Chapter 8 情态动词
8.18 总结：英文情态与中文情态的简单对比
8.18 总结：英文情态与中文情态的简单对比
从前面各节讨论的内容看到，每个情态动词都有很多的含义，而不同的含义有不同的用法。所以，情态动词的用法和词义变化多端，纷繁复杂，情态动词也因此成为让中国学生“摸不着头脑”的一种英语谓语的变化形式。这也可以理解，因为情态动词即是说话人微妙心态变化的反映，以英语为母语的人就是通过运用各种功能强大的情态动词，以极其微妙的方式来“言传心声”的。本节将简单地比较中文情态与英文情态的用法和意义。
8.18.1 英文情态意义与中文情态意义的对应性
英语中情态动词的某些意义能在中文中找到比较好的对应表达，比如can对应于“能够”，should对应于“应该”。对于这样一些中文思维里也有的情态意义，我们一般能较好地使用。比如：
1 I can speak good English. 我能够说一口流利的英文。
2 You should study English. 你应该学习英文。
但是对下面这些句子中的情态意义就不甚了解或不知道了：
3 Women can do anything when jealous.
妙语点睛 这里的can表示“潜在的可能”或者说“理论上的可能”，不是中文的情态动词“能够”所表达的意思。
4 It’s strange that you should say this.
妙语点睛 这里的should表示惊讶之意“竟然”，在中文里没有对应的情态动词。
5 We should be grateful if you could do it.
妙语点睛 这里的should和could用于委婉地提出请求，很正式的用语。should没有含义，只是一个礼貌的表达形式。
6 He might come.
妙语点睛 这里的might表示把握不大的推测。
7 1） I would be happy to help you.
2） I am happy to help you.
妙语点睛 这里例句1）比例句2）委婉得多。
在例句1）中，would表达一种委婉假设的含义，意思是说“如果你真的需要我帮忙，我会很乐意帮助你的”。用would来说这句话，只是告诉对方你主观上愿意帮助他。至于对方是否需要你来帮助，那是他的选择。在例句2）中，用am就显得比较直截了当，不给对方选择的余地，好像在强迫别人找你帮忙一样，有点把自己的主观意愿强加于对方的感觉（impose yourself on people who don’t want your help）。比如，也许对方真的是需要有人帮忙，但他出于自尊心的原因不一定非得找你帮忙。所以，用例句2）也许会让人感觉你把自己当作救世主一样，但例句1）就不会让人有这种误解。
我曾经告诉一个外国朋友我正在写英语语法书，他在电子邮件里回复说“I would be happy to have a read.”，他这么说的言外之意是：如果我愿意把自己的书稿通过电子邮件发给他看看的话，他会非常乐意拜读一下的。他这里用would be happy就显得非常礼貌，没有强迫我非得把书稿发过去给他看的意思。如果他说“I am happy to have a read.”，则显得他很想让我把书稿发给他看，有点强人所难的意味。
解释了这么多，相信读者以后遇到类似的含有would的句子，应该有更深刻、更准确的理解了。显然，这里的would在中文中也没有很好的对应词，不是一个简单的“将愿意”就能表达其含义的。
8 Let me see if I could help work this out.
妙语点睛 这里的could表示非常礼貌和谦虚。即使你认为对方的某个问题是小菜一碟，你能轻而易举地解决，也不妨用could来显示你的谦虚谨慎。比如，你是公司新来的一名员工，大家对于某个电脑技术难题都无法解决，而你很清楚该怎么处理。面对那么多的公司老前辈和领导，你只是一个初出茅庐的新手，如果你很骄傲地说“I can work this out. It’s a piece of cake. （这个我能解决，对我来说简直是小菜一碟。）”，就显得你过于自负，当然会让你的领导及其他老员工脸面上很难堪。但如果你用could说“Let me see if I could work this out.”，则显得你为人谦虚，这样给周围同事的感觉自然大不一样。另外，万一这个问题你也解决不了，你用could这样委婉地表达也是给自己留了余地，因为could表明了你不确定是否能完成。由此可见，can与could在语气上的巨大差异。这里的could在中文里也没有很好的对应词，不是一个简单的“能够”就能表达could的含义的。
请看下面这个例句：
9 I wouldn’t pay them a penny.
妙语点睛 这里的would用于虚拟假设，所以在译文中增添了“要是我”这样的条件表达。这里的would没有对应的中文情态动词。
总的来说，英语的情态动词所表达的含义要比中文多很多。因此，很多英语中的情态意义在中文中找不到对应的情态表达，而只能通过其他字词传达其含义，比如表示惊讶的should，在汉语中就翻译为“竟然”。
8.18.2 英文情态动词的委婉表达在汉语中的缺失
英语中往往要求采用比较礼貌的表达形式，尤其是在“指示（instructions）”“邀请（invitations）”“请求（requests）”和“建议（suggestions）”等语境中，此时正是情态动词发挥魅力的时候。该用情态动词的场合不使用情态动词会使英语的表达显得较为生硬、突然甚至不礼貌。比如汉语里常这样说：
对于上面的这些中文句子，读者在口语中是不是常常这么说？而且这些表达在汉语里听起来已经够礼貌和客气了。但是如果直接生硬地译成英语，则显得并不十分礼貌。大家来看下面的简单直接的翻译：
1 Please read this article.
2 We hope that you will come and have lunch with us tomorrow.
3 You come and sit here, please.
4 I suggest that you have a word with him.
这样简单的“死译”，其重要原因就在于不会灵活地应用英文的情态动词。这些句子其实可以表达得更礼貌。比如同样的意思，若用英文表达，下列表达会显得更自然而礼貌：
5 You may like to read this article.
6 We were wondering whether you could come and have lunch with us tomorrow.
7 Would you come and sit here, please?
8 You might want to have a word with him.
当然，上面这些句子还有其他更多礼貌的表达形式，这时都得使用情态动词。比如，对于最后一句的“提建议”，还可以这样说：
9 I would suggest that you have a word with him.
10 May I suggest that you have a word with him?
如果是在正式的交际场合，比如商务谈判中，往往要借助情态动词来更委婉地，或者说比较“外交辞令”地表达意思，而不会不采用任何情态动词就这么直接而生硬地交流。请比较：
11 1） That’s impossible.
2） Unfortunately that wouldn’t be possible.
妙语点睛 这两句都是在拒绝对方。
在例句1）中，谓语动词用的是is，显得说话的语气非常直白和生硬，容不得对方商量。这自然就会让对方难以接受。在例句2）中，首先是借助would来“软化”生硬的口气。其次，把impossible换成not possible，让人认为有商量的余地。再次，因为是在拒绝对方，所以用副词unfortunately来表达遗憾，给对方以安慰。做了以上三个方面的处理后，语气显得更加委婉、礼貌。
12 1） It is a good idea to agree on a price before we go any further.
2） Wouldn’t it be a better idea to agree on a price before we go any further?
妙语点睛 这两句都是在提建议。
在例句1）中，谓语动词用的是is，it is a good idea表示“……这样做好”，用这种方式来向对方提出建议，显得有些自负而傲慢，有把自己的观点强加于对方的味道。在例句2）中，首先，借助would来“软化”生硬的口气。其次，把肯定句变为否定句，给对方很大的选择余地。再次，用否定的wouldn’t来提问，更具商量的口吻。第四，把good变成better也显得更礼貌。做了以上四个方面的处理后，语气显得更加委婉、礼貌。
由此可见，为了使话语显得礼貌，我们采用了上述四个方面的技术处理。
13 1） We can’t go higher than 7 percent.
2） We would find it (quite) difficult to go any higher than 7 percent.
妙语点睛 这两句都是在讨价还价。
在例句1）中，直接说can’t（“不能”），没有给对方回旋的余地。在例句2）中，首先，借助would来“软化”生硬的口气。其次，difficult相当于委婉地说impossible，从而比较礼貌地拒绝对方的要求。
14 1） We need a commitment from you now.
2） We would like some kind of commitment from you now.
妙语点睛 这两句都是在向对方提要求。
在例句1）中，用need比较直截了当地提出自己的要求。在例句2）中，用would来委婉地说出自己的需要。其次，增添了some kind来缓和语气。
15 1） You’ll have to pay more if you want that.
2） You may have to pay slightly more if you (really) want that.
妙语点睛 这两句都是在向对方说明情况。
在例句1）中，用will显得语气比较强硬。在例句2）中，用委婉的may，表示“或许”来缓和语气。其次，增添了slightly来轻描淡写，以及really来加强语气，这两个词都起到了“软化”语气的作用。
16 1） It will be difficult to get my boss to agree to this.
2） It might not be very easy to get my boss to agree to this.
妙语点睛 这两句都是在说明结果。
在例句1）中，用will显得语气比较强硬。在例句2）中，用委婉的might，表示“或许”来缓和语气。其次，把difficult改成not very easy，给对方的感觉更好。
17 1） We should spend more time looking for a compromise here.
2） Shouldn’t we spend a little more time looking for a compromise here?
妙语点睛 这两句都是在提建议。
在例句1）中，用should显得语气比较强硬。在例句2）中，用shouldn’t委婉地否定反问，显得是在和对方商量，给人以礼貌的感觉。
从以上各对例句的比较中，我们看到，在进行委婉的表达时，各类情态动词在其中起了根本的作用，其次才是结合疑问句式以及增添某些词语来共同表达委婉的语气。对于情态动词礼貌的表达作用，读者需要多加观察和用心体会。
尽管本章对于情态动词的意义和用法已做了较为详尽和系统的分析与比较，但不可能涵盖所有的用法。正如在“引言”里指出的，情态动词即是说话人微妙心态变化的反映，以英语为母语的人就是通过运用各种功能强大的情态动词，以极其微妙的方式来“言传心声”的。所以，希望读者在英语学习过程中，继续观察、分析和体会情态动词这种微妙的使用规律，以逐渐习得英语思维。
写给读者的话
一、本章学习思路
正如在前面讲过的，对于情态动词的学习，可以从两个方面入手。一方面，以情态动词的推测用法和基本用法为主线，来探讨各个情态动词之间的相关性。另一方面，可以单独以各个情态动词为主线，对每个情态动词可能具有的语义功能给予总结和归纳。
由于在本章采用的主要是第一种阐述方式，因此，读者可以此作为主要的学习途径。
另外，在涉及情态动词的虚拟用法时，读者应该结合第七章的相关内容来学习。
二、本章重点及难点
总体来说，情态动词的意义和用法都是比较难的，非常微妙。在诸多内容中，建议读者重点掌握下面这些用法：
1. 对现在推测的用法；
2. 对过去推测的用法；
3. 在表示过去的能力时，could与was/were able to的区别；
4. 表示“请求”的各个句型。
最后，对其他用法要有所了解。
三、本章学习时间安排
读者可以用两周左右的时间研读完所讲解的内容，并做完每节后面的练习，然后从头复习一遍或两遍，最后用两天左右的时间来做后面的综合练习，并结合所给的答案搞清楚每题的考点及情态动词的意义。
综合训练 Key
一、请根据句意，选出正确的情态动词。
1. We are enjoying our holiday, though the weather (could, must) be better.
2. We (could, might) go to that new restaurant opposite the cinema.
3. How about going to the theater instead? We (could, should) go to the theater instead.
4. I don’t know how she knows, but Mom (can, may) always detect when I’m lying.
5. Nobody else is going to turn up now for the lesson, so you (have to, may as well) go home.
6. No member of the association (shall, will) remove official documents from these premises without written permission.
7. The peace conference (may, has to) find a solution to the problem.
8. Rule 6. No member (shall, should) enter the bar area wearing sports kit.
9. The heating comes on automatically. You (must not, don’t have to) turn it on.
10. It’s a lovely hotel. And the staff (couldn’t, might not) be more helpful.
11. You (could, may) be right, but I still don’t agree with you!
12. I am sure Nick wasn’t there. That (can’t have been, shouldn’t have been) Nick that you saw.
13. You (had to give, might have given) me a hand!
14. I caught a later train because I (had to see, must have seen) a client.
15. I suppose Bill (should have lost, might have lost) his way.
16. I don’t know who rang, but it (could, must) have been Jim.
17. The situation was bad but it (could be, may have been, could have been) worse.
18. It’s a pity you didn’t ask because I (could help, could have helped) you.
19. It’s your own fault, you (can’t have, shouldn’t have gone) to bed so late.
20. I was so angry that I (might, may) have killed her.
21. You screamed in your sleep last night. You (might have, might have had) a terrible dream.
22. Harry studies a lot. He (should know, should have known) all the answers.
二、请选出与所给句子在意思上最接近的解释。
23. It’s possible that we’ll know the answers tomorrow.
A. We may know all the answers tomorrow.
B. We should know all the answers tomorrow.
24. It’s possible that the decision will be announced next week.
A. The decision might be announced next week.
B. The decision will be announced next week.
25. I know. Why don’t we go out to eat instead?
A. I know. We must go out to eat instead.
B. I know. We could go out to eat instead.
26. Perhaps these are the keys.
A. These might be the keys.
B. These must be the keys.
27. I think it’s wrong for you to work so hard.
A. You don’t have to work so hard.
B. You shouldn’t work so hard.
28. You needn’t come if you don’t want to.
A. You won’t come if you don’t want to.
B. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.
29. It would be quite wrong for us to lock the dog in the house for a week.
A. We’d better not lock the dog in the house for a week.
B. We can’t lock the dog in the house for a week.
30. I don’t think you should ring him now. It’s rather late.
A. You might not ring him now. It’s rather late.
B. You’d better not ring him now. It’s rather late.
三、请根据句意填空。
31. Peter wasn’t here, so he ______ (break) your vase.
32. I’m sure Jack didn’t mean to ignore you. He ______ (notice) you.
33. That was a lucky escape! We ______ (kill)！
34. The meat is a bit burnt. You ______ (cook) it for so long. I did tell you!
35. There were plenty of tickets left for the concert. We ______ (buy) them in advance.
36. Sally got home at four o’clock this morning. The party ______ (be) really good.
37. Thank you very much for buying me flowers. You ______ (buy) me flowers.
38. I don’t believe that you have lost your keys again! You ______ (lose) your keys again.
39. Mary was a talented violinist at the age of ten. She ______ (play) the violin very well when she was ten.
40. Perhaps they didn’t notice the tire was flat.=They ______ (notice) the tire was flat.
41. Our worrying so much was a waste of time.=We ______ (worry) so much.
42. It’s possible that the last person to leave didn’t lock the door.=The last person to leave ______ (lock) the door.
43. They hurried there, only to find the meeting was cancelled. In fact, they ______ (go) there.
44. She paid him and walked off. Then she realized that he ______ (not, be) a deaf mute. How did she know? He must have heard her initial instructions or he ______ (not, know) where to take her.
45. A: It seems to rain. I guess I ______ (bring) my umbrella.
B: It would be nice to have one but how ______ you ______ (know) that this morning?
46.“If you sit too close to the television, you’ll ruin your eyes.”Sound familiar? You ______ (hear) this warning as a child. People sit too close to the television because they already can’t see very well. This may give them tired eyes or a headache, but it won’t make their eyesight any worse.
四、请选择最佳答案填空。
47. As it turned out to be a small house party, we ______ so formally.
A. needn’t dress up
B. did not need have dressed up
C. did not need dress up
D. needn’t have dressed up
48. You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman ______ be so rude to a lady.
A. might
B. need
C. should
D. would
49. It has been announced that candidates ______ remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected.
A. can
B. will
C. may
D. shall
50. It is unthinkable that he ______ be so careless.
A. will
B. would
C. shall
D. should
51. The boss has promised that every player in NBA ______ have a rise in income.
A. would
B. might
C. shall
D. should
52. A man wants to see you, sir. ______ he wait outside?
A. Will
B. Shall
C. Would
D. Ought
53. He was a good swimmer so he ______ swim to the river bank when the boat sank.
A. could
B. might
C. succeeded to
D. was able to
54. Oh, I’m not feeling well in the stomach. I ______ so much fried chicken just now.
A. shouldn’t eat
B. mustn’t have eaten
C. shouldn’t have eaten
D. mustn’t eat
55. Several cases have been reported recently of people who ______ read and detect colors with their fingers.
A. should
B. can
C. will
D. could
56. No one expect his secretary ______ go straight into his office without permission.
A. can
B. is able to
C. will
D. is not allowed to
57. She was absent for the first time yesterday. She ______ sick.
A. must be
B. has been
C. is
D. must have been
58. He did very badly on the exam. He ______ harder.
A. must study
B. must have studied
C. should study
D. should have studied
59. I ______ to him because he phoned me shortly afterwards.
A. ought to have written
B. must have written
C. couldn’t have written
D. needn’t have written
60. He ______ ten lectures on American history, but he only gave two because of his illness.
A. had given
B. would give
C. must have given
D. should have given
61. We did hold a meeting yesterday, but you ______. So we did not inform you.
A. did not need attending
B. needn’t attending
C. did not need to attend
D. needn’t attend
62. We came early and had to wait two hours before the ceremony began. We ______.
A. should not hurry
B. must not have hurried
C. need not hurry
D. need not have hurried
63.“Have you paid your telephone bill?”
“No, but I ______ yesterday.”
A. ought to pay it
B. ought to have paid it
C. must pay it
D. must have paid it
64. He ______ pull down a bull and acknowledged as a man with superman strength.
A. used to be able to
B. would be able to
C. should be able to
D. might be able to
65. Some women ______ a good salary in a job instead of staying home, but they decided not to work for the sake of the family.
A. must make
B. should have made
C. would make
D. could have made
66. I didn’t send out my application form last week, but I ______.
A. had
B. would do
C. should have
D. might have to
67. Mary ______ my letter; otherwise she would have replied before now.
A. has received
B. ought to have received
C. couldn’t have received
D. shouldn’t have received
68. You ______ him so closely; you should have kept your distance.
A. shouldn’t follow
B. mustn’t follow
C. couldn’t have been following
D. shouldn’t have been following