情态动词 (Model Verbs) 又称为情态助动词 (Model Auxil-iaries)。英语中助动词主要有两类:一是基本助动词,如have, do, be;二是情态助动词,如may, must, need等。情态动词与其他动词连用表示说话人的语气。情态动词可表达建议、要求、可能和意愿等。情态动词没有人称和数的变化。在大学英语四、六级考试中,情态动词部分重点测试以下内容:
(1)情态动词+行为动词完成式
(2)情态动词+行为动词进行式
(3)情态动词+行为动词完成进行式
(4)某些情态动词的特殊用法
一、情态动词+行为动词完成式
情态动词+行为动词完成式即“情态动词+ have + v-ed分词”,表示对过去行为或动作进行推测、评论或判断。
1. must have v-ed
must have v-ed 表示推测过去某事“一定”发生了。其否定形式为:can’t / couldn’t have v-ed, 表示过去不可能发生某事。例如:
1)Since the ditch is full of water, it must have rained last night.
2)You couldn’t have met my grandmother. She died before you were born.
2. could have v-ed
could have v-ed 表示推测过去某动作“很可能”发生了。例如:
1)“The dictionary has disappeared. Who could have taken it?”
2)“Tom could have taken it. He was alone yesterday.”
3.may / might have v-ed
may / might have v-ed 表示推测过去某事“也许”发生了.may 比 might 表示的可能性在说话人看来稍大些。例如:
I can’t find my keys. I may / might have left them at the school yesterday.
4. ought to / should have v-ed 和 ought not to / shouldn’t have v-ed
ought to / should have v-ed 和 ought not to / shouldn’t have v-ed 用于对已发生的情况表示“责备”、“不满”,分别表示“本应该…”和“本不应该…”。例如:
1)With all the work finished, I should have gone to the party last night.
2)You ought not to make fun of him. He is not the one you laugh at but learn from.
5. needn’t have v-ed
needn’t have v-ed 表示过去做了某事,但没有做的必要, 意为“本没必要…”。例如:
You needn’t have waken me up; I don’t have to go to work today.
注:表示推测过去某动作发生的可能性时,就表示的可能性程度而言,must最大,could其次,may更次之,might最小。例如:
“I wonder how Tom knew about your past.”
“He must / could / may / might have heard of it from Mary.”
二、情态动词+行为动词进行式
情态动词+行为动词进行式(即情态动词+ be + v-ing形式),表示推测或评论某动作现在是否正在进行。例如:
1)He must be playing basketball in the room.
2)She may be staying at home.
三、情态动词+行为动词完成进行式
情态动词+行为动词完成进行式(即情态动词+ have been + v-ing 形式),表示推测或评论过去某动作是否正在进行或一直在进行。例如:
1)They should have been meeting to discuss the problem.
2)He may / might have been buying stamps in the post office when you saw him.
四、某些情态动词的特殊用法
1. need
考试中主要测试 need 作情态动词与作实义动词的区别,对此,可参见表1.need 作情态动词时,后面跟不带to 的动词不定式,即 “need to”。通常用在疑问句和否定句中,表示询问是否有“必要”,其否定形式为needn’t,表示“不必”;疑问形式为 Need … do? 极少用于肯定句。例如:
1)I don’t think we need turn the light on at that time.
2)Need you ride a bike to school?
情态动词need与实义动词need 在时态、肯定、否定结构上的对比见表1。
2. dare
考试中主要测试dare作情态动词和作实义动词的区别。
情态动词dare 与实义动词dare 在时态、肯定、否定、疑问结构上的对比见表2。
3. can 和 may
考试中主要测试can,may或could,might表示可能性的区别及对may构成的疑问句的回答。
时态 情态动词need 实义动词 need
现 You need (not) do You (don’t) need to do
在
时 He need (not) do He needs (doesn’t need) to do
过 You needed (didn’t need) to do
去
时 He needed (didn’t need) to do
将 You need (not) do You will (not) need to do
来
时 He need (not) do He will (not) need to do
be动词后面 加 形容词 或是 be done 表示被动语态
情态动词 后面加 动词原形 象是:can do, must do,should do.