情态动词特殊用法大集合
情态动词除了基本的用法以外还有许多特殊之处,最基本的用法读者可以结合自己的语法书籍来适当复习,这儿就不赘述,主要略列一些特殊用法,希望对各位英语爱好者有所帮助。
1. can和could
⑴Can 和 could可以表示某人或某物一时的特点,可以翻译为“有可能,有时会”。
It can be very warm in this area 。这个地区有时可能非常暖和.
He can be very friendly at times 。他有时会非常友好。
⑵can表示能力时(即有某种知识和技能而能办到),可以与beable to 换用。但是在将来时和完成时中
必须用be able to;表示经过努力而成功地办到了某个具体的事情时,只能用be able to ,不可以用can。
这种用法的be able to 相当于succeedin 或manage to。另外:can not 比 cannot 更强调 。
Can you type ?= Are you able to type ?
I am sure we shall be able to get you a jop soon 。(不能用can)
He has been able to finish the work on time 。(不可用can)
After years of hard work he was able to win the prize。(不可以用could)
He could't climb the mountain 。(没有能力爬,因而也没有爬)
He was not able to climb the mountain 。(尝试爬过,但是没能爬上去)
另外:
①be able to 强调能力,通常表示一次性的事件,一般不表示经常性的事件。
I was able to pass the examination 。(=I succeeded inpassing the examination 。)
我能考试及格。(考试及格了)
After studying that you will be able to sovle these mathematicsproblems 。
学习完这个方法后,你能够解这些数学题了。
②在否定句结构中,be able to 指暂时的情况,而can可以指经常的情况。
He is not able to swim today 。他今天不能游泳。
He can't swim at all 。他根本不会游泳。
I shall not be able to go to school tomorrow 。我明天不能上学了。
③在表示“经过尝试或努力为能做到”的意思时,一般不用be able to。如对Were you able to
find the pen?做否定回答应该用:No,I couldn't(find it )。不能说:No ,I wasn't able
to find it 。
④could 可以用来表示过去习惯性动作的完成,而was able to 却没有这种用法。
I could run after a bus and catch it twenty years ago ,I can'tdo that now 。
二十年前,我能在后面跑着追上公共汽车,现在不行了。
⑤cannot /can't 与too/over(‐)/enough /perfectly /sufficiently等词连用,意思是
“越…越…”“无论怎样… …也不为过”、“决不会… …够(过)”。
You can't praise him too much 。你无论怎样称赞他都不过分。
You cannot be over careful 。你越细心越好。
I can't thank you enough 。我对你感激不尽。
This point cannot be overemphasized 。这一点无论如何强调都不过分 。
注释:
⑴can't /cannot …too /enough 等中的not ,也可以用never /hardly/scarcely
等代替。
There can never be too much deception in war 。兵不厌诈。
We can hardly/scarecely pay too high a price for liberation .
为了解放,我们无论付出多高的代价也不为过。
⑵can't / cannot … …too / enough等后的附加疑问句的动词用肯定形式can,不用
can't。
You can't praise him too much ,can you ?你无论怎样赞扬他都不为过,对吧 ?
You cannot be too careful ,can you? 你再小心也不为过,对吧?
⑶“cannot wait 不定式 ”意思是“be eager to … … 急于做”,表示强调的肯定意思 。
I cannot wait to read the book 。我非常渴望读这本书 。
He couldn ’t wait to see her 。他渴望见到她 。
练习题:
Please remind your grandpa to take medicine on time,fora man of his
age_______be very forgetful 。
A.should B。must C。shall D。can
You cannot be_______careful when you drive a car .
A.veryB.soC.tooD.enough
The carbroke down on the way ,but we_____get out of the desert atlast.
A.mightB.wouldC.wereable toD.could
2.must有一种含义:“偏要”“硬要”。表示说话人对句子主语所发出的动作或行为是不希望的、不满的甚至是生气的。通常指令人不愉快的事情。must用于第二人称时,常常含有讽刺挖苦的意思:
Why must you be so stubborn (固执)?
He must come and worry her with questions ,just when shewas busy cooking the dinner 。
If you must smoke ,at least you could use an ashtray(烟灰缸)。00
As I was sitting down to lunch ,the electric bell mustring 。
Why must you be so late ?你为何非要这么晚来呢 ?
练习题:
Why _______you always interrupt me ?
A 。can B。will C。may D。must
Naturally ,after I toldher what to do ,my daughter _______go and do the opposite !
A 。mayB。can C。must D。should
另:⑴have to多表示习惯动作或客观条件索引出的义务;而must则用于表示一种重要或急迫的事
情:
We have to care for the young 。(义务)
She has to be at the office before 8 every day 。(习惯)
You must go to the manager at once ,or you 'll be diamissed。(急迫的事情)
⑵通常have to 强调客观需求,表示因客观环境或事态促使而不得不作某事;must 强调主观看法,
表示主观上认为有必要做谋事。
I must learn another language 。(主观想法:I want to )
I have to learn another language 。(客观需求:身为一个外交官)
但是must 可以表示客观必然性,意思为“必然(会),总是会”,而have to则不可以这样用。
All men must die 。人固有一死。
Competition must happen 。竞争总会发生。
Truth must be out 。真相总会大白 。
Winter must be followed by spring 。冬天到了,春天还会远吗 ?
There must be a day for revenge 。总有报仇的那一天 。
⑶对must 所在句子变反意疑问句时,应注意以下习惯搭配:
①must 作“必须”解时,反意疑问句中重复must 。
All the children must respect their parents,mustn’t they ?
孩子必须尊敬父母,对吗?
②must 作“有必要”解时,反意疑问句中用need 。
We must tell her the truth ,needn’t we?我们现在有必要告诉她实情,对吗?
③“must be ”表示推测时,反意疑问句用be 的适当形式 。
You must be thirsty ,aren’t you ?你一定渴了,是吗?
④“must have done ”表示推测时 ,附加疑问句一般用have 或 has ,但是有明确表示过去
的时间壮语(before 除外)时,反意疑问句用过去时态。
He must have finished the work ,hasn ’t he ?
He must have gone abroad last week ,didn’t he ?
You must have been tould about it that day ,weren’t you?
⑤mustn’t 表示“禁止,不允许”时,反意疑问句一般用may 。
The children mustn’t play with fire ,may they?
也可以用must 。
We mustn’t be late ,must / may?我们不可以迟到,对吗?
⑥must 用于表示询问对方意向时,反意疑问句部分的动词可以与前面陈述句部分的动词不一致。
You must come tomorrow ,will you ?
练习题:
You mustn’t tell it to your morther ,_______?
A.mustyouB.doyouC.needyouD.will you
-----The students must hand in their termpapers in a week ,_______?
-----No,they _______。
A.needn’t they,mustn’tB.mustn’t they ,mustn’t
C.mustn’t they,needn’tD.shouldn’tthey ,should
3.used to 的意思是“过去常常”,已经含有 always ,often ,sometimes,from time to time等意思,但是它却可以和它们连用。
He always used to / used always to come bybus 。 他过去总是坐公共汽车来。
He often used to work late at night。他过去经常工作到深夜。
She always used to get up at four o'clock inthe morning 。她过去总是早晨4点起床。
但是used to 不可以与表示具体次数或一段时间(即特定的时间段)的词语连用。
He went to abroad three times 。
He lived in the countryside for three years 。
但是可以和过去确定的时间壮语连用。
He used to live here in 1995。
He used to be devoted to her when she was a little girl 。
In those days we used to live in the country 。
另:would 和used to 的区别如下:
两者都可以表示过去的习惯性动作。但是would只强调过去特定情况下的习惯性动作(由动态动词表示),单纯的过去和现在无关;而used to即可以强调过去的习惯性动作(由动态动词表示),也可以强调过去的事实或状态(由静态东此表示),且与现在形成对比,即可表示持续的状态,也可表示过去重复的行为。
I used to have an old car 。过去我有一辆旧轿车。
I didn't use to like opera ,but now I'm getting interested 。
我过去不喜欢歌剧,但现在逐渐有了兴趣。
上面两句话的动词均是静态动词,说明过去的事实或状态,不能用would 代替used to 。
注:woud 和usedto一样,都不可用来表示发生的次数,也不能与表示一个特定的时间段的状语连用。
He went to Lomdon three times when he was a child.他还是孩子时,去过伦敦三次。
但是would可以和sometimes/now and then/from time to time等词组(表示过去有时或偶尔的时间状语)连用。
She would sit there for hours sometimes ,doing nothing at all.
他有时一连坐好几个小时,什么事情也不干。
练习题:
When he was there ,he_______go to thatcoffee shop at the corner after work every day .
A.wouldB.shouldC.hadbetterD.might
4.shall可以用在第二、三人称,要重读,不可以缩写,表示说话人的意图、意志、允诺、命令、命运或必然结果等;在法律、条约、协定等文件中可以表示义务、规定等。
You shall have a lot of money .(意图/允诺)你会有很多钱的。
Each citizen shall carry his identification card whentravelling.(规定)
旅游时每个市民务必带上身份证。
You shall arrive there before sunset.(命令)你们要在日落前到达那儿。
If you don't behave yourself ,you shall be punidhed.(威胁)
如果你行为不轨的话,你会受到惩罚的。
The task shall be finished by Sunday.(允诺)任务会在星期天前完成的。
He shall get what he deserves .(警告)他会得到他应该得到的。
Death is certain to all;all shall die.(命运)死必临万物;万物皆必死。
Better days shall soon follow .(预言)好日子不久会来到。
The time shall come when they shall be avenged.(意志)为他们伸冤的时候会来的。
Who touches pitch shall be defiled.(必然结果)玩火者必自焚。
POWs shall not be ill-treated .(法律用语)战俘不得受虐待。
The new regulation shall take effect on May the first.(规定)新章程自五月一日起实施。
练习题:
It has been announced that candidates_______remain in theirseats until all the papers have been
collected.
A.canB.willC.mayD.shall
Haven`t I told you already thatyou_______have my answer tomorrow morning ?
A.willB.shallC.shouldD.would
Nobody_______throw away rubbish everywhere!
A.canB.needC.shallD.must
5.will
⑴表示意愿或固执坚持。用于非人主语时,表示固有性质,倾向。
She won't lend me the money .她不愿把钱借给我。
He is the man who will go his own way.他是一个自行其事的人。
The window won't open .窗子打不开。
The door won't shut .门关不上了。
⑵在含有if从句的主从复合句中,如果if引导的条件状语从句表示的是一般将来时或过去将来时,
不能用will或would ,而要用一般现在时或一般过去时来代替。
If youdon't come here , I will go to find you .
但是will可以用在if从句中表示各种“愿望”,包括“请求,意愿,拒绝,同意,允许,能够,
坚持,选择,计划”等。
If youwill come into the hall ,the meeting will begin soon.
请求)请到大厅里来,会议马上开始了
If youwill make another try ,I shall do everything possible to help you.
(意愿)如果你愿意再试一次的话,我愿近一切可能帮助你。
If hewion't go with you ,I shall ask somebody else .
(拒绝)如果他不肯同你一起去的话,我将另找人。
If you wll agree with me ,I shall tell youeverything about it .
(同意)如果你同意我的观点,我将把一切都告诉你。
If you will come late again ,I shall let youin .
(允诺)如果你答应不再迟到,我就让你进去。
If anyone will find a cure to the disease ,itwill be a winder .
(能够)如果有人能够治好这种病,那将是一个奇迹。
If you will do it like that ,you willfail.(坚持)坚持那样做,你就会失败。
If you will buy bread ,I shall buy beer.(选择)如果你买面包,我就买啤酒。
If you won't lend money to him,please let meknow.
(计划)如果你不打算借钱给他,让我知道。
另:下面句子中的will表示“难免”。
Accidents will happen.事故难免会发生。
Boys willbe boys .男孩子总是男孩子。
⑶will可以用来表示某些根据自然规律必定会发生的事情,并且此时可以用一般现在时来代替它。
Oil willfloat on water .油能在水上漂流。
If the pure water is heated to 100°C , it willboil(可以用boils).
如果纯净的水加热至100°C,它就会沸腾。
Stainless steel will not rust .不锈钢是不会生锈的。
Matches will not strike if they are damp.火柴如果潮湿,就划不着。
练习题:
Only in summer________ .
A.will the ice melt B.the ice will melt C.theice can melt D.the icemelts
If you_______wait a moment ,I´ll go to see if Mr.Johns is free.
A.shallB.willC.wouldD.need
6.need
⑴作为情态动词时主要用在否定句和疑问句中,但是也可以用在用条件的肯定句中,这个条件是:肯
定句中必须含有某些含某种否定含义的词语,例如only ,but ,all,before等或者说句子中暗含某
种否定含义。
One need only consider the facts .否定含义是:只需考虑这些事实,不必去做别的事。
He need do it but once .否定含义是:他不必做两次以上。
All he need do is state his opinion clearly.
否定含义是:只要清楚地陈述自己的观点,他不必做任何事。
练习题:
Tobecome a member of the civic association ,one need only attendthree meetings ,and
________his fees regularly.
A.payB.topayC.payingD.paid
⑵didn't need to和needn't have done 的区别:
前者表示没有必要做实际上也没有做某事,后者表示做了不该做的事情。
They didn't need to come here.他们不必来这儿(实际也没来)。
Theyneedn't have come here.他们本来不必来这儿(但是实际来了)
They didnot need to arrive so early .他们不必很早到达。
She wastoo nervous to reply ,but fortunately she did not need to saynothing .
她紧张的无法答话,但是幸运的是她什么也不需要说。
Youneedn't have told them that .你本不必把这件事情告诉他们。
练习题:
①You ______such a long essay ,the teacher onlyasked for 300 words ,and you have
written 600words .
A.mustn't have writtenB.needn't have written
C.ddn'thave to writeD.didn'need to write
②You______all those calculations !We have a computer to do thatsort of thing.
A.mustn{'t havedoneB.mustnot havedone
C.shouldn’t havedoneD.can not have done
7.may / might well+动词原形或may/ might aswell+动词原形
May /might well+动词原形意思为“理应,有足够的理由”;may/ might as well +动词原形
意思为“还不如,不妨,还是…的好”,表示某人应该做某事,因为没有更好的事、没有更有趣的
事或没有更有用处的事可以做。May as well 可能比might as well更加肯定一点。
He may well be proud of his son.他大可以他的儿子为荣。
She may well say so.她说的对。(有足够的理由这样说)
It is very late ,so you may / might as wellgo to bed .夜深了,不妨去睡吧 。
We may / might as well have something to eat.我们还不如吃点东西。
You may / might as well repeat the experiment.你还是把这个实验重做一遍为好。
注:may / might (as) well 的否定式是may /might (as)well+not .
练习题:
①Since she is angry , we_______her alone.
A.hadbetter leaving B.shouldleave C.mightas well leaveD.had rather leave
8.should
⑴可以表示估计或推测上的´应该`,还可以翻译成可能,该,估计,按理应当等等。
The report is written aftercareful investigation , so it should be reliable .
这份报告是经过周密调查写成的,所以该是可靠的。
So far so I know you shouldn`t have anyproblems there .
据我所知,你们在那儿不应该有什么麻烦。
They should be there by now ,I think.我想他们现在该到那儿了。
⑵表示惊讶,不以为然等情绪,用于某些句型中,多译为´竟然`;经常用于疑问句和感叹句中表示
意外,惊异等情绪,常和疑问词(why , how , whom,what)连用,而且疑问句不必回答。
I think it is dreadful that anyone should be so miserable.我想非常糟糕,每个人都竟然如此悲伤。
It seems unfair that this should happen to me.这种事情竟然发生在我的身上,好像不公平。
You can´t imagine that such a good student like him should failin the exam .
你无法想象像他这样如此好的学生竟然在考试中失败了。
Why should I fear ? 我会害怕?(=I don`t fear at all .)
What should I see but misery ?所见皆是一片凄惨。(=I could see nothing butmisery .)
Should you be so silly ? 你会这么傻吗?(=You are not so silly .)
I was thinking of going to see John when who should appear butJohn himself .
我还想着去看约翰,想不到约翰来啦。
It is a marvel that she should have survived the disaster.她竟从那场灾难中幸存,真是个奇迹。
I can`t bear that he should speak ill of me .他竟说我的坏话,我难以忍受。
I consider it a good joke that he should marry such a woman.他竟然同这样一个女子结婚,真是个笑话。
That he should speak to you like that is quiteastonishing.他竟然这样对你说话,实在让人吃惊。