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情态动词无人称和数的变化, 情态动词后面跟的动词需用原形,否定式构成是在情态动词后面加 "not"。 个别情态动词有现在式和过去式两种形式, 过去式用来表达更加客气, 委婉的语气, 时态性不强, 可用于过去,现在或将来。情态动词属非及物动词,故没有被动语态。
He could be here soon.
他很快就来。
We can't carry the heavy box.
我们搬不动那箱子。
I'm sorry I can't help you.
对不起,我帮不上你。
基本助动词与情态助动词最主要的区别之一是,基本助动词本身没有词义,而情态助动词则有自己的词义,能表示说话人对有关动作或状态的看法,或表示主观设想:
What have you been doing since? (构成完成进行体,本身无词义)
I am afraid I must be going. (一定要)
You may have read some account of the matter. (或许已经)
除此之外,情态助动词还有如下词法和句法特征:
1) 除ought和used以外,其他情态动词后面只能接不带to的不定式。如果我们把ought to和used to看做是固定词组的话,那么,所有情态动词无一例外地只能接不带to的不定式:
We used to grow beautiful roses.
I asked if he would come and repair my television set.
2) 情态助动词在限定动词词组总是位居第一:
They need not have been punished so severely.
3) 情态助动词用于第三人称单数现在时的时候,没有词形变化,即其词尾无-s形式:
She dare not say what she thinks.
4) 情态动词没有非限定形式,即没有不定式和分词形式,也没有相应的动名词:
Still, she needn't have run away.
5) 情态助动词的“时”的形式并不是时间区别的主要标志。在不少场合,情态助动词的现在时和过去时形式都可以表示现在、过去或将来时间:
Would you mind very much if I ask you to do something?
She told him he ought not to have done it.
6) 情态助动词之间是相互排斥的,即在一个限定动词词组中只能出现一个情态助动词,但有时却可以与have和be基本助动词连用:
You should have washed the wound.
Well, you shouldn't be reading a novel.
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.
情态动词还有一个很重要的用法,即情态动词表推测——
情态动词表推测的用法小结
(一)情态动词表推测的三种句式
1.在肯定句中一般用must (一定),may(可能),might / could(也许,或许)。
(1)He must/may/might know the answer to this question?
他一定/可能/也许知道这个问题的答案。
(2)It is cold in the room. They must have turned off the heating.
屋里很冷,他们肯定把暖气关了。
2.否定句中用can’t / couldn’t(不可能), may not/might not(可能不)。
(1)It can’t/couldn’t be the headmaster. He has gone to America.
这不可能是校长,他去美国了。
(2)He may not/might not know the scientist.
他也许不认识那位科学家。
3.疑问句中用can/could (能……?)。
(1)Could he have finished the task?
他可能把任务完成了吗?
(2)Can he be at home now?
他现在能在家吗?
注:以上三种句式中情态动词的语气按程度都是依次递减的。Might, could并非may, can的过去式,而表示语气较为委婉或可能性较小。
(二)情态动词表推测的三种时态
1.对将来情况的推测,用“情态动词 + 动词原形”。
(1)She must / may / might / could arrive before 5.
5:00前她一定/可能/也许到。
(2)She must/may/might/could walk miles and miles among the hills without meeting anyone.
她一定/可能/也许会在山里一连走好几英里而遇不到一个人。
2.对现在或一般情况的推测,用“情态动词 + be”,“情态动词 +be doing”或“情态动词 + 动词原形”。
(1)He must / may / might / could be listening to the radio now.
他一定/可能/也许正在听收音机。
(2)He can’t ( couldn’t ) / may ( might ) not be at home at this time.
这个时候他不可能/可能不在家。
(3)Mr. Bush is on time for everything .How can ( could ) he be late for the opening ceremony ?
布什先生一向准时,这次开幕式他怎么可能迟到呢?
3.对过去情况的推测,用“情态动词 + have +过去分词”。
(1)It must / may / might / could have rained last night .The ground is wet.
地湿了,昨晚肯定/可能/也许下雨了。
(2)The door was locked. He can ( could ) not / may ( might ) not have been at home .
门锁着,他不可能/可能不在家。
(3)Can / Could he have gotten the book?
难道他找到书了吗?
注:情态动词 should /ought to表推测时,意为“想必会,理应……”但与“have +过去分词”连用时,则又可构成虚拟语气意为“本应该做某事却没做”。例如:
(4)It’s seven o’clock. Jack should/ought to be here at any moment.
现在七点钟了,杰克理应随时到达。(推测)
(5)She should / ought to have attended your birthday party, but she had to look after her mother in hospital. (虚拟)
她本该出席你的生日晚会的,可是她得在医院照顾她妈妈。
(6)Tom should not /ought not to have told me your secret, but he meant no harm. (虚拟)
汤姆本不该告诉我你的秘密,可是他并无恶意。