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

英文情態助動詞 — May、Might、Could、Can — 談論可能性

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

嗨，我是Mikey，歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

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

在本節課裡，您會學到怎樣用英文 情態助動詞“may”、“might”、“can”和

could.

“could”。

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

您會學到怎樣使用這些英文 情態助動詞來談論可能性。

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

情態助動詞功能很強大，因為您可以使用 它們來表達很多不同的

complex nuances of meaning.

概念和複雜、有略微差別的意思。

However, they’re also difficult to use well.

然而，它們也是很難用得好的。

Each modal verb can be used in many different ways!

每一個情態助動詞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”來講 在現在或在未來

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.

所有這些句子都是談論現在的。

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

在這裡，“could”、“might”以及“may” 之間沒有區別。

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

您可以在這些句子裡使用這三個情態 助動詞裡的任何一個 — 那沒問題。

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

“Could”和“might”比“may”更常見，但是，您 可以選擇您要用的那個情態助動詞。

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

要留意“may be” — 兩個單字， 以及“maybe” — 一個單字。

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

“May be”（兩個單字）是一個情態助動詞加動詞 “be”；“maybe”（一個單字）是一個副詞。

They aren’t the same!

它們是不一樣的！

You can also talk possibilities in the future:

您也可以談在未來的可能性：

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

如果您在談論現在或未來，那沒有問題； 您可以以相同的方法來

modal verbs in the same way.

使用這些情態助動詞。

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

人們會從上下文理解您是 在談論現在或未來。

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.

在這裡，第一句是有關現在的， 第二句是有關未來的。

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

您可以從意思來理解這個， 而不是從情態助動詞。

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

您也能在情態助動詞後面加 “not”來造否定句。

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

用否定來說您認為某件事情 不是真的，或者在現在

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

或未來某件事情不會 發生，那是有可能的。

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

在這個事例裡，您可以只說 “may”或“might”。

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

您不能使用“could”來談論 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

在這裡，在使用“may”或“might” 之間沒有區別，但是，記住

no way to use could in these sentences.

沒有辦法在這些句子裡使用“could”。

What about can?

那“can”呢？

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

直到現在，我們沒有提到“can”，因為 “can”表現是不同的。

Let’s see how!

我們現在看看是怎樣的！

Look at an example that you just saw:

看看您剛才看到的一個事例：

She might be there tomorrow.

She might be there tomorrow.

This is a specific possibility.

這是一個特指的可能性。

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

您在談論一個人、一個 地點和一個時間。

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

我們來添加更多的細節 讓這一點看起來更容易：

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”來表達特指的可能性。

You use can to express general possibilities.

您使用“can”來表達一般的可能性。

You’ve seen what a specific possibility is.

您已經看到了一個特指的 可能性是什麼。

What does ‘general possibility’ mean?

“一般的可能性”意思是什麼？

Can you explain it?

您可以解釋它嗎？

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

一個一般的可能性是指某些對很多人、 在很多地方、在很多時間

times.

裡都是事實的事情。

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.

這個可能性不適用於 在一個特指的時間裡的一個人。

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

它適用於在塞車很嚴重的 時候想去機場的任何一個人。

Let’s look at some more examples:

我們來看更多的事例：

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.

這在每一年都是有可能的， 並不只是在一年裡。

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.

每當他心情不好時，這是 有可能的，不只是這一次。

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

搬到其他國家是有壓力的， 那是可能的，無論您是誰、

move to and whenever you do it!

您搬到哪裡，以及您 什麼時候搬！

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

如果您在談論一般的可能性， 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.

一般可能性指的是現在和未來 兩者都合在一起。

For example, if you say:

例如，如果您說：

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,

您的意思是在今年這是可能的， 在現在，在明年，在未來，

and the year after that, and so on.

年復一年，類似這樣。

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

同樣，一般可能性只是肯定的； 沒有一個否定的一般

possibility.

可能性這樣的事情。

Let’s practise!

我們來練習一下！

Look at four sentences.

看四個句子。

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

考慮每一個句子，確定它是表達了一個一般 可能性，或是一個特指可能性。

Which modal verbs could you use in each case?

哪一個情態助動詞您可以 在每一個事例裡使用？

Pause the video and think about your answers.

暫停影片，並考慮您的回答。

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

如果那很難，複習這個部分以及 影片前面的部分。

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Let’s look at the answers.

我們來看看答案。

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

在第一句，因為單字“tomorrow”， 可能性是特指的。

Tomorrow is one day.

“Tomorrow：是特指的一天。

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

那意思是在這句裡，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 是一個一般的概念。

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

您在談及一個地點，但是 您也在談論每一年。

So, you should use can.

所以，您應當使用”can“。

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

在第三句，您在談論 她有的一般個性。

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

當人們不聽她講時，她隨時會 生氣，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.

第四句是在談論對一件 事情的一個反應。

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

說”when she finds out“指的是她會 在未來的一個特指的時間裡

a specific time in the future.

看到的一則新聞。

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

現在，您會看到使用”might“、”may“、 ”could“以及”can“來談論

the present or the future.

在現在或在未來的可能性。

But what about the past?

但是，那過去呢？

Let’s start with some examples.

我們從一些事例開始。

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

看三個句子，試著找出 怎樣談論在過去的可能性：

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

要談論在過去的可能性，使用 ”could“、”might“或”may“，

participle.

加”have“，加一個過去分詞。

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

同樣，在這裡，如果您使用”could“、 ”may“或”might“，那沒有問題。

There’s no difference in meaning.

在意思上沒有區別。

You can’t use can in these sentences.

您不能在這些句子使用”can“。

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

沒辦法用”can“來表達 在過去的可能性。

What do these sentences mean?

這些句子意思是什麼？

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

您可以用另一種說法來 解釋它們在說什麼嗎？

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

第一句意思是您認為他錯過 火車是有可能的。

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

您在等他，您不知道他在哪裡， 或者他為什麼遲到。

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

在第二句，您在說票在酒店那是

hotel.

有可能的。

You don’t know where the tickets are.

您並不知道票在哪裡。

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

在第三句，您聽到一個噪音， 您不確定那是什麼。

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

您在說那有可能是風。

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

您也談論在過去的 否定的可能性，像這個：

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.

像之前一樣，您可以只使用“may”或 “might”來談論否定的可能性。

You can’t use could in these sentences.

您不能在這些句子裡使用“could”。

There’s another way in which could behaves differently.

還有另一種“could” 運用的不同方式。

Let’s look.

我們看看。

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

在您在上一個單元裡看到的所有 肯定的和否定的事例裡，

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

您在談論您不知道在過去發生 了什麼事情的情形。

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

例如，如果您說他們的航班或許 仍然沒到，您不知道他們

plane has arrived or not.

的航班是到了還是沒到。

You aren’t sure.

您不確定。

What about this sentence?

那這句呢？

You could have hurt yourself!

You could have hurt yourself!

Be more careful next time!

Be more careful next time!

This example is different.

這個事例是不同的。

Can you see how?

您可以看出來是怎樣嗎？

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，這裡是一個線索：在這句裡， 您知道發生了什麼事情嗎？還是不知道？

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

那些正和您談話的人 有自己傷到了自己，或是沒有？

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

在這句裡，您知道發生了什麼事情： 人們沒有傷到自己。

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

您在說受傷是一種可能性， 但是，幸運地是那沒有發生！

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

所以，在過去有 兩種可能性：

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

一：您不知道發生了什麼， 您在做猜測。

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

二：您知道發生了什麼事情， 您在談論一個沒有發生

occur.

的可能性。

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

在第一個事例裡，您可以用“may”、“might” 或“could”三個情態助動詞裡的任何一個。

In the second case, you can only use could.

在第二個事例裡，您可以只使用“could”。

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

當您在談論某些沒有發生的糟糕 事情時，您通常使用這個。

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

我們看看這第二個 事例的更多例子：

They were very unlucky—they could easily have won.

他們很不走運 — 他們可以輕鬆地贏。

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

他們沒贏，但是，那是很接近了， 所以獲勝是一個可能性。

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

當公司倒閉時，她 可能虧損掉所有的錢。

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

她沒有虧損掉所有的錢， 但是，那是一個可能性。

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

當然，發生一個故事是可怕的， 但是，可能會更糟糕。

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

事故不是嚴重的，但是，糟糕的 結果也是一種可能性。

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

在所有這些句子裡，您知道在 過去發生了什麼，您在

past possibility which didn’t actually happen.

談論一種實際沒有發生的 過去的可能性。

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

現在，您看到了怎樣使用英文情態助動詞 “might”、“may”、“can”和“could”

in English.

來談論可能性。

Let’s put everything you’ve learned together

我們把您學到的每一樣東西合放在一起。

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

“Might”、“could”或“may”可以用於談論 在現在或在未來的特指

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”來談論一般的可能性：

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”，加一個過去分詞，

in the past:

來談論在過去的可能性：

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”來談論 否定的可能性，意思有某件

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

事情不會發生或沒有 發生的可能性：

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

最後，您可以使用“could”來談論兩種 過去的可能性：您知道發生了

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

什麼事情的情形，以及您不知道 發生了什麼事情的情形：

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?

您需要這個主題的練習嗎？

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

訪問Oxford Online English.com網站 看完整的版本，那包括一個隨堂

check your understanding of English modal verbs!

小測驗來幫助您檢查您對 英文情態助動詞的理解！

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！