情態(tài)動(dòng)詞must, will, would, ought to, should, can, could, may, might都可以表示推測,其用法復(fù)雜多變,是高中英語語法教學(xué)的難點(diǎn),但卻是高考的考查熱點(diǎn)。因此,在平時(shí)的教學(xué)中,筆者結(jié)合教學(xué)實(shí)踐,總結(jié)歸納出情態(tài)動(dòng)詞表推測的解題方法,即用“一點(diǎn)三法”巧解情態(tài)動(dòng)詞表推測題,詳述如下:
一、正確掌握基本概念
情態(tài)動(dòng)詞must, will(would), can(could) , ought to , should, may (might),都可以在肯定句中表示推測,小括號內(nèi)的是過去時(shí)形式。注意:在下列兩種情況中,情態(tài)動(dòng)詞的現(xiàn)在時(shí)形式和過去時(shí)形式不是時(shí)間區(qū)別的主要標(biāo)志,一是表示可能性弱于它們相應(yīng)的現(xiàn)在時(shí)形式,二是表示語氣更為委婉。這兩種形式所表示的時(shí)間內(nèi)容往往與它們的“時(shí)”的形式不相一致,。例如:
He may come. (表示現(xiàn)在時(shí)間)
I’m not sure; he might come. (表示現(xiàn)在時(shí)間)
Mr. Smith may come tomorrow. (表示將來時(shí)間)
Mr. Smith may have come last year. (表示過去時(shí)間)
考例:1)—I’ve taken someone else’s green sweater by mistake.
—It ___ Harry’s. He always wears green. (2005年廣東卷)
A. has to be B. will be C. mustn’t be D. could be
解析:選D could可能性比will弱, has to 不表示推測。
考例:2)Could I borrow your dictionary? Yes, you____ .
A. might B. could C. can d. should
解析:選C 題干的could表示語氣更為委婉,故選C而不能選B。
二、要正確、快速地解出情態(tài)動(dòng)詞表示推測用法的題,關(guān)鍵是要準(zhǔn)確地判斷說話人的語氣,并運(yùn)用以下三種方法:
1. 肯定的推測:must的語氣最強(qiáng),譯為“肯定”、“準(zhǔn)是”、“想必是”;should表推測時(shí),表示確定或可能有的未來或期望,譯為“很可能”、“按理應(yīng)該”; can/could表推測時(shí),往往具有“有時(shí)”、“不時(shí)”等含義;例如:Lightning can be dangerous. = Lightning is sometimes dangerous. 再如: Everyone can make mistakes. = From time to time everyone makes mistakes. might的語氣最弱,譯為“也許”、“大概”。九個(gè)可以用于肯定句中表推測的情態(tài)動(dòng)詞,按照可能性從強(qiáng)到弱,他們的排列順序是must> will> would > ought to >should >can >could > may > might
考例:1) ---- I think I'll give Bob a ring. (2006年江蘇卷)
---- You ________ . You haven't been in touch with him for ages.
A. will B. may C. have to D. should
解析:選D should意為“按理應(yīng)該”
考例:2) Some aspects of a pilot’s job _____be boring, and pilots often _____work at inconvenient hours. (2006年湖南卷)
A. can ; have to B. may ;can
C. have to; may D. ought to; must
解析:選A can意為“有時(shí)”、“不時(shí)”
考例:3)Helen _______ go on the trip with us but she isn’t quite sure yet. (2005年安徽卷)
A. shall B. must C. may D. can
解析:選C 四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中,may的可能性最弱;若此題給might,則也可以選用。
考例:4) Mistakes ____ occur, even in the most carefully controlled situations.
A. may B. can C. should D.might
解析:選B can意為“有時(shí)”、“不時(shí)”
2. 否定的推測:語氣不很肯定時(shí),常用may not或might not,譯為“也許不”“大概不”;語氣很肯定時(shí),常用can’t , couldn’t譯為“不可能”、“可能不”。用于否定句中表推測的情態(tài)動(dòng)詞,按照可能性從強(qiáng)到弱,他們的排列順序是
can’t > couldn’t >may not, >might not
考例:1) There’s no light on ---- they be at home.
(2006年全國卷Ⅰ)
A. can’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t D. shouldn’t
解析:選A can’t意為“不可能”
考例:2) Black holes _____ not be seen directly, so determining the number of them is a tough task.(2006年上海卷)
A. can B. should C. must D. need
解析:選A can’t表示否定的推測,意為“不可能”
考例:3) -----Is Jack on duty today? (2006年四川卷)
----- It ______ be him. It’s his turn tomorrow.
A. mustn’t B. won’t C. can’t D. needn’t
解析:選C can’t表示否定的推測,意為“不可能”
考例:4)— Is John coming by train? (2002年全國卷)
— He should, but he _____ not. He likes driving his car.
A. must B. can C. need D. may
解析:選D A和C不可用于表示否定的推測,故排除,在B和D中考慮。選項(xiàng)D may not的可能性比選項(xiàng)B can’t 弱,故正確答案為D。
3. 疑問句中的推測,往往用can或could。
例如:Can it be true? = Is it possible that it is true?
(這會(huì)是真的嗎?)
考例:1)Mr. Bush is on time for everything. How ______ it be that he was late for the opening ceremony?(2001年上海春季卷)
A. can B. should C. may D. must
解析:選A
考例:2)My MP4 player isn’t in my bag. Where I have put it?
(2007年福建)
A.can B.must C.should D.would
解析:選A
參考文獻(xiàn):
1.2000年—2007年全國高考英語試題單項(xiàng)選擇部分
2.章振邦主編《新編英語語法教程》情態(tài)動(dòng)詞部分
3.章振邦 、張?jiān)孪?、 強(qiáng)增吉 編著《新編英語語法概要》情態(tài)動(dòng)詞部分
鞏固性練習(xí):
1.A left-luggage office is a place where bags _______ be left for a short time, especially at a railway station.
A. should B. can C. must D. will
2.The teacher ____ have thought Johnson was worth it or she wouldn't have wasted time on him, I suppose. (2007年安徽卷)
A. should B. can C. would D. must
3.Sir, you ______be sitting in this waiting room. It is for women and children only.
A. mustn’t B. can’t C. won’t D. needn’t
4.Jack _____ yet, otherwise he would have telephoned me.
A. mustn’t have arrived B. shouldn’t have arrived
C. can’t have arrived D. needn’t have arrived
5.—I’ve taken someone else’s green sweater by mistake.
—It ___ Harry’s. He always wears green. (2005年廣東卷)
A. has to be B. will be C. mustn’t be D. could be
6.You might just as well tell the manufacturer that male customers ______ not like the design of the furniture. (2004年上海春季卷)
A. must B. shall C. may D. need
7.—Do you know where David is? I couldn’t find him anywhere.
—Well. He ______ have gone far——his coat’s still here.(2005年湖北卷)
A. shouldn’t B. mustn’t C. can’t D. wouldn’
8.— Isn’t that Ann’s husband over there?
— No, it _______ be him I’m sure he doesn’t wear glasses. (2004年全國卷Ⅰ)
A. can’t B. must not C. won’t D. may not
9.I was on the highway when this car went past followed by a police car. They _______ at least 150 kilometers an hour.(2005年重慶卷)
A. should have been doing B. must have been doing
C. could have done D. would have done
10. --- She looks very happy. She ______ have passed the exam.
--- I guess so. It’s not difficult after all. (2007年江蘇卷)
A. should B. could C. must D. might
11.—Tom is never late for work. Why is he absent today?
—Something ________ to him. (2005年江西卷)
A. must happen B. should have happened
C. could have happened D. must have happened
12. My sister met him at the Grand Theatre yesterday afternoon, so he _____ your lecture.(2000年上海卷)
A. couldn’t have attended B. needn’t have attended
C. mustn’t have attended D. shouldn’t have attended
13.Michael ______ be a policeman, for he is much too short.
A. needn’t B. can’t C. should D. may
14.I didn’t see her in the meeting-room this morning. She ______ at the meeting.
A. mustn’t have spoken B. shouldn’t have spoken
C. needn’t have spoken D. couldn’t have spoken
鞏固性練習(xí)答案:
1---- 5 BDBCD 6----- 10 CCABC 11----14 DABD