情态动词和虚拟语气为中学英语考纲要求的内容，并且是高考内容中的难点之一。预计在以后的高考中，可能会对情态动词和虚拟语气进行考查，且还可能通过虚拟语气形式考查某种时态的某个形式。
考点归纳
考点1 情态动词
一、 can, could 与 be able to
1. 表示能力（体力、知识、技能）。
?Can you lift this heavy box?（体力）
?Mary can speak three languages.（知识）
?Can you skate?（技能） 此时可用be able to代替。
can只有一般现在时和一般过去式；而be able to则有更多的时态。
?I’ll not be able to come this afternoon.
当表示＂经过努力才得以做成功某事＂时应用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. 表示请求和允许。
?——Can I go now?
——Yes, you can. / No, you can’t. 此时可与may互换。
在疑问句中还可用could, might代替，不是过去式，只是语气更委婉，不能用于肯定句和答语中。
?——Could I come to see you tomorrow?
—— Yes, you can. ( No, I’m afraid not. )
3. 表示客观可能性（客观原因形成的能力）。
?They’ve changed the timetable, so we can go by bus instead. This hall can hold 500 people at least.
4. 表示推测（惊讶、怀疑、不相信的态度），用于疑问句、否定句和感叹句中。
?Can this be true?
?This can’t be done by him. How can this be true?
典例剖析
1. （2018·北京卷·单项填空）In today’s information age, the loss of data _________ cause serious problems for a company.
A. need B. should C. can D. must
2. （2017·北京卷）Samuel, the tallest boy in our class, ________ easily reach the books on the top shelf.
A. must B. should C. can D. need
二、 may, might
1. 表示请求和允许。
might比may语气更委婉，而不是过去式。否定回答时可用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...？征徇对方许可时比较正式和客气，而用Can I...？在口语中更常见。
10.＂need have done＂
表示本来需要做某事而实际没有做。＂needn’t have done＂则表示＂本来不需要做某事而实际做了＂
?I needn’t have bought so much wine — only five people came.
我本来没有必要买这么多酒，只来了五个人。
?He need have hurried to the station. In that case, he wouldn’t have missed the train.
他本来需要快点去车站的，那样的话，他就不会误了火车。
典例剖析
—Sorry, Mum! I failed the job interview again.
—Oh, it’s too bad. You _____________ have made full preparations.
A. must B. can
C. would D. should
考点3 虚拟语气
一、虚拟语气在条件句中的应用
包含条件从句的句子称为条件句。条件句分为两类：一类是真实条件句，一类是虚拟条件句。
如果假设的情况很可能发生，就用真实条件句。
?If he has time, he wil come. 如果他有时间，他会来的。
?He won’t succeed unless we plan well. 他不会成功的，除非我们计划好。
如果假设的情况发生的可能性不大，则用虚拟条件句。虚拟条件句分为三种，见下表：
假设情况 条件从句的谓语形式 主句的谓语形式
与现在事实相反 过去式（be的过去式常用were） would/should/might/could + 动词原形
与将来事实相反 (1) 过去式 (2)should + 动词原形 (3)were to + 动词原形 would/should/might/could + 动词原形
与过去事实相反 过去完成时（had + 过去分词） would/should/might/could + 过去分词
?If he had time now，he would(could，might)go with you.
要是他现在有时间，他会和你一起去的。(与现在事实相反)
?If you had come a few minutes earlier，you would(could，might) have met the famous singer.
如果你早来几分钟，你就会见到那个著名歌手了。(与过去事实相反)
?If it were to snow this evening，they would not go out.
如果今天晚上下雪，他们就不会出去。(与将来事实相反)
二、几种特殊的虚拟条件从句
1.省略if形式的虚拟语气
在if虚拟条件句中，若省略if，则将should，were，had前置，构成主谓倒装句式。
?Had I worked harder，I would have succeeded.
如果我当时努力学习的话，我就会成功的。
?Were she my daughter(Should she be my daughter)，I wouldn't allow her to study abroad.
如果她是我的女儿的话，我就不让她出国学习了。
2.混合虚拟语气
若主句和从句所表示的时间不一致，就构成了混合虚拟语气或错综虚拟语气，此时，主句和从句的时态形式根据实际的时间概念来定。
?If she had followed the doctor's words，she would feel better now.
如果当初她听从了医生的建议，现在就会好多了。
3.含蓄虚拟语气
有时候假设的条件不是通过条件从句表达，而是隐含在某些介词短语中，如without...，连词but for，otherwise，or等中。
?Without music(＝If there were no music)，the world would be dull.
世界若无音乐将会很枯燥。
?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，不然我就会同你一道去了。
三、虚拟语气在宾语从句中的应用
1. 动词wish后的宾语从句。
表示现在的情况，从句谓语用过去式；表示过去的情况，从句谓语用过去完成式；表示将来的情况，从句谓语用＂would/ should/could/might + 动词原形＂。
?I wish I were ten years younger now. 我希望我现在年轻十岁。
?I wish I had met him yesterday. 我昨天能遇到他就好了。
?I wish I would be a scientist. 我希望将来成为科
?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?
他怎么知道? 会是哪个人告诉他了吗?
(3) ＂could+完成式＂除表示对过去的推测外，还有以下重要用法：
①表示过去没有实现的可能性，常译为＂本来可以＂。如：
?I could have lent you the money. Why didn’t you ask me?
我本来可以借这笔钱给你的。你为什么不向我提出?
②用来委婉地责备某人过去应该做某事而没有去做，常译为＂本来应该＂。如：
?You could have helped him. 你本来应该帮助他的。
③表示＂差点儿就要＂。如：
?I could have died laughing. 我差点儿笑死了。
二、 may / might用于表推测的用法
表示推测，两者都可用，只是 might 比 may 语气更不确定，表示的可能性更小。
(1) 在句型使用方面：两者均可用于肯定句和否定句，但用于疑问句时，may通常不用于句首，但可用于疑
问句的句中（如特殊疑问句等），而might尽管可以用于疑问句的句首，但不算普通，通常会改用其他
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. 他可能不会相信你。
?And who may [might] she be? 那么她会是哪一位呢？
(2) 从时间关系看，对现在或将来情况作推测，后接动词原形；对正在进行的情况作推测，后接 be doing 结
构；对过去情况作推测，后接动词完成式。如：
?He may [might] tell his wife. 他也许会告诉他妻子。
?He may [might] be writing a letter. 他可能在写信。
?She may [might] have read it in the papers. 她可能在报上已读到过此事。
(3)＂might+完成式＂除表示对过去的推测外，还有以下重要用法：
① 表示过去某事可能发生而实际上却并没发生。如：
?It was really very dangerous. I might have killed myself. 那真的是太危险了，我差点没命了。
?A lot of men died who might have been saved.很多人本来可以获救的却死了。
② 表示委婉的批评或责备。如：
?You might have made greater progress. 你的进步本来可更大一些的。
?You might at least have answered my letter. 你至少可以回我一封信嘛。
三、must表示推测的用法
must 表示很有把握的推测，其意为＂一定会＂＂肯定会＂，只用于肯定句，一般不用于否定句或疑问句。表示对现在或未来的情况作推测，后接动词原形；表示对过去情况的推测，接动词完成式。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，他一定在撒谎
?He must have mistaken my meaning. 他一定误会了我的意思。
错综时间条件句的虚拟语气
当条件状语从句表示的行为和主句表示的行为所发生的时间不一致时，被称为＂错综时间条件句＂，动词的形式要根据它所表示的时间做出相应的调整。
?If you had followed the doctor’s advice，you would be better now.
如果你当时听医生建议的话，你现在就好多了。
典例剖析
1. If it_________ for his invitation the other day, I should not be here now.
A. had not been B. should not be
C. were not to be D. should not have been
2. I wish I ______ at my sister’s wedding last Tuesday, but I was on a business trip in New York then.
A. will be B. would be
C. have been D. had been
名校模拟
I.单项填空
1. Lucas failed his driving test again. ________ harder, he ________the test now.
A. If he practiced; would pass
B. Had he practiced; would pass
C. Did he follow; would have passed
D. Should he practice; would have passed
2. If we________ a table in advance, we wouldn't be standing here in the long queue.
A. reserve B. reserved
C. have reserved D. had reserved
3. Instead of making choices for their children, liberal parents usually say, ＂Go where you ________ .＂
A. will B. should
C. can D. must
4. All the doctors in the hospital insisted that he ____ badly wounded and that he ____ at once.
A. should be; be operated on
B. were; must be operated on
C. be; was operated on
D. was; be operated on
5. — My sister is very upset today.
— It’s your fault. You ________ the bad news to her yesterday.
A. should tell B. should have told
C. shouldn’t have told D. must tell
6. —It’s just too difficult. I’ve tried several times but still cannot work it out.
—You _______a wrong approach. Adopt a new way and see what would happen.
A. should have taken B. needn’t have taken
C. must have taken D. can’t have taken
7. Faced with the phenomenon that actors and actresses catch public attention, many people insisted that it _____
wrong and more _______ should be given to those devoted scientists.
A. was; credit B.be; honour
C. should be; appreciation D.is; recognition
8. If you ______ the Minister of Education, which subject would you rather have _______ from the College Entrance Examination?
A. are; included B. had been; been excluded
C. were to; include D. were; removed
专家押题
I. 用括号内所给词的适当形式填空
1. I wish that I______________(go) with you to see the film last night.
2. Without electricity, our life____________(be) quite different today.
3. I am a poor man now. If I________(have) money, I______________(buy) a large house.
4. If she had been more careful, she____________________(not make) these mistakes in the exam.
5. I think people__________________(believe) my story if I were not so young.
6. The man insisted that he____________(do) his best and________________(not blame) for the failure.
7. But for the rain, we____________(have) a pleasant journey the other day.
8. If I ________(am) you, I would give that patient a hug.
9. It is raining so heavily. If the rain____________________(stop) this afternoon，we could go out for a walk.
10. All the doctors in the hospital insisted that he__________(be) badly wounded and that he___________(operate)
on at once.
11. How I wish every family________(have) a large house with a beautiful garden.
12. If everyone in the country________(know) first aid, many lives would be saved.
13. Tom wishes that he ______________(study) business instead of history when he was in university.
14. —John went to the hospital alone.
—If he________________(tell) me about it, I would have gone with him.
15. My father was strict. He requested that I__________________(not watch) television on this week nights.
情态动词和虚拟语气为中学英语考纲要求的内容，并且是高考内容中的难点之一。预计在以后的高考中，可能会对情态动词和虚拟语气进行考查，且还可能通过虚拟语气形式考查某种时态的某个形式。
考点归纳
考点1 情态动词
一、 can, could 与 be able to
1. 表示能力（体力、知识、技能）。
?Can you lift this heavy box?（体力）
?Mary can speak three languages.（知识）
?Can you skate?（技能） 此时可用be able to代替。
can只有一般现在时和一般过去式；而be able to则有更多的时态。
?I’ll not be able to come this afternoon.
当表示＂经过努力才得以做成功某事＂时应用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. 表示请求和允许。
?——Can I go now?
——Yes, you can. / No, you can’t. 此时可与may互换。
在疑问句中还可用could, might代替，不是过去式，只是语气更委婉，不能用于肯定句和答语中。
?——Could I come to see you tomorrow?
—— Yes, you can. ( No, I’m afraid not. )
3. 表示客观可能性（客观原因形成的能力）。
?They’ve changed the timetable, so we can go by bus instead. This hall can hold 500 people at least.
4. 表示推测（惊讶、怀疑、不相信的态度），用于疑问句、否定句和感叹句中。
?Can this be true?
?This can’t be done by him. How can this be true?
典例剖析
1. （2018·北京卷·单项填空）In today’s information age, the loss of data _________ cause serious problems for a company.
A. need B. should C. can D. must
【答案】C
2. （2017·北京卷）Samuel, the tallest boy in our class, ________ easily reach the books on the top shelf.
A. must B. should C. can D. need
【答案】C
【解析】考查情态动词。can表示能力，意为＂能够＂。故答案为C。句意：塞缪尔——我们班个子最高的男孩——能够轻松地够到架子顶层上的书。
二、 may, might
1. 表示请求和允许。
might比may语气更委婉，而不是过去式。否定回答时可用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...？征徇对方许可时比较正式和客气，而用Can I...？在口语中更常见。
10.＂need have done＂
表示本来需要做某事而实际没有做。＂needn’t have done＂则表示＂本来不需要做某事而实际做了＂
?I needn’t have bought so much wine — only five people came.
我本来没有必要买这么多酒，只来了五个人。
?He need have hurried to the station. In that case, he wouldn’t have missed the train.
他本来需要快点去车站的，那样的话，他就不会误了火车。
典例剖析
—Sorry, Mum! I failed the job interview again.
—Oh, it’s too bad. You _____________ have made full preparations.
A. must B. can
C. would D. should
【答案】D
考点3 虚拟语气
一、虚拟语气在条件句中的应用
包含条件从句的句子称为条件句。条件句分为两类：一类是真实条件句，一类是虚拟条件句。
如果假设的情况很可能发生，就用真实条件句。
?If he has time, he wil come. 如果他有时间，他会来的。
?He won’t succeed unless we plan well. 他不会成功的，除非我们计划好。
如果假设的情况发生的可能性不大，则用虚拟条件句。虚拟条件句分为三种，见下表：
假设情况 条件从句的谓语形式 主句的谓语形式
与现在事实相反 过去式（be的过去式常用were） would/should/might/could + 动词原形
与将来事实相反 (1) 过去式 (2)should + 动词原形 (3)were to + 动词原形 would/should/might/could + 动词原形
与过去事实相反 过去完成时（had + 过去分词） would/should/might/could + 过去分词
?If he had time now，he would(could，might)go with you.
要是他现在有时间，他会和你一起去的。(与现在事实相反)
?If you had come a few minutes earlier，you would(could，might) have met the famous singer.
如果你早来几分钟，你就会见到那个著名歌手了。(与过去事实相反)
?If it were to snow this evening，they would not go out.
如果今天晚上下雪，他们就不会出去。(与将来事实相反)
二、几种特殊的虚拟条件从句
1.省略if形式的虚拟语气
在if虚拟条件句中，若省略if，则将should，were，had前置，构成主谓倒装句式。
?Had I worked harder，I would have succeeded.
如果我当时努力学习的话，我就会成功的。
?Were she my daughter(Should she be my daughter)，I wouldn't allow her to study abroad.
如果她是我的女儿的话，我就不让她出国学习了。
2.混合虚拟语气
若主句和从句所表示的时间不一致，就构成了混合虚拟语气或错综虚拟语气，此时，主句和从句的时态形式根据实际的时间概念来定。
?If she had followed the doctor's words，she would feel better now.
如果当初她听从了医生的建议，现在就会好多了。
3.含蓄虚拟语气
有时候假设的条件不是通过条件从句表达，而是隐含在某些介词短语中，如without...，连词but for，otherwise，or等中。
?Without music(＝If there were no music)，the world would be dull.
世界若无音乐将会很枯燥。
?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，不然我就会同你一道去了。
三、虚拟语气在宾语从句中的应用
1. 动词wish后的宾语从句。
表示现在的情况，从句谓语用过去式；表示过去的情况，从句谓语用过去完成式；表示将来的情况，从句谓语用＂would/ should/could/might + 动词原形＂。
?I wish I were ten years younger now. 我希望我现在年轻十岁。
?I wish I had met him yesterday. 我昨天能遇到他就好了。
?I wish I would be a scientist. 我希望将来成为科
?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?
他怎么知道? 会是哪个人告诉他了吗?
(3) ＂could+完成式＂除表示对过去的推测外，还有以下重要用法：
①表示过去没有实现的可能性，常译为＂本来可以＂。如：
?I could have lent you the money. Why didn’t you ask me?
我本来可以借这笔钱给你的。你为什么不向我提出?
②用来委婉地责备某人过去应该做某事而没有去做，常译为＂本来应该＂。如：
?You could have helped him. 你本来应该帮助他的。
③表示＂差点儿就要＂。如：
?I could have died laughing. 我差点儿笑死了。
二、 may / might用于表推测的用法
表示推测，两者都可用，只是 might 比 may 语气更不确定，表示的可能性更小。
(1) 在句型使用方面：两者均可用于肯定句和否定句，但用于疑问句时，may通常不用于句首，但可用于疑
问句的句中（如特殊疑问句等），而might尽管可以用于疑问句的句首，但不算普通，通常会改用其他
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. 他可能不会相信你。
?And who may [might] she be? 那么她会是哪一位呢？
(2) 从时间关系看，对现在或将来情况作推测，后接动词原形；对正在进行的情况作推测，后接 be doing 结
构；对过去情况作推测，后接动词完成式。如：
?He may [might] tell his wife. 他也许会告诉他妻子。
?He may [might] be writing a letter. 他可能在写信。
?She may [might] have read it in the papers. 她可能在报上已读到过此事。
(3)＂might+完成式＂除表示对过去的推测外，还有以下重要用法：
① 表示过去某事可能发生而实际上却并没发生。如：
?It was really very dangerous. I might have killed myself. 那真的是太危险了，我差点没命了。
?A lot of men died who might have been saved.很多人本来可以获救的却死了。
② 表示委婉的批评或责备。如：
?You might have made greater progress. 你的进步本来可更大一些的。
?You might at least have answered my letter. 你至少可以回我一封信嘛。
三、must表示推测的用法
must 表示很有把握的推测，其意为＂一定会＂＂肯定会＂，只用于肯定句，一般不用于否定句或疑问句。表示对现在或未来的情况作推测，后接动词原形；表示对过去情况的推测，接动词完成式。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，他一定在撒谎
?He must have mistaken my meaning. 他一定误会了我的意思。
错综时间条件句的虚拟语气
当条件状语从句表示的行为和主句表示的行为所发生的时间不一致时，被称为＂错综时间条件句＂，动词的形式要根据它所表示的时间做出相应的调整。
?If you had followed the doctor’s advice，you would be better now.
如果你当时听医生建议的话，你现在就好多了。
典例剖析
1. If it_________ for his invitation the other day, I should not be here now.
A. had not been B. should not be
C. were not to be D. should not have been
【答案】A
2. I wish I ______ at my sister’s wedding last Tuesday, but I was on a business trip in New York then.
A. will be B. would be
C. have been D. had been
【参考答案】D
【试题解析】句意：上个周二我本希望参加我姐姐的婚礼，但那时我在纽约出差。本题考查wish引导的宾语从句，表示与过去事实相反的愿望，从句用had + 过去分词。根据句意可知选D。
名校模拟
I.单项填空
1. Lucas failed his driving test again. ________ harder, he ________the test now.
A. If he practiced; would pass
B. Had he practiced; would pass
C. Did he follow; would have passed
D. Should he practice; would have passed
【答案】B
2. If we________ a table in advance, we wouldn't be standing here in the long queue.
A. reserve B. reserved
C. have reserved D. had reserved
【答案】D
【解析】考查虚拟语气。句意：如果我们事先预定了一张桌子，我们就不会站在这长长的队伍里了。根据句意可知，从句是对过去的虚拟，与过去事实相反，所以从句中应使用过去完成时；主句与现在事实相反，使用would/ could/ might/ should do…结果。故选D。
3. Instead of making choices for their children, liberal parents usually say, ＂Go where you ________ .＂
A. will B. should
C. can D. must
【答案】A
【解析】考查情态动词。句意：开明的父母通常会说：＂去你想去的地方吧＂，而不是替他们的孩子做选择。A. will愿意，意志；B. should应该；C. can能够；D. must必须。故选A。
4. All the doctors in the hospital insisted that he ____ badly wounded and that he ____ at once.
A. should be; be operated on
B. were; must be operated on
C. be; was operated on
D. was; be operated on
【答案】D
5. — My sister is very upset today.
— It’s your fault. You ________ the bad news to her yesterday.
A. should tell B. should have told
C. shouldn’t have told D. must tell
【答案】C
【解析】考查情态动词+have done结构。句意为：——我妹妹今天很沮丧。——是你的错，你昨天不应该把那个坏消息告诉她。shouldn’t have done表示＂不应该做而做了＂。
6. —It’s just too difficult. I’ve tried several times but still cannot work it out.
—You _______a wrong approach. Adopt a new way and see what would happen.
A. should have taken B. needn’t have taken
C. must have taken D. can’t have taken
【答案】C
【解析】考查情态动词+have done结构。句意为：——它太难了。我尝试了很多次但还是没有算出来。——你一定是用错了方法，换一种新方法，然后看看怎么样。对过去的事情有把握的猜测用must have done。
7. Faced with the phenomenon that actors and actresses catch public attention, many people insisted that it _____
wrong and more _______ should be given to those devoted scientists.
A. was; credit B.be; honour
C. should be; appreciation D.is; recognition
【答案】A
8. If you ______ the Minister of Education, which subject would you rather have _______ from the College Entrance Examination?
A. are; included B. had been; been excluded
C. were to; include D. were; removed
【答案】D
【解析】考查虚拟语气和动词辨析。句意为：假如你是教育部长，你愿意把哪一科从大学入学考试中删除？第一个空表示对将来的假设，be动词应该用were的虚拟，第二个空remove…from…表示＂把……从……中去掉＂。
专家押题
I. 用括号内所给词的适当形式填空
1. I wish that I______________(go) with you to see the film last night.
2. Without electricity, our life____________(be) quite different today.
3. I am a poor man now. If I________(have) money, I______________(buy) a large house.
4. If she had been more careful, she____________________(not make) these mistakes in the exam.
5. I think people__________________(believe) my story if I were not so young.
6. The man insisted that he____________(do) his best and________________(not blame) for the failure.
7. But for the rain, we____________(have) a pleasant journey the other day.
8. If I ________(am) you, I would give that patient a hug.
9. It is raining so heavily. If the rain____________________(stop) this afternoon，we could go out for a walk.
10. All the doctors in the hospital insisted that he__________(be) badly wounded and that he___________(operate)
on at once.
11. How I wish every family________(have) a large house with a beautiful garden.
12. If everyone in the country________(know) first aid, many lives would be saved.
13. Tom wishes that he ______________(study) business instead of history when he was in university.
14. —John went to the hospital alone.
—If he________________(tell) me about it, I would have gone with him.
15. My father was strict. He requested that I__________________(not watch) television on this week nights.
【答案】
1. had gone 2. would be 3. had；would buy 4. wouldn’t have made
5. would believe 6. had done；not be blamed 7. would have had
8. were 9. were to stop/should stop/stopped 10. was；(should) be operated
11. had 12. knew 13. had studied 14. had told 15. (should) not watch
