内容正文:
高中英语语法讲解——情态动词
一、can, may, must
根据意思与习惯用法,我们可以把can, may, must分成以下两组用法,方便学习与掌握。
1.第一组用法见下表(主要在初中的时候我们所掌握的):
词义
肯定
否定
疑问
过去式
can
能、会
can
can’t
Can...?
could
may
可以
may
mustn’t/may not
May...?
might
must
必须
must
needn’t
Must...?
must/had to
A) can
a) can的肯定、否定、疑问及过去式的例句:
eg. Computers can do a lot of things for us.
Money cannot buy everything.
Can you speak French?
I could run very fast when I was young.
b) can与be able to
can与be able to的意思相近,经常可以互换使用,但是be able to除了有一般现在与过去时态之外,还有将来、完成等时态,所以要表示将来能够或已经能够做什么事,就要用be able to。
eg. You will be able to communicate with foreigners fluently if you finish the course.
The baby has been able to one or two simple sentences.
在用过去式的时候,could与was able to的意思不同,could表示的是“当时能够做某事”的意思,而was/were able to表示的是“当时能够,并且成功地做到了”的意思。
试比较:
Einstein was able to flee Germany when Hitler came into power.
I could pass the examination, but I was too careless.
c) could在疑问句时用意表示请求,意义同can,是一种比较客气的表达方式。
eg. Could you