蘇永蘭
情態(tài)動(dòng)詞是英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞中最難把握的一類(lèi),也是各種考試中的??贾R(shí)點(diǎn)。這里,我們主要分析總結(jié)一下情態(tài)動(dòng)詞的推測(cè)意義和用法,包括對(duì)現(xiàn)在或?qū)?lái)以及過(guò)去情況的推測(cè),幫助同學(xué)們提高英語(yǔ)的綜合運(yùn)用能力,在各種考試中立于不敗之地。
一、推測(cè)現(xiàn)在或?qū)?lái)
用一般式或進(jìn)行式(can,may的一般式可以推測(cè)將來(lái)),
1. 肯定推測(cè):must/should/may/might/could 語(yǔ)氣由強(qiáng)到弱:肯定、很可能、有可能、或許。
【注意】can表示推測(cè),常用于否定句和疑問(wèn)句中,而不用于肯定句;但could無(wú)此限制。
Put on your coat,or you may/might/could catch a cold. 穿上大衣吧,否則你可能會(huì)感冒。
He must be waiting for you in the classroom now. 他現(xiàn)在一定正在教室里等你。
He bought this sewing machine secondhand. It cant be that expensive. 他買(mǎi)了這個(gè)二手的縫紉機(jī);它不可能那么貴。
There shouldnt be any problem. 不會(huì)有什么問(wèn)題。
【典題】
(2014湖北)Sometimes it may be helpful to use examples to explain abstract concepts. 有時(shí)候用例子來(lái)解釋抽象的概念也許是有幫助的。
【注意】can后面有時(shí)可接“系動(dòng)詞(be,get,seem,become…)+形容詞”,表示可能出現(xiàn)某種現(xiàn)象。
He is friendly,but sometimes he can be difficult to get along with.他挺友好的,但有時(shí)候很難相處。
【典題】
(2014大綱)Although you can find bargains in London,its not generally a cheap place to shop. 盡管你有時(shí)可能會(huì)在倫敦發(fā)現(xiàn)便宜貨,但通常來(lái)說(shuō),這并非是一個(gè)購(gòu)物的便宜去處。
2. 否定推測(cè):cant/couldnt/shouldnt/may not/might not 語(yǔ)氣由強(qiáng)到弱:不可能、按說(shuō)應(yīng)該不、可能不
He can't/couldnt be working at this hour! 這個(gè)時(shí)候他不可能在工作!
He may/might not be in the classroom now. ?他現(xiàn)在可能不在教室。
【典題】
(2013安徽)It couldnt be the vocabulary that caused you the problem in the exercise because you know a lot of words. 在練習(xí)中不可能是詞匯給你造成了這個(gè)問(wèn)題,因?yàn)槟阏J(rèn)識(shí)很多單詞。
【考點(diǎn)】“cant / couldnt do ”+比較級(jí)”表示最高級(jí)意義
(2013天津)No one could be more generous;he has a heart of gold. 沒(méi)有人會(huì)比他更慷慨;他有一顆金子般的心。
3. 疑問(wèn)句中的推測(cè):can/could (may/might,通常用于肯定句否定句、不用于疑問(wèn)句)
單句改錯(cuò):
—Tom is never late for work. Why is he absent today? 湯姆上班從來(lái)不遲到。他今天怎么沒(méi)來(lái)呢?
—May anything have happened to him? ?會(huì)有可能發(fā)生什么事了嗎?
【答案】May改成Can/Could。
二、推測(cè)過(guò)去
推測(cè)過(guò)去發(fā)生過(guò)的動(dòng)作要用完成式。
1. 肯定推測(cè):must/should/could/may/might have done ?語(yǔ)氣由強(qiáng)到弱:肯定、應(yīng)該、可能、或許做過(guò)
I didnt hear the phone. I must have been asleep. 我沒(méi)聽(tīng)到電話。我一定是睡著了。
He should have arrived at the airport by now. 這個(gè)時(shí)候他應(yīng)該已經(jīng)到機(jī)場(chǎng)了。
I cant find my keys. I may/might/could have left them at the school yesterday. 我找不到鑰匙了。我可能昨天忘在學(xué)校了。
【典題】
(2013遼寧) Harry is feeling uncomfortable. He must have drunk too much at the party last night. Harry感覺(jué)不舒服。他肯定喝多了。
(2013新課標(biāo)II)Since nobody gave him any help,he must have done the research on his own. 既然沒(méi)有人給他任何幫助,那他肯定是自己做的調(diào)查。
2. 否定推測(cè):cant/couldnt/shouldnt/may/might have done 語(yǔ)氣由強(qiáng)到弱:不可能、不應(yīng)該、可能沒(méi)做過(guò)
We knew he couldnt have paid for it,because he had no money. 我們知道他不可能付款了,因?yàn)樗麤](méi)錢(qián)。
【典題】
(2013四川)—Why are your eyes so red? You cant have slept well last night. 你的眼睛為什么這么紅?你昨晚不可能睡得好。
—Yeah,I stayed up late writing a report. 嗯,我昨晚熬夜寫(xiě)報(bào)告了。
【考點(diǎn)】“cant/couldnt have done + 比較級(jí)”表示最高級(jí)意義
(2013浙江) I couldnt have enjoyed myself more—it was a perfect day. 我不可能玩的更開(kāi)心了——這是很完美的一天。
3. 疑問(wèn)句中的推測(cè):can/could have done(may/might,通常用于肯定句否定句、不用于疑問(wèn)句)
—Can they have missed the bus? —Yes,they may have. 他們有可能錯(cuò)過(guò)了那輛車(chē)了嗎?是的,可能是。
【典題】
(2014陜西) My book,The House of Hales,is missing. Who could have taken it? 我的書(shū)《The House of Hales》不見(jiàn)了,可能是誰(shuí)拿走了它呢?
【補(bǔ)充】could have done還表示對(duì)所發(fā)生的情況感到驚奇,含有“竟然”的意味
It seems inconceivable that the accident could have happened so quickly. 這一事故發(fā)生得這么快,簡(jiǎn)直不可思議。(驚訝)