第七章 情态动词
情态动词具有一定的词义,没有人称和数的变化,不能单独充当谓语。它和谓语动词连用,表示“请求, 愿望,建议,推测”等意义。
第一节 交际
表示“请求”,请别人做事。用 will, would, can , could。
句型:(1)Will / Would you(please)do … ? (2)Can / Could you do …
在这两个句型中 would, could 比 will, can 更正式、客气。
Will / Would you please explain the text once again Can / Could you tell me what time Flight 312 arrives
询问是否“许可”。用 can / could,may / might
句型:(1)May / Might I do … (2)Can / Could I do…
在这两个句型中 could, might 比 can, may 更正式、客气。
Could I use your car
Yes, of course, you can (回答必须用 can)
Might I have a look at your new computer
Yes, you may(回答必须用 may)或 Please go ahead.
自己想做,要求对方做决定, 即征询对方意见。用 shall,用于第一人称和第三人称。句型:Shall I(we, he, she it, they)… ?译“要不要…?”
The room is so dirty. Shall we clean it
Of course. (03 全国春季)
Shall these goods be sent over to you at once 要不要把这些货物马上送给你?
表示规劝,建议
正面的规劝,表示“最好”,“应该”,或“必须”做某事。
①表示“最好”,用 had better,may / might as well 或 It is better / best to do sth.
You might just as well tell the manufacturer that male customers may not like the design of the furniture.
(04 上海春季)
If you are planning to spend your money having fun this week, better forget it—you’ve got some big bills coming. (04广东卷)(better forget it 相当于 You had better forget it.)
②表示“有义务或有必要”,用 should 或 ought to。 即“应该”。
If you see anything unusual, you should call the police.
③用 must 译:“必须”。
The guide required that all passengers must wear seat belts.
导游要求所有旅客必须系安全带。
反面的规劝,表示“不必”,“不应当”,或“不许”做某事。
①表示“不必”,用 needn’t 或 don’t have to 。
--- I don't mind telling you what I know.
--- You needn’t. I'm not asking you for it. (04 江苏卷)
You needn’t return / don’t have to return the book now. You can keep it till next week.
②表示“不应该”,用 shouldn’t 或 oughtn’t to。
We shouldn’t throw cold water on them. 我们不应当给他们泼冷水。
③表示“不许”,用 mustn’t。
You mustn’t smoke in class. 上课时不准吸烟。
needn’t / don’t have to → shouldn’t → mustn’t 语气逐步加强
须区别或注意的情态动词
can, could 与 be able to 的区别
表示能力时 can 和 be able to 可以互换使用
I can / am able to speak English. She could / was able to read novels at ten.
表示在过去某一特定场合下,一次性表现出来的能力,只能用 was / were able to。
The fire spread through the hotel very quickly but everyone get out.
A.had to B.would C.could D.was able to(答案 D)(97 全国) 2)shall 用在主语是第二、第三人称的陈述句中,表示说话人给对方的许诺或命令。Work hard and you shall be paid. 好好干,你会得到报酬的。(许诺)
You shall leave here at once. = You must leave here at once. (命令)
shall 也用于法律、法令或规章等正式文件中,表示义务或规定。译“应,必须”。
The fine shall be paid in cash. 罚款应以现金交纳。
3)need 和 dare 的用法。改错:
To become a member of this club, one need attend three meeting and pay his fees regularly.
A B C D
We do need masses of young people who dare accept all kinds of challenges.
A B C D
a)need(需要),dare(敢于)可作行为动词用,句型 need to do, dare to do。也可作情态动词,但不能用在肯定句。在肯定句中只能作行为动词使用,故第一题 B 错,need → needs to;第二题 C 错,accept
to accept
b)need,作情态动词用时,无人称变化。need 用于否定句和疑问句中;dare 用于否定句、疑问句和条件句中。
You needn’t work so hard. → You don’t need to work so hard.
Need I go at once.
Yes, you must. / No, you needn’t.
Mary dare not touch the snake. → Mary doesn’t dare(to)touch the snake.
Dare you walk through the forest at night
If the enemy dare enter our country, we will fight against them to the end.
如果敌人胆敢进入我国,我们就和他们战斗到底。
should 的用法。
should 除表示“应该”外,还可用于表示情感、意志等句中的 that 从句。译“竟然、居然”。例如:
You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman be so rude to a lady.
A. might B. need C. should D. would (答案 C)(01 上海)
第二节 推测
根据某一事实、现象推测可能发生的情况。用 must, may, might。下表比较了三者表示推测肯定程度的差别,以及对不同情况推测的表达方式。
大可能 性小 对当前情况的推测 对已发生情况推测 对将来可能发生的情况
must be be doing must have done 不能
may be be doing may have done may do
might be be doing might have done might do
例:You must be tired. Go home and have a good rest. (对目前的推测)
The light is on in the lab. Mr Li must still be doing experiments. (对目前的推测)
Sorry I'm late. I might have turned off the alarm clock and gone back to sleep again.
(对过去的推测)(2000 北京春季)
注:1)must 表示推测仅用于对当前和已发生的情况,不能用于推测将来可能发生的事情。must 表示推测仅用于肯定句。在否定句和疑问句中,必须用 can / could 取代 must。
Mr Li can’t still be doing experiments at present.
My English-Chinese dictionary has disappeared.Who have taken it? A.should B.must C.could D.would 答案 C (03 上海春季)
may / might 可以用于推测将来可能发生的情况,既可用于肯定句,也可用于否定句,但不能用于疑问句。在疑问句中,同样使用 can / could。
例 :1. —Is John coming by train
— He should, but he not. He likes driving his car.
A. must B. can C. need D. may 答案 D (02 全国)
— Your son may return to Nanjing tomorrow by way of Hong Kong.
— Wonderful! But how can he come, by air or sea
2.根据经验或惯例对某一情况进行推测,用 should 或 ought to,常译成“按理应该…”或“可能会……”。 It’s nearly seven o’clock. Jack should be here at any moment.
时间已将近 7 点了,按理 Jack 该回来了。
第三节 反思
表示“当时本应该做,而实际上没有做”,用:
①should have done 或 ought to have done
②could have done 或 might have done
句型①责备的语气强于句型②
例 :1. Mr. White should have arrived at 8:30 for the meeting, but he didn’t’ show up. (04 广西卷)
He might have given you more help, even though he was busy.
表示“当时没有必要”做某事
①needn’t have done 当时做了某事,但事实上没有必要
You needn’t have told him the news; he knew it already. didn’t have to do 通常指当时某事没有必要做且没有做。
She told me that she had a daughter and didn’t have to have another baby.
第四节 虚拟语气第五节
虚拟语气是指所说的话只是一个与事实相反的主观愿望或假想。虚拟语气可用于条件状语从句、名词从句以及其他结构中。
一、if 引导的非真实条件中的虚拟语气。
1、三种形式。具体情况见下表:
例 :1. If there were no gravity, we would not be able to walk on the earth.
假如没有引力,我们就不可能在地球上行走。
We would have succeeded if we had made enough preparations.
当初要是作了充分的准备,我们就有可能成功。
This kind of boiler is very safe. If it were to go wrong, the controlling system would cut off the fuel oil supply automatically.
这种锅炉很安全。万一锅炉发生故障,控制系统会自动切断燃油的供给。
2、if 虚拟条件句的省略。
若虚拟条件从句中有 were, had, should, 可把 if 省略,而把 were, had, should 提到主语前面,成为倒装结构。
例:1.If I were you, I would accept the challenge. → Were I you, I would accept the challenge.
2. If you had informed me earlier, I wouldn’t have signed the contract.
→Had you informed me earlier, I wouldn’t have signed the contract.
当初你要早点告诉我,我是不会签那个合同的。
3、错综时间条件句。
在这种虚拟条件句中,从句动作和主举动作发生的时间不一致,因此,从句和主句的谓语动词要根据各自所指的不同时间选择适当的动词形式。
例:1. If I were you, I would have taken that job. (从句指现在,主句指过去) 你错过了这么好的机会。我要是你,我当时就接受那份工作。
2. Had her husband not been killed in the war, she would not be helping others with housework now. ( 从 句指过去,主句指现在)
如果她的丈夫那时没有死与战争的话,她现在不会帮人做家务了。
4、含蓄虚拟条件句。
有时假设的情况并不以条件从句表示出来,而是以其他形式表现出来。
介词短语 but for 或 without。译:“要不是,要是没有”。
例 :1. But for electricity (= If it were not for electricity), there would be no modern industry.
要是没有电,就不会有现代化工业。
2. Without your help (If it had not been for your help), we could not have succeeded.
当初没有您的帮助,我们不可能成功。
or 或 otherwise。句型:did(过去时),or / otherwise would have done.
例 :I ran all the way to school, otherwise I would have been late.
我一路跑到学校,否则,我就会迟到了。
but 句型:(1)would do but do (一般现在时)
(2)would have done but did (一般过去时)
My daughter would gain weight but she doesn’t eat enough.
---- Why didn’t you help him out
---- I would have but I didn’t have money.
5、wish 后的宾语从句和 if only 引导的感叹句中的虚拟语气。
wish 后的宾语从句和 if only 引导的感叹句表达的是与客观事实相反的愿望,需用虚拟语气。wish that
从句 = if only + 从句 译:“要是……就好了” 或 “但愿……”。
愿望与事实相反。从句谓语动词用:were 或 did (过去时形式)
I wish I knew the answer to the question. = If only I knew the answer to the question.
我要能知道那个问题的答案就好了。
愿望与过去事实相反。从句谓语动词用:had done (过去完成时形式)
---- We had a great time last night.
---- I wish that I had not been ill yesterday. = If only I had not been ill yesterday.
昨天我要是不生病那该多好啊!
愿望将来不大可能发生。从句谓语动词用:would / could / might do
I wish that it would be fine tomorrow. = If only it would be fine tomorrow.
但愿明天是个好天气。
6、“(should) + 动词原形 ”的形式在名词从句中的运用。
在这些从句中 should 可以省略,具体运用在以下三种情况下。
用在谓语动词为 suggest(建议),insist(坚持),adivse(建议),order(命令), desire(希望),demand
(require, request)(要求、请求) 的宾语从句中。
suggestion, advice(忠告), order, demand, desire(愿望)等名词后的同位语从句或表语从句中。3)在固定句型中:
It is important / necessary (essential) (必要的)/ desirable (希望) that (should) do
例:1. I suggest that our manager (should) go there by sea. 我建议我们的经理由海路去那里。
Our desire is that we (should) get a rise in salary as soon as possible.
我的愿望是能尽快涨工资。
It is essential that you (should) win the voter’s hearts. 赢得选民的心是绝对必要的。
提高练习:
一、考题重现。
(04 天津卷)
---- Who is the girl standing over there ---- Well, if you know, her name is Mabel.
may B. can C. must D. shall
(03 全国卷)
A left luggage office is a place where bags be left for a short time, especially at a railway station.
should B.can C.must D.will (04 浙江卷)
I pay Tracy a visit, but I am not sure whether I will have time this Sunday.
should B. might C. would D. could (04 江苏卷)
--- I don't mind telling you what I know.
--- You . I'm not asking you for it.
mustn't B. may not C. can't D. needn’t
(04 上海春季)
You might just as well tell the manufacturer that male customers not like the design of the furniture.
must B. shall C. may D. need (04 全国卷)
6 Isn’t that Ann's husband over there
-----No, it be him. I'm sure he doesn't wear glasses.
A. can't B. must not C. won't D. may not (04 福建卷)
----I’ll tell Mary about her new job tomorrow. You her last week.
ought to tell B.would have told C.must tell D.should have told (04 重庆卷)
“The interest be divided into five parts, according to the agreement made by both sides,” declared the judge.
may B. should C. must D. shall
(98 全国)
9 When can I come for the photos I need them tomorrow afternoon.
---- They_ be ready by 12:00. (03 上海春季)
A. can B. should C. might D. need
Look at the trouble I am in!If only I your advice.
A.followed B.would follow C.had followed D.should follow
1-5 CBADC 6-10 ADDBC
二.自我测评.
Last year’s SARS outbreak tells us that a sound public health system be built up and strengthened in our country.
should B. can C. will D. may
Children under 12 years of age in that country be under adult supervision when in a public library.
must B. may C. can D. need
--- Can I tell my best friend about it
--- No. I don’t want anyone else to know. You tell anyone.
won’t B.mustn’t C.don’t have to D.don’t need to
--- Amazing! You wear slippers at work.
--- Don’t you know it’s a fashion.
should B. ought to C. dare D. mustn’t
--- Did you have difficulty finding John’s house
--- Not really. John had given us good directions and we find it.
would B. could C. had to D. were able to
--- We need a person badly to think up such an idea .
--- the new comer have a try
Shall B.May C.Should D.Need
It has been announced that all the poultry( 家 禽 ) within 3km of farms infected with bird flu be
killed to bring the disease under control.
will B. shall C. need D. may
If you be in time for the flight to Paris, be sure to start out by 5:00 p.m. at the latest.
are to B. are about to C. will D. are due to
--- I would like to take tomorrow off, I
--- I’m afraid you can’t. There are many things for us to then, you see.
shall B. may C. would D. should
--- you be happy!
--- The same to you!
wish B. Hope C. May D. Should
--- Well, lost again!
--- It is not very important. We as well forget about it. OK
can’t B. mustn’t C. might D. should
--- Do you know Uncle Tom is crazy about gardening
--- Sure. He his flowers in the garden now.
may be watering B. must be watering C. could look after D. ought to watch
--- Hurry up, Michael! It’s ten to three.
--- Goodness me! The class . I’ll be late again.
must begin B. may begin C. should have begun D. must have begun
Mr. Smith is on time for everything. How it be that he was late for the opening ceremony. A. can B. should C. may D. must
--- There is a lot of smoke coming out of the house.
--- Really It be a fire, most probably.
must B. might C. ought to D. can
--- Where will you start your work after graduation
--- Mmm, it's not been decided yet. I continue my study for a higher degree.
need B. must C. would D. might
--- I telephoned you twice last night, but anyhow, I couldn’t get through to your house.
--- I think that the lines might have been out of order,
don’t you B. haven’t they C. weren’t they D. hadn’t they
He has made so many mistakes in his homework that he not have been allowed to watch TV while doing it.
could B. must C. would D. should
--- Hank Stream didn’t turn up last night, did he
--- No. We for him. A whole night was wasted.
needn’t have waited B. couldn’t have waited
C. needn’t have to wait D. didn’t need to wait
---They haven’t finished the work up to now.
--- How absurd of them! They two days ago.
should B. should have C. would D. must have
We so much had we not had your help.
will not achieve B. would not have achieved
C. do not achieve D. did not achieve
It is hard for me to imagine what I would be doing nowadays if I in love, at the age of seven, with the library in my hometown.
wouldn’t have fallen B. should not fall C. had not fallen D. were not to fall
I supported him in time, otherwise he off the bike.
might fall B. would fall C. would have fallen D. should have fallen
The traffic accident wouldn’t have happened yesterday, but the driver really careless.
had been B. is C. were D. was
--- Did you meet with the famous space hero , Yang Liwei
--- No. If only I here earlier !
came B.had come C.would come D.have come
答案:
AABAD 6-10 ABABC 11-15 CBDAC 16-20 DCDAB 21-25BCCDB