談談情態動詞(modal verbs)(一)
我們常見的英文動詞有：及物動詞(transtive verbs)、不及物動詞(intranstive
verbs)、助動詞(axiliary verbs)、聯繫動詞(link verbs /copula)和情態動詞(modal
verbs)。其他還有：非謂語動詞，如：動詞不定式、動名詞。
這回我們就來談談情態動詞(modal verbs 注意modal 不是 model 喔)。
* 情態動詞也可稱為"情態助動詞 (modal auxiliaries)"，因為它和基本助動詞(be,
do, have)都屬於助動詞類。
* 情態動詞和其他動詞連用，可表示說話人的語氣。
* 情態動詞可表達建議、要求、可能和意願等。
* 情態動詞沒有人稱和數的變化。
* 常用的情態動詞有：can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would
這九大情態動詞；其他的還有ought to, need, dare 等。
其實我們這裡談的情態動詞，它的特徵用法，有許多方面和助動詞是一樣的（請參閱
《英文語法拉雜談》助動詞）；但為了方便閱讀，因此即使相同的部份，這裡也同樣列
出。
一、情態動詞的變化：(情態動詞could，動詞 to work)
1.1 簡單型(simple)：表示現在或將來的狀態
i could work (動詞不可加 to ，如：to work。下同)
you could work
he could work
she could work
it could work
we could work
they could work
1.2 完成式型 (perfect)：表示過去的狀態
i could have worked (動詞是 have + v-ed 過去分詞。下同)
you could have worked
he could have worked
she could have worked
it could have worked
we could have worked
they could have worked
1.3 進行式型 (continuous)：表示現在或將來還在進行的狀態
i could be working (動詞是be + v-ing 現在分詞。下同)
you could be working
he could be working
she could be working
it could be working
we could be working
they could be working
1.4 完成進行式型 (perfect continuous)：表示過去正在進行的狀態
i could have been working (動詞是 have been + v-ing 現在分詞。下同)
you could have been working
he could have been working
she could have been working
it could have been working
we could have been working
they could have been working
二、情態動詞的疑問句：
只要將情態動詞移到主語(subject)的前面，句尾加上問號。這樣就成了疑問句。
1. she can work.(主語she, 情態動詞 can，動詞 work)
can she work ? (這就是疑問句）
2. he would be working. (主語he, 情態動詞 would，動詞 be working)
would he be working ?
3. they should have worked. (主語they, 情態動詞should, 動詞have worked)
should they have worked ?
4. i could have been working. (主語 i, 情態動詞 could, 動詞 have been
working)
could i have been working ?
三、情態動詞的否定句：
在情態動詞的後面加上 not 就成了情太動詞否定句。
1. she can work.
she cannot work. (注意：can 和 not 須連在一起）(這就是否定句)
2. he would be working.
he would not be working. (would not)
3. they should have worked.
they should not have worked. (should not)
4. i could have been working.
i could not have been working. (could not)
四、在口語中，否定情態動詞的縮寫法：
1. cannot ---- can’t
2. could not ---- couldn’t
3. might not ---- mightn’t (很少用)
4. must not ---- mustn’t
5. shall not ---- shan’t (幾乎沒人用了)
6. should not ---- shouldn’t
7. will not ---- won’t (可不是 win’t 喔！)
8. would not ---- wouldn’t
五、情態動詞的否定疑問句：
將否定情態動詞移到主語的前面，就成了否定疑問句。
1. can she not work ? 或 can’t she work ? (看出有什麼不同嗎？小心看看喔)
2. would he not be working ? 或 wouldn’t he be working ?
3. should they not have worked ? 或 shouldn’t they have worked ?
4. could i not have been working ? 或 couldn’t i have been working ?
六、情態動詞的反問句：
看看下面的例子就明白啦，呵呵。
1. she can work. 反問句：she can work, can’t she ?
2. he would be working. 反問句：he would be working, wouldn’t he ?
3. they should have worked. 反問句：they should have worked, shouldn’t
they ?
4. i could have been working. 反問句：i could have been working, couldn’t
i ?
就談這些了，但我們還未進入正題哩，哎呀呀……
談談情態動詞(modal verbs)(二)
上回在談到情態動詞的變化中，只舉了以情態動詞 could 為例子的變化。其他的情態
動詞(would, should, might...)都可依此類推。
七、九大情態動詞的時態關係：
1. 現在式 can -- 過去式 could
2. 現在式 may -- 過去式 might
3. 現在式 shall -- 過去式 should
4. 現在式 will -- 過去式 would
5. 現在式 must -- 過去式 must (其實must 和 ought 都是沒有時態的)
八、情態動詞的用法：表示"可能"或"預測"(can,could,will,would,shall,should,must,ought to)
8.1 can 和 could 用於表示"可能"或"預測"：
1. he can’t be at home. (否定句）
他不可能在家。
2. can the news be true ? (將情態動詞 can 置於主語 the news 前就成疑問句)
這訊息可能是真的嗎?
3. anybody can make mistake. (只表示理論上的可能性)
任何人都可能犯錯誤。
4. at that time we thought the story could not be true. (表示過去的可能性)
那時我們認為所說的故事不可能是真的。
5. an accident can happen if you do this. (表示事情肯定會發生)
如果你這樣做，可能會發生意外。
8.2 may 和 might 用於表示"事實上的可能性"或"預測"：
1. it may rain tomorrow. (表示可能會發生)
明天可能會下雨。
2. it may snow later this afternoon. (表示預測)
今天下午可能會下雪。
3. you might be right. (表示有可能)
你可能是對的。
4. it is possible he may have called while we were out. (現在完成式型may
have called)
當我們出門後，他有可能會打電話來。
5. sam might have taken the money, but it seems unlikely. (過去完成式型
might have taken)
錢可能會是sam拿走的，但又不太像。
6. if you took some exercise, you might not be so fat. (might 用於條件句)
要是你鍛鍊鍛鍊，可能不會這樣胖。
7. electric irons could be dangerous; they might give you a severe shock.
(這裡的might表示可能性比may 小一些)
電熨斗會有危險的，它可能使你受到嚴重的電擊。
8.3 will 和 would 用於表示"預測"或"習慣性"：
1. i think he will be all right now. (will be 表示一定會)
我想他現在一定好了。
2. that would be his mother. (would be 表示肯定是)
那肯定是他母親。
3. he will sit there hour after hour looking at the river. (will 表示經常
的)
他經常一連幾個小時坐在那兒看著河水。
4. he would come to see me when he was in london. (would 表示習慣地)
他在倫敦時，常來看望我。
8.4 shall 和 should 用於表示"必定"：
1. i shall be rich one day. (shall be )
總有一天我發達的。
2. that should be sam and his mother. (should be)
那準是sam 和他的母親。
8.5 must 用於表示"必定"，"必會"：
1. this must be good for you. (must be 肯定)
這肯定對你是有益的。
2. all mankind must die. (表示必然會發生的事)
所有的人一定會死的。
3. mustn’t there be a mistake ? (mustn’t 多用於疑問句)
那肯定會有錯誤嗎？
8.6 ought to 用於表示"想必會"(語氣較must 弱)：
1. they ought to be there by now.
他們想必已到那兒了。
2. he ought to stop smoking.
他最好不要抽菸了。
由於情態動詞也是一個難纏的東東，寫得好亂，真沒辦法 :-(
談談情態動詞(modal verbs)(三)
九、情態動詞的用法：表示"許可"、"請求"
(can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must)
9.1 can 和 could 用於表示"許可"、"請求"：
1. can i go with you ? (請求)
我能跟你一起走嗎？
2. father said i could go to cinema. (表示過去的許可)
爸爸說我可以去看電影。
3. could i ask you something ? (請求,用 could 比 can 更婉轉)
我可以問你一件事嗎？
4. you can come in. (表示允許，常見於口語)
你可以進來。
5. you cannot smoke in the meeting room. (cannot 表示"禁止")
會議室里不許吸菸。
6. can’t you do it now ? (表示反問)
你不能現在做嗎？
9.2 will 和 would 用於表示"請求"
1. will you kindly tell me the way to the post office ? (表示客氣請求)
請問到郵局怎么走？
2. would you give me your address ? (用 would 比 will 表示更客氣)
請你告訴我你的地址，好嗎？
9.3 shall 和 should 用於第一人稱，表示徵求對方的意見
1. shall we talk?
我們談談好嗎？
2. what should we do next ? (用should 比 shall 表示更客氣)
下一步我們該怎么做？
3. shall he come to see you ? (用於第三人稱疑問句)
要不要他來看你？
9.4 may 和 might 用於表示"許可"(口語中多用 can )
1. you may take a walk. (表示給予許可)
你可以散散步。
2. you might read the story for me. (比may更婉轉)
是否請給我讀一讀這故事。
3. may i make a suggestion ?
我可以提個建議嗎？
4. might i take a look of your work ?
我看看您的大作行嗎？
5. students may not make noise in the library. (may not 表示不許可或禁止)
學生不得在圖書館裡吵鬧。
6. if i may say so, you are not right. (用於條件句，表示請求)
你是不對的，如果我可以這么說的話。
9.5 must 用於表示"禁止"，"不準"：
1. cars must not be parked here. (must not表示不許可)
此地不準停車。
2. all of you mustn’t fishing in the pool. (must not 語氣方面比 may not 更
強)
你們不準在池裡釣魚。
各位看官，看完給個意見吧，may you?
談談情態動詞(modal verbs)(四)
十、情態動詞的用法：表示“應該”、“必須”
（shall, should, may, might, must, ought to)
10.1 shall 和 should 用於表示“必須”：
1. each member shall wear a name card. (表示規定)
每一個會員必須配帶名卡。
2. i should answer his letter as soon as possible. (表示應該)
我應該儘快給他回信。
3. you shouldn’t judge a man always by the clothes. (shouldn’t “不應該”含
有勸告的意思)
你不應該總是以貌取人。
4. the rules shall take effect on jan. 1st. (shall 用於規章等，表示義務和
規定)
新規則於一月一日起生效。
10.2 may 和 might 用於表示“應該"(多用於法律等條文，一般上多用 shall ):
1. payment may be paid by check. (表示規定)
應以支票付款。
2. you might ask before you use my computer. (might表示應該)
你應該先問過再使用我的電腦。
10.3 must 用於表示“必須”、“務必”：
1. you must keep the place clean. (務必)
你務必保持地方乾淨。
2. we must obey orders. (表示有義務)
我們必須服從命令。
3. must i pay now ? (用於疑問句) (如回答不必時，需用 needn’t 或 don’t have
to)
我現在就得付款嗎？
10.4 ought to 用於表示“應該”(強調客觀上)：(大多情況可用 should 代替)
1. you ought to go to see the doctor. (ought to 的語氣比must 弱)
你應該去看看醫生。
2. you oughtn’t (ought not) to smoke so much. (oughtn’t 用於否定句)
你不應該抽這么多煙。
3. ought you to smoke so much? (用於疑問句)
你應該抽這么多煙嗎？
不知怎的，總覺得有點意興闌珊。再見吧。
談談情態動詞(modal verbs)(五)
十一、 情態動詞的用法：表示“意圖”、“打算”
(will, would, shall, should)
11.1 will 和 would 用於表示某種意圖：
1. i’ll will call you as soon as possible. (will 主要用於第一人稱)
我會儘快打電話給你。
2. will you accept this invitation ? (用would 則表示得客氣)
你願意接受這邀請嗎？
3. who will do the job ? (用於條件句，可用於各種人稱)
誰願意做這事？
4. we won’t (will not) stay here too long. (will not 表示不願)
我們不願呆在這裡太久。
11.2 shall 和 should 用於表示說話人的意圖：
1. we shan’t (shall not) to if it rains. (shall not 也可用 will not)
如果下雨，我們就不打算走了。
2. i shan’t go with you. (shall 只用在第一人稱)
我不打算和你一同走。
十二、 情態動詞的用法：表示“意願”
（will, would, shall, should)
12.1 will 和 would ：
1. she will do it if you ask her. (表示主語的意願)
如果你問她，她會做的。
2. would you have another cup of tea ? (用 would 比 will 客氣)
你想再來一杯茶嗎？
3. will you have some cookies ? (will 用於疑問句，表示問人是否願意)
你想吃些烤餅嗎？
4. if he will he can do it. (will 用於條件句，用於第二、三人稱)
如果他願意，他會做的。
5. would you excuse me ? (would 表示婉轉語氣)
你能原諒我嗎？
12.2 shall 和 should ：
1. he shall get his allowance. (注意是he shall, 表示說話人的意願)
他會拿到他的津貼的。
2. you should sit here as long as you like.
只要你樂意，坐多久能行。
3. shall you go to school with me ? (疑問句中，表示問對方的意願)
你願意和我一起到學校去嗎？
十三、情態動詞的用法：表示“決心”
(will, would, shall, would)
13.1 will 和 would ：
1. i will stop smoking. (will 表示主語 i 的決心。不能用 i’ll)
我決心戒菸了。
2. he will come whenever you say. (will 表示主語he 一定會做)
你什麼時候說，他一定會來的。
3. he would not let me try .
他不肯讓我去試。
4. if you will go, you may go at once. (用於條件句，用於第二、三人稱)
如果你非走不可，你可以馬上就走。
13.2 shall 和 should :
1. you shall complete your lesson. (shall 表示說話人的決心。shall 須重讀)
你應該完成你的課程。
2. no one shall stop me. (shall 重讀)
任何人也不能阻止我。
3. you shall obey chairman. (shall 用於肯定句。shall 重讀。只能用於第二、三人稱)
我要你服從主席。
情態動詞就談這些了。看看自己也覺得寫得不太滿意，目前也只能是這樣了。