)
He might be very busy now .(可能性较小)
It may rain this afternoon .(可能性较大)
It might rain this afternoon .(可能性较小)
(三) must和have to的用法
1.表示必须、必要。例如:
You must come in time .
回答must引出的问句时,如果是肯定的,要用must;如果是否定的,不能用mustn’t,而要用needn’t或don’t have to。例如:
—Must we hand in our exercise books today ?
—Yes, you must .
—No, you don’t have to ( you needn’t ) .
2.“must + not”表示禁止。例如:
You must not walk on grass .
You mustn’t pick the flowers in the park .
3.“must be + 表语”的结构表示有把握的推测,它的否定或疑问形式用can代替must。例如:
This must be your pen .
4.must和have to表示“必须”时,意思很相似,但有下列几点区别应注意:
1) must表示的是说话人的主观看法,而have to则往往强调客观需要。比较:
The play is not interesting, I really must go now .
I had to work when I was your age .
2) must一般只表现在,have to则有更多的时态形式。
3) must可以表示推断,have to不能。
4) 询问对方的意愿时应用must。例如:
—Must I clean all the rooms ?
—Yes, you must .( No, you needn’t . )
5) 二者的否定意义大不相同。must not表示禁止,是说话人强有力的劝告,意为“决不可以”、“不准”、“不允许”。Don’t have to意为“不必”。比较:
You mustn’t go .你决不可去。
You don’t have to go .你不必去。
(四)dare和need的用法
1.dare作情态动词时,主要用于疑问句、否定句和条件从句,一般不用于肯定句。例如:
How dare you say I’m unfair ?
He daren’t speak English before such a crowd, dare he ?
2.need表示“需要”或“必须”,作情态动词用时,仅用于否定句或疑问句。在肯定句中一般用must,have to,ought to或should代替。例如:
You needn’t come so early .
—Need I finish the work today ?
—Yes, you must .
3.dare和need常用作实义动词,有时态、人称和数的变化。所不用的是,作实义动词时,在肯定句中,dare后面通常接带to 的不定式;在否定和疑问句中,dare后面可接带to或不带to的不定式。例如:
I dare to swim across this river .
He does not dare (to) answer .
Don’t you dare (to) touch it .
He needs to finish it this evening .
They did not need to arrive so early .
(五)shall和should的用法
1.shall在疑问句中,用于第一、第三人称,表示征求对方的意见。例如:
What shall we do this evening ?
Shall he go on an errand ?(你要他办点事吗?)
=Do you want him to go on an errand ?
回答:( Please ) Let him go .(叫他去吧。)
2.shall用于第二、第三人称,表示说话人给对方的命令、警告、允诺或威胁。例如:
You shall fail if you don’t work harder .(警告)
He shall have the book when I finish reading it .(允诺)
He shall be punished .(威胁)
3.表示立法、规章、法令、预言等,无论主语人称如何,一律用shall。例如:
House owners shall keep their gardens in a neat and ordinary state .
Death is certain to all ; all shall die .
4.should表示劝告、建议、命令,其同义词是ought to。在疑问句中,通常用should 代替ought to。例如:
You should go to class right away .
Should I open the window ?
5.should表示应该做,且有一种道义上的责任。例如:
I should help him because he is in trouble .
6.should表示明显的结果或合理的推断,且所期待的事几乎是事实,因此不是虚拟语气。
Mary took dancing lessons for years ; she should be an excellent dancer .
It is three o’clock, the football game should begin soon .
7.在疑问句中,should表示不合理,难于相信或不应该之事,意为“竟会”,常与how,why,who等连用。例如:
Should anybody call while I’m away, please write down his name and address .
Why should he publish such a book ?
Who should write it but himself ?
8.用在I’m surprised ; You can’t imagine等结构中,表示惊讶,忧虑,惋惜等情绪。例如:
You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman should be so rude to a lady .
(六)will和would的用法
1.表示请求、建议等,would比will委婉客气。例如:
Would you pass me the book ?
2.表示意志、愿望和决心。例如:
I will never do that again .
The door will not open .
The machine won’t start anyhow .
They asked us if we would do that again .
3.表示习惯性、倾向性,多用于第三人称。例如:
He will sit there hour after hour doing nothing .
4.would可表示过去反复发生的动作或某种倾向。would表过去习惯时比used to正式,且没有“现已无此习惯”的含义,常与every day,often,frequently等连用。例如:
During the vacation he would visit me every week .
The wound would not heal .
5.表示估计或猜想。例如:
It would be about ten when he left home .
What would she be doing there ?
I thought he would have told you all about it .
6.表示谦恭的请求,常用于疑问句。例如:
Would you tell me the way to the station ?
Would you mind lending me that book ?
(七)ought to的用法
1.ought to表示“应该”(和should差不多,只是语气稍重一些),无人称与时态变化。例如:
You ought to take care of him .
用于否定句和疑问句时,美国英语中常常省略“to”。例如:
You ought not smoke so much .
Ought you smoke so much ?
2.表示推测。注意与must表示推测时的区别:
He must be home by now .(断定他已到家)
He ought to be home by now .(不十分肯定)
This is where the oil must be .(比较直率)
This is where the oil ought to be .(比较含蓄)
(八)“情态动词+不定式完成式”的用法
1.“could have + 过去分词”表示“过去可以做而实际上未能做某事”。例如:
You could have done better, but you didn’t try your best .
We could have finished the task, but it was always raining .
否定式“can’t/couldn’t have + 过去分词”表示“过去不可能发生的事情”。疑问形式和否定形式表示对过去发生的行为怀疑或不肯定。用“can”语气较强烈,“could”语气较委婉。例如:
Where could Mary have gone ?
Can he have got the book ?
They cannot have gone out because the light is on !
He can’t (couldn’t) have stolen your money .他不可能偷了你的钱。
2.“may(might) + 不定式的完成式”表示对过去发生的行为的推测。might所表示的可能性比may小,语气较委婉。例如:
He may have finished the exercises, but he didn’t hand in .
If we had taken the other road, we might have arrived earlier .
3.“must + 不定式的完成式”的结构常用在肯定句中,表示对过去发生的行为的推测,意为“一定,想必”。它的否定或疑问形式用can代替must。例如:
You must have seen the film The Gold Rush .
He must have been to Shanghai .
They can’t have gone out, because the light is on .
4.“needn’t + 不定式的完成式”表示本来不必做某事而实际上做了某事。例如:
You needn’t have watered the flowers, for it is going to rain .
注意:didn’t need to do指“没有必要做而实际上也没有做某事”。didn’t have to do是“用过去十的形式表达完成时的意义,可相当于needn’t have done”。例如:
I didn’t need to clean the windows .My sister did it .
It was very kind of you to do the washing-up, but you didn’t have to do it .
5.“should + 不定式的完成式”表示本应该做而实际上没有做。其否定式表示某种行为
不该发生但却发生了。例如:
You should have started earlier, but you didn’t .
She shouldn’t have taken away my measuring tape, for I wanted to use it .
注意:He should have finished the work by now .(表推测)
6.“will + 不定式的完成式”的结构表示推测,主要用于第二、三人称,表示对已经完成的动作或事态的推测。例如:
he will have arrived by now .
7.“ought to + 不定式的完成式”表示过去应做某事人实际未做。例如:
You ought to have helped him ( but you didn’t ) .
这时,ought to与should可以互相换用。
(九)used to,had better,would rather的用法
1.used to表示过去的习惯动作或状态(现在已不复如此)。在间接引语中,其形式可不变。例如:
He told us he used to play football when he was young .
在疑问句、否定句、否定疑问句或强调句中,有两种形式:
疑问句:Did you use to go there as your brother ?
Used you to go there as your brother ?
否定句:I usedn’t to go there .
I didn’t use to go there .
usedn’t亦可拼作usen’t,但发音皆为[I ju:snt]。
否定疑问句:Usen’t you to be interested in the theatre ?
Didn’t you use to be interested in the theatre ?
强调句:I used to smoke, but it was a long time ago .
I did use to smoke, but it was a long time ago .
在反意疑问句或简略回答中,也有两种形式:
She used to be very fat, didn’t she ?
She used to be very fat, use( d )n’t she ?
—Did you use to play chess ? —Yes, I did .
—Used you to get up early in the morning ?
—Yes, I did ./ Yes, I used to .
2.had better意为“最好(做……)”,后接不带to的不定式。例如:
had better do sth.
had better not do sth.
We had better go now .
Hadn’t we better stop now ?
(Had we better not stop now ?)
I think I’d better be going .
(用于进行时态,表示“最好立即”。)
You had better have done that .
(用于完成时态,表示未完成动作。)
注意:
a) had best与had better同义,但较少用。
b) You had better …用于对同辈或晚辈,不可用于对长辈。
3.would rather意为“宁愿”,后接不带to的不定式。例如:
would rather do sth.
would rather not do sth.
I’d rather do it right away .
(接动词原形,指现在或将来。)
I’d rather not have told her the news .
(接不定式完成式,指过去。)
由于would rather表选择,因而后可接than。例如:
I would rather work on a farm than in a factory .
I would rather watch TV than go to see the film .
I would rather lose a dozen cherry trees than that you should tell me one lie .
一:特殊的虚拟语气词should
1)在主语从句中的应用
It is demanded / necessary / a pity + that…等结构的主语从句,谓语动词用should 加动词原形,should 可省略。
It is 可用的词有三类
that
(should)do
suggested, ordered, required, proposed, demanded, requested, insisted等
important, necessary, natural, imperative, strange等
a pity, a shame, no wonder等
2)在宾语从句中的应用
在表示命令、建议、要求等一类动词后面的从句中,像order, suggest, propose, require, demand, request, insist, command, insist + (should) do等。例如:
I suggest that we (should) hold a meeting next week. 我建议下周召开个会议。
He insisted that he (should ) be sent there.他要求被派到那儿去。
注意:如suggest, insist不表示"建议" 或"坚持要某人做某事时",即它们用于其本意"暗示、表明"、"坚持认为"时,宾语从句用陈述语气。
判断改错:? (错) You pale face suggests that you(should)be ill.
(对) Your pale face suggests that you are ill.
(错) I insisted that you(should)be wrong.
(对) I insisted that you were wrong.
3)在表语从句,同位语从句中的应用
suggestion, proposal, idea, plan, order, advice等名词后面的表语从句、同位语从句中要用虚拟语气,即(should)+动词原形。例如:
My idea is that we(should)get more people to attend the conference.我的想法是让更多的人来参加会议。
I make a proposal that we(should)hold a meeting next week.我提了个建议,下周我们开个会。
二:虚拟语气概述
1)虚拟语气用来表示说话人的主观愿望或假想,所说的是一个条件,不一定是事实,或与事实相反。虚拟语气在条件句中应用比较多。
2)条件句可分为两类,一类为真实条件句,一类为非真实条件句。非真实条件句表示的是假设的或实际可能性不大的情况,故采用虚拟语气。
三:真实条件句
真实条件句用于陈述语气,假设的情况有可能发生。各种结构参见下表:
句型
条件从句
主句
一般现在时
shall/will + 动词原形
祈使句
情态动词一般现在时
例如:If he comes, he will bring his violin. 如果他来,会带小提琴来的。
典型例题
The volleyball match will be put off if it ___.
A. will rain B. rains C. rained D. is rained
答案B。真实条件句主句为将来时,从句用一般现在时。
注意:
1)在真实条件句中,主句不能用be going to表示将来,该用shall, will.
(错) If you leave now, you are never going to regret it.
(对) If you leave now, you will never regret it.
2)表示真理时,主句谓语动词不用shall (will) +动词原形,而直接用一般现在时的动词形式。
四:非真实条件句
虚拟语气可以表示过去,现在和将来的情况,时态的基本特点是时态往后推移。
a. 与现在事实相反的假设
条件从句
主句
一般过去时(be用were)
should(would)等 +动词原形
例如:If they were here, they would help you. 如果他们在这儿,会帮助你的。
含义:They are not here, they can’t help you.
b. 与过去事实相反的假设
条件从句
主句
过去完成时
should(would)等+ have+ 过去分词
例如:If he had come yesterday, I should / would have told him about it.如果他昨天来的话,我会把这件事告诉他的。
含义:He did not come yesterday, so I did not tell him about it.
c. 表示对将来不大可能发生的事情的假想
条件从句
主句
一般过去时
should/would等 + 动词原形
were+ 不定式
should+ 动词原形
例如:If you succeeded, everything would be all right. 如果你将来成功了,一切都会好的。
If you should succeed, everything would be all right.
If you were to succeed, everything would be all right.
含义:You are not likely to succeed, everything will be what it is now.
五:表示推测的用法
can, could, may, might, must 皆可表示推测,其用法如下:
1)情态动词+动词原形,表示对现在或将来的情况的推测,此时动词通常为系动词。例如:
I don't know where she is, she may be in Wuhan. 我不知道她在哪儿,可能在武汉。
2)情态动词+动词现在进行时,表示对现在或将来正在进行的情况进行推测。例如:
At this moment, our teacher must be correcting our exam papers. 这时,想必我们老师正在批改试卷。
3)情态动词+动词完成时,表示对过去情况的推测。例如:
The road is wet. It must have rained last night. 地是湿的,昨天晚上一定下雨了。
4)情态动词+动词的现在完成进行时,表示对过去正在发生事情的推测。例如:
Your mother must have been looking for you. 你妈妈一定一直在找你。
5)推测的否定形式,疑问形式用can't, couldn't表示。例如:
Mike can't have found his car, for he came to work by bus this morning.
迈克一定还没有找回他的车,因为早上他是坐公共汽车来上班的。
注意:could, might表示推测时不表示时态,其推测的程度不如can, may
六:情态动词+ have +过去分词
1) may(might) have + done sth, can (could) have + done sth 表示过去,推测过去时间里可能发生的事情。例如:
Philip may (might) have been hurt seriously in the car accident. 菲力浦可能在车祸中受了重伤。
Philip can (could) have been hurt seriously in the car accident.
2) must have +done sth,对过去时间里可能发生的事情的推测,语气较强,具有"肯定","谅必"的意思。例如:
---Linda has gone to work, but her bicycle is still here. 琳达已经去上班了,但她的单车还在这儿。
---She must have gone by bus.肯定乘巴士去的。
3) ought to have done sth, should have done sth表示本应该做某事,而事实上并没有做。否定句表示"不该做某事而做了"。例如:
You ought to (should) have been more careful in this experiment. 你当时在做试验时应该更仔细点。
He ought not to have thrown the old clothes away.他不该把旧衣服扔了。(事实上已扔了。)
ought to 在语气上比should 要强。
4) needn't have done sth表示本没必要做某事,但做了。例如:
I dressed very warmly for the trip, but I needn't have done so. The weather was hot.
旅行时,我衣服穿得较多,其实没有必要。那时天很热。
5) would like to have done sth表示本打算做某事,但没做。例如:
I would like to have read the article, but I was very busy then. 我想读这篇文章,但太忙了一直没读。
首先它是动词,而且不同于行为动词,行为动词表示的是可以通过行为来表达的动作(如写,读,跑),而情态动词只是表达的一种想法(如能,也许,敢)。
用法是:情态动词+行为动词原形
例句:I
can
read
this
sentence
in
English.
我能用英语读这句话。
情态动词是一种本身有一定的词义,表示说话人的情绪,态度或语气的动词,但不能单独作谓语,
只能和其他动词原形构成谓语。
We
can
be
there
on
time
tomorrow.我们明天能按时去那儿。
May
I
have
your
name?
我能知道你的名字吗?
Shall
we
begin
now?我们现在就开始吗?
You
must
obey
the
school
rules.你必须遵守校规。
情态动词数量不多,但用途广泛,主要有下列:
can
(could),
may
(might),
must,
need,
ought
to,
dare
(dared),
shall
(should),
will
(would),have
(to)
,had
better.
情态动词最基本的就是后面都接动词原形,would
是will
的过去式,也可以单独使用表示语气强烈,并有尊敬和正式场合所用。can
和could
,也是后者趋向尊敬和委婉比较正式的场合,