专题八
情态动词和虚拟语气
考向预测
高考研究英语中常用的情态动词主要有can,could,may,might,must,will,would,shall,should,ought to,dare,need,used to,had better等。在学习情态动词时应注意以下几点:同一情态动词表示不同的意义的情况;情态动词后跟各种形式的用法;特别是注意“情态动词+完成式”是高考中的重点所在。
高考中的虚拟语气一般与情态动词结合进行考查。每年高考试题中都会出现一定的题目。
(1) 考纲要求
情态动词是各地高考试题中的必考项目,每年高考单独命题区单项选择/填空中必有一道考查情态动词的项目。新课标卷主要在语法填空和短文改错中考查。考点依次是:推测(可能性)→请求/允许→必要性→特殊用法。试题的立意不偏不怪,但有效信息越来越隐蔽,语境越来越真实,考查角度越来越细致,这些因素在很大程度上增加了试题的难度。
(2) 命题规律
一、主要考查的是真实的语境中对情态动词的理解和把握,其语境的情景更加逼真,设问角度将综合化、细微化。
二、近几年,情态动词重点考查情态动词表示推测和可能性的用法,以及情态动词的表达“情感、态度、语气等”方面的用法。
知识与技巧的梳理
考点一、can/could与be able to
1.can/could用来表示“一般能力”;be able to有多种时态,且用来表示在特定条件下的“具体能力”。如:
My grandma is over seventy,but she can still read without glasses.
They will be able to tell you the news soon.
He was able to flee Europe before the war broke out.
2.表示允许可用can或could,与may或might意义接近。could可用于现在时,只是语气更加委婉、客气,回答时则一般要用can而不用could。
—Could I have the television on?
—Yes,you can./No,you can’t.
考点二、may与might
1.表示允许,意为“可以,许可”,用法基本上同can与could。如:
May I use your bicycle?
2.表示可能性,意为“也许,可能”。如:
According to the weather forecast, it may rain tomorrow.
3.may可以放在句首,表示祝愿。如:
May good luck be yours!
考点三、must与have to
1.must用来表示说话人的主观看法;have to表示客观的需要,强调外界压力,不得已而为之。如:
He said that they must work hard。
他说他们必须努力工作。(主观上要做这件事)
My brother was ill, so I had to call the doctor in the middle of the night.
我弟弟生病了,我只得半夜里把医生请来。(客观上需要做这件事)
2.表示“不必”,须用don’t have to或needn’t。must的否定式表示“禁止,绝对不可”。如:
You don’t have to tell him about it.
你不必告诉他那件事。
You mustn’t tell him about it.
你绝不能告诉他那件事。
—Must we do it now?
我们必须现在做吗?
—No, you needn’t.
不,你们不必。
考点四、shall
1.用于第一、第三人称的疑问句中,用来征求对方的意见或请求指示。如:
What shall he do next?
他下一步干什么呢?
2.用于第二、第三人称的陈述句中,表示说话人的意愿,有“命令、警告、允诺、威胁、强制”等意思。如:
He shall stay in bed.
他必须躺在床上。
You shall have it back next week.
下周一定还你。
He says he won’t go, but I say he shall.
他说他不去,但我说他必须去。
考点五、will与would
1.will用于各种人称,表示“意志、意愿”或“决心”等。如:
If you will keep your watch half an hour slow, it is hardly surprising that you are late for your appointments.
如果你要让你的表慢半个小时,你约会时迟到就不足为怪了。
2.will表示习惯性的动作,有“总是,惯于”的含义。如:
An Englishman will usually show you the way in the street.
英国人通常是会在街上给你指路的。
3.would可表示过去反复发生的动作。如:
On Sundays he would get up early and go fishing.
星期天他总是早起去钓鱼。
考点六、should与ought to
1.should表示“建议”或“劝告”,有“应该”之意。如:
You should learn from each other.
2.ought to表示根据某种义务或必要“应当”做某事。如:
Everyone ought to obey the traffic regulations.
3.should和ought to也可用来表示推测,意为“想必会……”。如:
—When can I come for the photos? I need them tomorrow afternoon.
—They should be ready by 12:00.
考点七、情态动词表示推测
1.can用于肯定句中表示客观的可能性,意为“有时会”;用于疑问句中可以表示推测,意为“可能”,有时表示一种惊讶的语气;用于否定句中也可以表示推测,can’t意为“不可能”,语气很强烈。
It is usually warm in my hometown in March, but it can be rather cold sometimes.
我的家乡在三月份通常很暖和,但有时候也会相当冷。
Mr. Bush is on time for everything. How can it be that he was late for the meeting?
布什先生做什么事情都很准时,他怎么可能开会迟到呢?
—Let’s visit Tom together, Stephen.
—There’s no need to do so. He can’t be at home, because I saw him board the flight to Beijing this morning.
——Stephen,咱们一起看看汤姆吧。
——没必要这样做。他一定不在家,因为今天早晨我看见他登上了飞往北京的航班。
2.may/might用于肯定句中可以用来表示不十分肯定的推测,意为“有可能”;用于否定句中也可以表示推测,may not意为“可能不”,表示一种不太确定的语气。
The traffic is heavy these days. I might arrive a bit late, so could you save me a place?
这些天交通很繁忙,我可能会来晚一点,请你帮我保留个位置好吗?
3.must表示推测时只能用于肯定句中,意为“一定,必定”,表示十分肯定的语气(在疑问句中或否定句中要用can/could)。
—It’s the office! So you must know eating is not allowed here.
—Oh, sorry.
——这是办公室!所以你一定知道这里不许吃东西。
——噢,对不起。
4.should用来表示推测时意为“应该”,即含有“按道理来说应当如此”的意思。
There shouldn’t be any difficulty about passing the road test since you have practiced a lot in the driving school.
因为你在驾校受了那么多训练,通过路考应该没什么困难。
考点八、“情态动词+have done”结构
1.should/ought to+have done,表示“过去本应该做而(实际)没有做的事情”,含有责备或遗憾的语气,意为“本应该……”。其否定形式为“should not/ought not to have+done”,表示某种行为本不该发生但实际上发生了。
I shouldn’t have watched that movie—it’ll give me horrible dreams.
我本不应该看那部电影——它会令我做噩梦。
You ought to have come to the party yesterday, but why didn’t you come?
昨天你本来应该参加聚会的,可是你为什么不来?
2.must+have done,用于肯定句,表示“过去一定做过某事”,表示一种很有把握的推测。注意,对过去发生的情况的否定推测常用“can’t/couldn’t+have done”表示。
—Ye Shiwen won two gold medals in London Olympic Games.
—She must have gone through tough training.
——叶诗文在伦敦奥运会获得了两枚金牌。
——她肯定受到严格的训练。
—Do you know where David is? I couldn’t find him anywhere.
—Well. He can’t have gone far—his coat is still here.
——你知道大卫在哪里吗?我到处找不到他。
——大卫的上衣还在这里,因此他肯定没走远。
3.needn’t+have done,表示“过去没有必要做某事,但实际上做了某事”。
Mark needn’t have hurried. After driving at top speed, he arrived half an hour early.
马克本没必要那么匆忙。他以最快速度开车,结果早到了半个小时。
4.may/might+have done,表示对过去情况的一种不太有把握的可能性的推测,表示“可能已做了某事……”,否定句表示“可能还没有……”。
Sorry, I’m late. I might have turned off the alarm clock and gone back to sleep again.
对不起,我迟到了。我可能把闹钟关掉后又睡着了。
5.could+have done表示“过去本来可以做某事,但实际上没有做”;can/could+have done表示“过去可能做了某件事”。
I could have saved the poor rabbit, but I didn’t have the right drugs with me at that moment.
我本来可以拯救那只可怜的兔子的,可是我当时没有合适的药品。
考点九、虚拟语气在虚拟条件句中的用法
虚拟情况
从句谓语
主句谓语
例句
与现在事
实相反
过去式
(be用were)
would/
should/
could/might
do
If he were here, he might be able to help.
What would you do if you were in his place?
与过去事实相反
had done
would/
should/
could/might
have done
If I had started a little earlier, I would have caught the train.
I could have done it better if I had been more careful.
与将来事实相反
过去式
were to do/
should do
would/
should/
could/might do
If I were to do it, I would do it in a different way.
I would certainly go if I had time.
1.在具体运用中,条件从句中有时可省略if而采用倒装结构。如:
Had it not been for your help, we wouldn’t have achieved so much.
2.介词without/but for、连词but、副词otherwise常用来表示某种假设条件。如:
I wouldn’t have made such rapid progress without your help.
3.有时候从句动作和主句动作发生的时间不一致,这时谓语动词的形式要根据各自的时间来调整。如:
If the weather had been more favourable, the crops would be growing still better.\
考点十、“should+动词原形”表示的虚拟语气
这一类型常见词有“一坚持(insist)、二命令(order, command)、三建议(advise, suggest, propose)、四要求(request, require, demand, desire)”。以上词及其派生名词所接的名词性从句都使用“(should+)动词原形”的虚拟语气。
①Jane’s pale face suggested that she was ill, and her mother suggested that she(should) have a medical examination.
简苍白的脸色表明她病了,她母亲建议她去检查身体。
②She insisted that the man had stolen her car and that he(should) be sent to prison.
她坚持说那个男人偷了她的车,并坚决要求他坐牢。
考点十一、特殊句式中的虚拟语气
If only/It’s (high) time (that)/wish/would rather/as if等固定句式要求用相应的虚拟语气表达形式。
①I wish I could fly.
真希望我能飞。
②I would rather you came tomorrow.
我宁愿你明天来。
③If only I had taken your advice!
要是听从了你的建议该多好啊!
限时训练
(45分钟)
经典常规题
1.【2018·江苏】It’s strange that he _______ have taken the books without the owner’s permission.
A. would B. should
C. could D. might
【答案】B
【解题思路】考查虚拟语气。句意:真奇怪,他竟然没有主人的允许就拿走了这些书。在句型“It is important\necessary\strange\impossible\natural that...”中,其中由that引导的主语从句通常用“should+动词原型”这样的虚拟语气,其中的should可以省略。
2.【2018·江苏】There is a good social life in the village, and I wish I _______ a second chance to become more involved.
A. had B. will have C. would have had D. have had
【答案】A
【解题思路】考查虚拟语气。句意:在这个村里有很好的社交生活,并且我希望我再有机会去更多的参与。本题考查wish引导的宾语从句,表示与现在事实相反的愿望,所以从句用一般过去时。故选A。
3.【2018·天津卷】I can’t find my purse. I___________ it in the supermarket yesterday, but I’m not sure.
A. should leave B. must have left
C. might leave D. could have left
【答案】D
【解题思路】考查情态动词表推测。句意:我找不到我的钱包了,昨天我有可能把它落到超市了,但我不确定。根据句中时间状语“yesterday”可知,是对过去事情的推测,故用情态动词+ have done,再根据后句“but I’m not sure.”可知,此推测为不能肯定的推测,故用情态动词could,表示“可能”。故选D。
4.【2018·天津卷】If we ___________the flight yesterday, we would be enjoying our holiday on the beach.
A. had caught B. caught C. have caught D. would catch
【答案】A
【解题思路】由语境可知,主句表示与现在事实相反,从句表示与过去事实相反,故从句用过去完成时。
5.【2018·北京卷】 In today’s information age, the loss of data _________ cause serious problems for a company.
A. need B. should C. can D. must
【答案】C
【解题思路】考查情态动词。句意:在今天的信息时代,数据的丢失有时会对一个公司造成严重的问题。数据丢失造成严重问题是客观上会发生的情况,即“客观可能性”,故该空应用情态动词can。C选项正确。其余情态动词均没有该用法。need需要;should应该,竟然;must必须,肯定。
6.【2018·北京卷】They might have found a better hotel if they _________ a few more kilometers.
A. drove B. would drive C. were to drive D. had driven
【答案】D
【解题思路】考查虚拟语气。句意:如果他们多开几公里的话,他们也许会找到一个更好的旅馆。由“they might
have found a better hotel”可知,该句是表示对过去的虚拟。If they ________ a few more kilometers是条件句部分,表示对过去的虚拟,条件句部分要用过去完成时态。
7.【2017·北京】If the new safety system _______ to use, the accident would never have happened.
A. had been put B. were put C. should be put D. would be put
【答案】A
【解题思路】句意:如果这个新的安全系统被投入使用过的话,这个事故就不会发生了。根据主句确定是对过去情况的虚拟,所以从句谓语用had done形式,此外根据句意可知是被动,用被动语态,故A项是正确的。
8.【2017·北京】Samuel, the tallest boy in our class, ______ easily reach the books on the top shelf.
A. must B. should C. can D. need
【答案】C
【解题思路】A. must 必须 B. should 应该 C. can 能 D. need 需要。句意:Samuel,我班最高的男生,能很轻松地够着书架顶上的书,此处需要一个表示能力的词,故用can,答案为C。
9.【2017·天津】My room is a mess, but I __________clean it before I go out tonight. I can do it in the morning.
A. daren’t B. shouldn’t C. needn’t D. mustn’t
【答案】C
【解题思路】句意:我的房间很乱,但是在今晚我出去之前不需要打扫,我可以明天早晨再打扫。A.不敢;B.不应该;C不需要;D.不许。根据句意,故选C。
10.【2017·江苏】 _______ not for the support of the teachers, the student could not overcome her difficulty.
A. It were B. Were it C. It was D. Was it
【答案】B
【解题思路】考查虚拟语气和倒装。虚拟语气中,be动词统一用were;虚拟语气的省略形式主要是把if省略,同时把were/should/had提前,即Were /Should/ Had I,故选B。句意:要不是老师们的支持,该学生是无法克服她的困难的。
11. 【2016·浙江】________(have)the governments and scientists not worked together,AIDSrelated deaths would not have fallen since their highest in 2005.
【答案】Had
【解题思路】句意:如果政府和科学家不共同努力,与艾滋病相关的死亡就不会从2005年的最高点下降。这是一个省略了从属连词if的虚拟语气句,使用了倒装句式。根据主句的“would not have fallen”可知,这里是表示过去的虚拟语气,所以用had。
12.【2016·浙江】George can’t ________(go)too far. His coffee is still warm.
【答案】have gone
【解题思路】句意:乔治不可能走得太远了。他的咖啡仍然是温的。can’t have done是对过去的否定推测。
13.【2016·北京】Why didn’t you tell me about your trouble last week?If you ________(tell)me,I could have helped.
【答案】had told
【解题思路】句意:上个星期你为什么不告诉我你的麻烦事?如果你告诉我了,我就能帮你。根据句意和相关信息判断,条件句表示与过去事实相反的假设,此时从句用过去完成时,主句谓语用“情态动词+have done”的形式。
高频易错题
一、语法填空
阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
My 14yearold son John and I noticed the coat at the same time in a secondhand clothing store. It 1.________ (stand) out among the old coats. The price was also unbelievable: $28(171 yuan).Woolen topcoats were popular with teenage boys,but they could cost several hundred dollars now. He put 2. on and the fit was perfect.
John wore the coat to school the next day and came home 3. a big smile. “Did 4. (kid) like your coat?” I asked. “They loved it,” he said.
Over the next few weeks,John changed. He was polite and overall much happier. “Good dinner,Mom.” he would say every evening. One day when I suggested that he should start on his homework before dinner,John,5. always put things off,said,“You’re right. I guess I will.” 6. I talked to one of his teachers about these differences,she joked that the coat 7. (change) him.
As is 8. (know)to John and me,clothes do not define a person, 9. there is something to be 10. (value) for looking good.
【答案】
1. stood
2. it
3. with
4. kids
5. who
6. when
7. must have changed
8. known
9. but
10. valuable
【解题思路】本篇文章讲述了我儿子约翰变得更好的过程。
1. 考查动词的时态。整篇文章叙述过去的一件事情,故用一般过去时。
2. 考查代词。在这里“it” 代指前面的coat。
3. with短语作状语。
4.考查名词单复数。从后文中的“They”可判断此处应该用复数形式。
5.考查定语从句。先行词为John,在从句中作主语;另外,此处是非限制性定语从句,故用who。
6.考查连词,引导时间状语从句。
7.考查情态动词。此处是对过去的肯定推测,故用must have done。
8.考查非谓语动词。as is known to sb.为固定句型,意为“据某人所知”。
9.考查连词。前后表转折。
10.考查词性转换。应用形容词作表语。
精准预测题
1.The only thing that I ________ do was that I wished her a long life.
【答案】could
【解题思路】句意:我唯一能做的事情是希望她能长寿。所填词表示能力,此处要表达我唯一“能”做的,而且根据wished判断句子应该用一般过去时,所以填could。
2.Since you have such good preparations,there ________ not be any problem about passing the coming job interview.
【答案】should
【解题思路】句意:既然你准备得很充分,通过即将到来的工作面试应该没问题。根据since提供的原因“准备充分”可以判断出,此处表示“按理说应该发生”的,故本空填情态动词should。
3.It has been accepted that all the students ________ put on masks before going to school in case they are infected with flu virus.
【答案】shall
【解题思路】句意:为防止学生感染病毒,学生们在进校前要戴上口罩,这一点大家都已接受。在第三人称作主语的陈述句中,表示规定、规则,用shall。
4. There was a little mouse staying at home all day. I ________ go out,even at night.
【答案】daren’t
【解题思路】句意:一整天都有一只老鼠在家里,我即使是在晚上也没敢出去。根据even at night 表示的递进意义判断,此处表示“不敢”意义,故填情态动词daren’t。
5.I have her telephone number. You ________ call her if you like.
【答案】can
【解题思路】句意:我有她的电话号码,如果你不介意你可以给她打电话。所填词表示允许,意为“你可以给她打电话”,故用can。
6.I think something ________ have happened to Jill.
【答案】must
【解题思路】句意:我想在吉尔身上一定发生了什么事。根据I think判断,所填词表示一种非常有把握的肯定推测,故用情态动词must。
7.Some students prefer to consider majors first so that they ________ learn what they are interested in.
【答案】can
【解题思路】句意:有些学生愿意首先考虑专业,以便能够学到自己感兴趣的知识。所填词表示可能性,故填can。
8.His doctor told him not to smoke any more,but he ________ listen.
【答案】wouldn’t
【解题思路】句意:他的医生让他别吸烟了,但是他不愿意听。根据but表示转折判断,此处说的是“不愿意”听,故填情态动词wouldn’t。
9.Now I ________ like to ask you to look at some photographs if you don’t mind.
【答案】would
【解题思路】句意:如果你愿意的话,现在我想让你看一些照片。I would like to do是固定句式,意为“我想做……”。
10. Anyone ________ be in a rough life time,whether he is “Bai Fumei” or “Gao Fushuai”.
【答案】can
【解题思路】句意:任何人都会有困难的时候,无论他是“白富美”还是“高富帅”。can可以表示理论上的可能性,这里会遇到难处。故用情态动词can。