English Modal Verbs - May, Might, Could, Can - Talking About Possibilities

英语情态动词 — May、Might、Could、Can — 谈论可能性

Hi, I’m Mikey and welcome to Oxford Online English!

嗨，我是Mikey，欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn how to use the English modal verbs may, might, can and

在本节课里，您会学到怎样使用英语 情态动词“may”、“might”、“can”和

could.

“could”。

You’ll learn how to use these modal verbs to talk about possibilities in English.

您会学到怎样使用这些英语 情态动词来谈论可能性。

Modal verbs are powerful, because you can use them to express many different ideas and

情态动词功能很强大，因为您可以使用 它们来表达很多不同的

complex nuances of meaning.

概念和复杂、细微差别的意思。

However, they’re also difficult to use well.

然而，它们也是很难用好的。

Each modal verb can be used in many different ways!

每一个情态动词可以以不同的方法使用！

You can use might, could or may to say that something is possible in the present or in

您可以使用“might”、“could”或“may”来讲 在现在或在未来

the future.

有可能的某些事情。

For example:

例如：

They could be brothers—they look so alike!

They could be brothers—they look so alike!

I think it’s possible that they’re brothers.

I think it’s possible that they’re brothers.

Where are my keys?

Where are my keys?

They might still be in the car.

They might still be in the car.

I think it’s possible that your keys are still in the car.

I think it’s possible that your keys are still in the car.

It’s raining here, but it may be sunny there.

It’s raining here, but it may be sunny there.

I think it’s possible that it’s sunny there.

I think it’s possible that it’s sunny there.

These sentences are all about the present.

所有这些句子都是谈论现在的。

There’s no difference between could, might and may here.

在这里，“could”、“might”以及“may” 之间没有区别。

You can use any of these three modal verbs in any of these sentences—it doesn’t matter.

您可以在这些句子里使用这三个情态 动词里的任何一个 — 那没问题。

Could and might are more common than may, but you can choose which modal verb you use.

“Could”和“might”比“may”更常见，但是，您 可以选择您要用的那个情态动词。

Be careful with may be—two words, and maybe—one word.

要留意“may be” — 两个词， 以及“maybe” — 一个词。

May be (two words) is a modal verb plus the verb be; maybe (one word) is an adverb.

“May be”（两个词）是一个情态动词加动词 “be”；“maybe”（一个词）是一个副词。

They aren’t the same!

它们是不一样的！

You can also talk possibilities in the future:

您也可以谈在未来的可能性：

It could cost more than you expect.

It could cost more than you expect.

I think it’s possible that it will cost more than you expect.

I think it’s possible that it will cost more than you expect.

You might miss the train unless you leave now.

You might miss the train unless you leave now.

I think it’s possible that you’ll miss the train if you don’t leave now.

I think it’s possible that you’ll miss the train if you don’t leave now.

I may be around five minutes late.

I may be around five minutes late.

I think it’s possible that I’ll be a little late.

I think it’s possible that I’ll be a little late.

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about the present or the future; you can use these

如果您在谈论现在或未来，那没有问题； 您可以以相同的方法来

modal verbs in the same way.

使用这些情态动词。

People will understand if you’re talking about the present or the future from the context.

人们会从上下文理解您是 在谈论现在或未来。

For example:

例如：

She might be there already.

She might be there already.

She might be there tomorrow.

She might be there tomorrow.

Here, the first sentence is about the present, and the second is about the future.

在这里，第一句是有关现在的， 第二句是有关未来的。

You can understand this from the meaning, not from the modal verb.

您能从意思来理解这个， 不是从情态动词。

You can also make negatives by adding not after the modal verb.

您也可以通过在情态动词后面 添加“not”来造否定句。

Use negatives to say that you think it’s possible that something is not true, or that

用否定来说您认为某件事情 不是真的，或者在现在

something will not happen, in the present or the future.

或未来某件事情不会 发生那是有可能的。

In this case, you can only use may or might.

在这事例里，您可以只说 “may”或“might”。

You can’t use could to talk about negative possibilities.

您不能使用“could”来谈论 否定的可能性。

For example:

例如：

They might not be ready.

They might not be ready.

I think it’s possible that they aren’t ready.

I think it’s possible that they aren’t ready.

This could be in the present or in the future—you can’t tell just from this sentence.

This could be in the present or in the future—you can’t tell just from this sentence.

He may not be able to help you.

He may not be able to help you.

I think it’s possible that he won’t be able to help you.

I think it’s possible that he won’t be able to help you.

There’s no difference between using may or might here, but remember that there’s

在这里，在使用“may”或“might” 之间没有区别，但是记住

no way to use could in these sentences.

没有办法在这些句子里使用“could”。

What about can?

那“can”呢？

We haven’t mentioned can until now, because can behaves differently.

直到现在，我们没有提到“can”，因为 “can”表现是不同的。

Let’s see how!

我们现在看看是怎样的！

Look at an example that you just saw:

看看您刚才看到的一个例子：

She might be there tomorrow.

She might be there tomorrow.

This is a specific possibility.

这是一个特指的可能性。

You’re talking about one person, one place and one time.

您在谈论一个人、一个 地点和一个时间。

Let’s add some more details to make it easier to see this:

我们来添加更多的细节来 让这点看起来更容易：

Sarah might be at the party tomorrow.

Sarah might be at the party tomorrow.

You can use might, may or could to express specific possibilities.

您可以使用“might”、“may”或 “could”来表达特指的可能性。

You use can to express general possibilities.

您使用“can”来表达一般的可能性。

You’ve seen what a specific possibility is.

您已经看到了一个特定的 可能性是什么。

What does ‘general possibility’ mean?

“一般可能性”意思是什么？

Can you explain it?

您可以解释它吗？

A general possibility is something which is true for many people, in many places, at many

一个一般的可能性是某些对很多人、 在很多地方、在很多时间

times.

里是正确的事情。

For example:

例如：

It can take two hours to get to the airport if the traffic’s bad.

It can take two hours to get to the airport if the traffic’s bad.

This possibility doesn’t apply to one person at one time.

这个可能性不适用于 在一个特定时间里的一个人。

It applies to anyone who tries to get to the airport when the traffic’s bad.

它适用于在交通堵塞很严重的 时候想去机场的任何人。

Let’s look at some more examples:

我们来看更多的事例：

It can be very wet and cold in spring here.

It can be very wet and cold in spring here.

This is possible every year, not just in one year.

这个在每年都是可能的， 不只是在一年里。

He can be very difficult to deal with when he’s in a bad mood.

He can be very difficult to deal with when he’s in a bad mood.

This is possible every time he’s in a bad mood, not just one time.

每当他心情不好时，这是 有可能的，不只是一次。

Moving countries can be a stressful experience.

Moving countries can be a stressful experience.

It’s possible that moving countries is stressful whoever you are, wherever you

搬到其他国家是有压力的， 那是可能的，无论您是谁、

move to and whenever you do it!

您搬到哪里，以及您 什么时候做这个！

If you’re talking about general possibilities, you can only use can.

如果您在谈论一般的可能性， 您可以只使用“can”。

You can’t use could, might or may.

您不能使用“could”、“might”或“may”。

General possibilities refer to both the present and the future together.

一般可能性指的现在和未来 两者都放在一起。

For example, if you say:

例如，如果您说：

It can be very wet and cold in spring here.

It can be very wet and cold in spring here.

You mean that this is possible this year, in the present, and next year, in the future,

您意思是今年这是可能的， 在现在，在明年，在未来，

and the year after that, and so on.

以及年复一年，等等。

Also, general possibilities are only positive; there’s no such thing as a negative general

同样，一般可能性只是肯定的； 没有一个否定的一般

possibility.

可能性这样的事情。

Let’s practise!

我们来练习一下！

Look at four sentences.

看四个句子。

For each one, decide if it expresses a general possibility or a specific possibility.

对每一句，决定它是表达了一个一般 可能性，或是一个特定可能性。

Which modal verbs could you use in each case?

您可以在每一个事例里使用 哪一个情态动词？

Pause the video and think about your answers.

暂停视屏，并考虑您的回答。

If it’s difficult, review this part and the previous part of the video.

如果那很难，复习这个部分和 视频的前部分。

Ready?

准备好了吗？

Let’s look at the answers.

我们来看看回答。

In the first sentence, the word tomorrow makes it specific.

在第一句，单词“tomorrow” 让它成为特定的。

Tomorrow is one day.

“Tomorrow：是一天。

That means you can use could, might or may in this sentence.

那意思是在这句里，您可以 用”could“、”might“或”may“。

In the second sentence, in July in the south is a general idea.

在第二句，在七月，在南部 是一个一般概念。

You’re talking about one place, but you’re also talking about every year.

您在谈及一个地点，但是 您也在谈论每一年。

So, you should use can.

所以，您应当使用”can“。

In the third sentence, you’re talking about a general tendency which she has.

在第三句，您在谈论一个 她有的一般个性。

She can get angry any time when people don’t listen to her, not just one time.

当人们不听她讲时，她随时会 生气，不只是一次。

So, you need to use can.

所以，您要使用”can“。

The fourth sentence is talking about one reaction to one thing.

第四句是在谈论对一件 事情的一个反应。

The words when she finds out refer to one piece of news, which she will find out at

说”when she finds out “指的是她会 在未来的一个特定时间里

a specific time in the future.

看到的一则新闻。

So, you need to use could, might or may.

所以，您要使用”could“、”might“或”may“。

Now, you’ve seen how to use might, may, could and can to talk about possibility in

现在，您会看到使用”might“、”may“、 ”could“以及”can“来谈论

the present or the future.

在现在或未来的可能性。

But what about the past?

但是，那过去呢？

Let’s start with some examples.

我们从一些事例开始。

Look at three sentences, and try to work out how to talk about possibilities in the past:

看三个句子，试着找出 怎样谈论在过去的可能性：

Where is he?

Where is he?

I guess he might have missed the train.

I guess he might have missed the train.

I don’t know where the tickets are.

I don’t know where the tickets are.

I may have left them in the hotel.

I may have left them in the hotel.

What was that noise?

What was that noise?

I suppose it could have been the wind.

I suppose it could have been the wind.

To talk about possibilities in the past, use could, might or may, plus have, plus a past

要谈论在过去的可能性，使用 ”could“、”might“或”may“，

participle.

加”have“，加一个过去分词。

Again, it doesn’t matter if you use could, may or might here.

同样，在这里，如果您使用”could“、 ”may“或”might“，那没问题。

There’s no difference in meaning.

在意思上没有区别。

You can’t use can in these sentences.

您不能在这些句子里使用”can“。

There’s no way to use can to express possibility in the past.

没办法使用”can“来表达 在过去的可能性。

What do these sentences mean?

这些句子意思是什么？

Can you explain what they’re saying in other words?

您可以用另一种说法来 解释它们在说什么吗？

The first sentence means that you think it’s possible that he missed the train.

第一句意思是您认为他错过 火车是有可能的。

You’re waiting for him; you don’t know where he is or why he’s late.

您在等他，您不知道他在哪里， 或者他为什么迟到。

In the second sentence, you’re saying that it’s possible that the tickets are in the

在第二句，您在说票在酒店那是

hotel.

有可能的。

You don’t know where the tickets are.

您不知道票在哪里。

In the third sentence, you heard a noise and you aren’t sure what it was.

在第三句，您听到一个噪音， 您不确定那是什么。

You’re saying that it’s possible that it was the wind.

您在说那有可能是风。

You can also talk about negative possibilities in the past, like this:

您也可以谈论在过去的 否定的可能性，像这个：

He might not have heard you.

He might not have heard you.

It’s possible that he didn’t hear you.

It’s possible that he didn’t hear you.

Their plane may not have arrived yet.

Their plane may not have arrived yet.

It’s possible that their plane hasn’t arrived yet.

It’s possible that their plane hasn’t arrived yet.

As before, you can only use may or might to talk about negative possibilities.

像之前一样，您可以只使用“may”或 “might”来谈论否定的可能性。

You can’t use could in these sentences.

您不能在这些句子里使用“could”。

There’s another way in which could behaves differently.

还有另一种“could” 运用的不同方式。

Let’s look.

我们看看。

In all the examples you saw in the last section, positive and negative, you’re talking about

在您在上一个单元里看到的所有 肯定的和否定的事例里，

situations where you don’t know what happened in the past.

您在谈论您不知道在过去发生 了什么事情的情形。

For example, if you say their plane may not have arrived yet, you don’t know if their

例如，如果您说他们的航班也许 仍然没到，您不知道他们

plane has arrived or not.

的航班是到了还是没到。

You aren’t sure.

您不确定。

What about this sentence?

那这句呢？

You could have hurt yourself!

You could have hurt yourself!

Be more careful next time!

Be more careful next time!

This example is different.

这个事例是不同的。

Can you see how?

您可以看出来是怎样吗？

If you don’t know, here’s a clue: in this sentence, do you know what happened, or not?

如果您不知道，这里是一个线索：在这句里， 您知道发生了什么？还是不知道？

Did the person you’re talking to hurt themselves, or not?

那些正和您谈话的人 有自己伤到了自己，或是没有？

In this sentence, you know what happened: the person didn’t hurt themselves.

在这句里，您知道发生了什么事： 人们没有自己伤到自己。

You’re saying that getting hurt was a possibility, but luckily it didn’t happen!

您在说受伤是一种可能性， 但是幸运地是那没发生！

So, there are two kinds of possibility in the past:

所以，在过去有 两种可能性：

One: you don’t know what happened, and you’re making a guess.

一：您不知道发生了什么， 您在做猜测。

Two: you know what happened, and you’re talking about a possibility which didn’t

二：您知道发生了什么， 您在谈论一个没有发生

occur.

的可能性。

In the first case, you can use any of the three verbs: may, might or could.

在第一个事例，您可以使用“may”、“might” 或“could”三个情态动词里的任何一个。

In the second case, you can only use could.

在第二个事例里，您可以只使用“could”。

You often need this when you’re talking about something bad which didn’t happen.

当您在谈论某些没有发生的糟糕事情 时，您通常使用这个。

Let’s see some more examples of this second case:

我们看看这第二个 事例的更多例子：

They were very unlucky—they could easily have won.

他们很不走运 — 他们可以轻松地赢。

They didn’t win, but it was close, so winning was a possibility.

他们没赢，但是那是很接近了， 所以获胜是一个可能性。

She could have lost all of her money when the company went under.

当公司倒闭时，她 可能把钱全亏损掉了。

She didn’t lose all of her money, but it was a possibility.

她没有亏损掉所有的钱， 但是，那是一个可能性。

Of course, being in an accident was scary, but it could have been much worse.

当然，发生一个事故是可怕的， 但是，可能会更糟。

The accident wasn’t serious, but worse results were a possibility.

事故不是严重的，但是，糟糕的 结果是一种可能性。

In all of these sentences, you know what happened in the past, and you’re talking about a

在所有这些句子里，您知道在 过去发生了什么，您在

past possibility which didn’t actually happen.

谈论一种实际没有发生的 过去的可能性。

Now, you’ve seen how to use the modal verbs might, may, can and could to talk about possibilities

现在，您看到了怎样使用英语情态动词 “might”、“may”、“can”和“could”

in English.

来谈论可能性。

Let’s put everything you’ve learned together

我们把您学到的每一样东西合放一起。

Might, could or may can be used to talk about specific possibilities in the present or the

“Might”、“could”或“may”可以用于谈论 在现在或在未来的特定

future:

可能性：

Take a jumper—it might be cold outside.

Take a jumper—it might be cold outside.

It could be a good game tomorrow.

It could be a good game tomorrow.

You can use can to talk about general possibilities:

您可以使用“can”来谈论一般的可能性：

Using a credit card can be an expensive way to buy things.

Using a credit card can be an expensive way to buy things.

You can use could, may or might, plus have, plus a past participle, to talk about possibilities

您可以使用“could”、“may”或“might”， 加“have”，加一个过去分词，

in the past:

来谈论在过去的可能性：

They may have got lost.

They may have got lost.

I’ll call them and find out where they are.

I’ll call them and find out where they are.

You can use may or might to talk about negative possibilities, meaning that there’s a possibility

您可以使用“may”或“might”来谈论 否定的可能性，意思有某件

that something won’t happen or didn’t happen:

事情不会发生或没有 发生的可能性：

It might work, but it might not.

It might work, but it might not.

He may not have seen the message yet.

He may not have seen the message yet.

Finally, you can use could to talk about two kinds of possibility in the past: situations

最后，您可以使用“could”来谈论两种 在过去的可能性：您知道发生了

where you know what happened, and situations where you don’t know what happened:

什么事情的情形，以及您不知道 发生了什么事情的情形：

You could have missed the plane!

You could have missed the plane!

Don’t be late next time.

Don’t be late next time.

I’m not sure why he isn’t here.

I’m not sure why he isn’t here.

I guess he could have missed the plane.

I guess he could have missed the plane.

Do you need practice with this topic?

您需要这个主题的练习吗？

Visit Oxford Online English.com for the full lesson, including a quiz to help you

访问Oxford Online English.com网站 看完整版本，那包括一个随堂

check your understanding of English modal verbs!

小测验来帮助您检查您对 英语情态助动词的理解！

Thanks for watching!

感谢观看！

See you next time!

下次见！