How to Use Will, Would and Might - English Modal Verbs Lesson

怎樣使用Will、Would和Might — 英文情態助動詞課程

Hi, I’m Stephanie.

嗨，我是Stephanie。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn about will, might and would.

在本節課裡，您可以學到will、 might和would。

Do you know the difference between will and would?

您知道will與would 之間的區別嗎？

What about the difference between might and would?

那might與would 之間的區別呢？

In this lesson, you’ll learn what these modal verbs mean, and how to use them correctly.

在本節課裡，您會學到這些情態助動詞意思 是什麼，以及怎樣正確地使用它們。

One point: when we say might, we also mean may.

要點一：當我們說might， 我們的意思也是may。

Might and may are used in the same way, so almost everything you hear about might is

Might和may以相同的方式使用，所以， 幾乎您聽到的與might有關的

also true about may.

每一件事情都適用於may。

In the few cases where might and may are used differently, we’ll make it clear.

在might和may使用不同的極少數 事例裡，我們會釐清它。

Let’s start by looking at the difference between will and might.

我們從看will與might之間 的區別開始。

Look at a pair of sentences:

看一對句子：

I’ll go to a yoga class tonight.

I’ll go to a yoga class tonight.

I might go to a yoga class tonight.

I might go to a yoga class tonight.

What’s the difference?

區別是什麼？

The first sentence, with will, expresses certainty.

有will的句一，表達確定性。

You’re 100% sure about your plans.

您是100%確定您的計劃。

The second sentence, with might, expresses possibility.

有might的句二， 表達可能性。

You’re not 100% sure about your plans.

您不是100%確定您的計劃。

It’s possible that you’ll go to a yoga class, but it’s also possible that you’ll

您可能會去上瑜伽課，但是， 您也有可能去做其他

do something else.

某些事情。

That’s the difference between will and might.

那就是will與might之間的區別。

Both modal verbs are used to talk about the future.

兩個情態助動詞用於談論 未來的事情。

Will expresses certainty about the future, while might expresses possibility, which in

Will表達有關未來的確定性，同時， might表達可能性，在某種

a way is the opposite of certainty; possibility means that you’re not certain about something.

程度上，是與確定性相反的；可能性 意味著您不確定某些事情。

Think about the negative forms:

想想否定形式：

I won’t go to a yoga class tonight.

I won’t go to a yoga class tonight.

I might not go to a yoga class tonight.

I might not go to a yoga class tonight.

Can you see the difference here?

您可以看到在這裡的區別嗎？

The answer is the same: using will or won’t shows that you’re 100% sure about what will

答案是一樣的：使用will或won’t 表明您是100%確定會

happen.

發生的事情。

Using might or might not shows that you aren’t 100% sure about what will happen.

使用might或者might not表明您不是 100%確定會發生的事情。

Let’s see some more examples of this:

我們來再看一些這個的例子：

It will be hot next week.

It will be hot next week.

You’re sure about this.

您確定這個。

It might be hot next week.

It might be hot next week.

It’s possible that it’ll be hot, but you aren’t sure.

有可能是會很熱，但是， 您是不確定的。

He won’t come unless you tell him several weeks beforehand.

He won’t come unless you tell him several weeks beforehand.

You’re sure about this.

您確定這個。

He might not come unless you tell him several weeks beforehand.

He might not come unless you tell him several weeks beforehand.

It’s possible that he won’t come in this case, but you aren’t sure.

在這件事，他不會來是有 可能的，但是，您不確定。

Next, let’s think about the difference between will and would.

接下來，我們來考慮will與 would之間的區別。

When you say,

當您說：

It will be hot next week.

It will be hot next week.

Or: It might be hot next week.

或者：It might be hot next week.

…you’re talking about the real future.

…您在談論未來事實。

You think it’s possible that it will be hot next week.

您認為下週會很熱是有可能的。

Even if you’re not sure, it’s still a real possibility.

即使您是不確定的，那仍然是 一個事實的可能性。

What do you mean, ‘real future’?

“real future”您的意思是什麼？

Is there another kind?

還有另一種嗎？

Glad you asked!

很高興您問這個！

Yes, there is.

是的，有。

In English, you can also talk about the imaginary future.

在英文裡，您也可以 談論假設的未來。

Let’s see how:

我們看看是怎樣的：

If I could go anywhere, I’d go to Nepal.

If I could go anywhere, I’d go to Nepal.

Who would you choose if it was up to you?

Who would you choose if it was up to you?

I’d never speak to you again if you told her.

I’d never speak to you again if you told her.

Look at these examples.

看看這些例子。

Do you know what ‘imaginary future’ means?

您知道“imaginary future”是什麼意思嗎？

It means you’re imagining something in the future, but you don’t think it will actually

它意思是您在假設某些未來的事情， 但是，您不認為那會在

happen in reality.

真實世界裡實際發生。

If I could go anywhere, I’d go to Nepal.

If I could go anywhere, I’d go to Nepal.

I can’t go anywhere, so I won’t go to Nepal.

哪裡我都不能去，所以， 我不會去尼泊爾。

I’m just imagining it.

我只是在假設。

Who would you choose if it was up to you?

Who would you choose if it was up to you?

It’s not up to you, so you can’t choose.

那不取決與您，所以，您不能選擇。

I’m just asking you to imagine that it’s your decision.

我只是請您去假設 那是您的決定。

I’d never speak to you again if you told her.

I’d never speak to you again if you told her.

I don’t think you will tell her, so I don’t think it’s realistic that I’ll never speak

我不認為您會告訴她，所以，我不 認為我再也不會和您講話了

to you again.

那是事實。

Of course, I could be wrong…

當然，我可能錯了…

So, when you use will, you’re talking about the real future.

所以，當您使用will，您在 談論真實的未來。

You’re certain about something that is a real possibility.

對是一個真實可能性的 某些事情，您是確定的。

When you use would, you’re also certain, but about the imaginary future.

當您使用would，您也確定， 但是，時關於假設的未來的。

You’re imagining a future, and you’re sure about what would happen in that imaginary

您在假設一個未來，您確定 在假設的那個未來

future…

什麼事情會發生…

…but, you don’t think that imaginary future will ever actually become reality.

…但是，您不認為那個假設的未來 會實際上成為事實。

Ok, now we’d like you to think about something.

好，現在，我們想讓您考慮某些事情。

Look at three sentences:

看三個例句：

Even if you ask, I won’t help you.

Even if you ask, I won’t help you.

Even if you asked, I wouldn’t help you.

Even if you asked, I wouldn’t help you.

If you asked, I would help you.

If you asked, I would help you.

A question: which of these sentences means that I will help you in the future?

問一：這些例句裡，哪一個 意思是我在今後會幫助您？

Think about it.

想想那個。

Actually, that was a trick question.

事實上，那是一個技巧問題。

All three sentences mean that I won’t help you in the real future.

所有三個例句意思都是我在未來 事實上不會幫助您。

Did you get it right?

您理解對了嗎？

In our experience, many students get this question wrong.

依照我們的經驗，很多學生理解 錯這個問題。

Either way, let’s explain the answer.

不論怎樣，我們來解釋答案。

Even if you ask, I won’t help you.

Even if you ask, I won’t help you.

This one is hopefully obvious.

這一點希望是顯而易見的。

If you say, I won’t, you’re talking about the real future.

如果您說“I won’t”，您在 談論未來的事實。

Even if you ask—in reality—I won’t help you—in reality.

Even if you ask—是事實—I won’t help you—是事實。

Even if you asked, I wouldn’t help you.

Even if you asked, I wouldn’t help you.

What’s the difference between this and the first sentence?

這一句和句一有什麼區別？

The only difference is that I don’t think you’ll ask me to help you.

唯一的區別是我不認為 您會請我幫助您。

You won’t ask me to help you, so I won’t help you.

您不會請我去幫助您，所以， 我不會幫助您。

But, even if you asked, I still wouldn’t help you.

但是，即使您請我去幫助您， 我仍然不會幫您。

Nice of me, right?

我真好，是嗎？

If you asked, I would help you.

If you asked, I would help you.

This is the sentence that can cause problems.

這是會出問題的句子。

Can you explain why this means that I won’t help you, in reality, in the future?

您可以解釋為什麼這個句子的意思是 我未來事實上不會幫助您嗎？

This sentence is about the imaginary future.

這句是與假設的未來相關的。

Using would means that you don’t think this situation will happen.

使用would意思是您不 認為這種情形會發生。

If you asked, I would help you, but I don’t think you will ask, so I don’t think I will

如果您問I would help you，但是， 我不認為您會問，所以，

help you.

我不認為我會幫助您。

This is an important point, and it can cause misunderstandings—we’ve seen it happen

這是一個很重要的要點，它可以 產生誤解 — 我們看到

many times!

發生過很多次。

Let’s look at this in more detail.

我們來看這個的更多細節。

Look at two sentences:

看兩個例句：

She won’t agree.

She won’t agree.

She would agree.

She would agree.

What’s the difference between them?

它們之間的區別是什麼？

Hopefully, now you can answer that question.

希望您現在就可以回答這個問題。

The most important point is that in both sentences, you mean that she won’t agree in reality.

最重要的要點是在這兩句裡，您 意思是她在事實上是不會同意。

In the first sentence, that’s all you’re saying; you’re saying that she won’t agree

在句一，那就是所有您要說的； 您要說她在未來不會同意，

in the future, and you’re sure about that.

您確定那個。

In the second sentence, you’re talking about an imaginary future situation which exists

在句二，您在談論一個存在於 您的腦海裡的假設的

in your head.

未來情形。

You’re not talking about what you think will happen in reality, so the basic meaning

您沒有要談論您認為事實上會 發生什麼，所以，基本意思是

is similar: she won’t agree in reality.

相似的：在事實上在未來不會同意。

Urgh—so abstract!

呃 — 太抽象了！

Why are we making you think about this?

為什麼我們會請您考慮這個？

If you don’t understand this, you can very easily misunderstand quite important points

如果您不理解這個，當您在用英文 與某人交談時，您可能會

when you’re speaking to someone in English.

很容易誤解十分重要的要點。

For example, imagine you invite someone to your birthday dinner.

例如，假設您邀請某人去 參加您的生日晚餐。

The other person says:

那個人說：

Well, I would come…

Well, I would come…

You think, ‘Great!

您覺得“Great!

This person’s coming!’

This person’s coming!”

You walk away and continue making your birthday plans.

您走開，繼續規劃您的生日。

Except, as you hopefully understood, they’re not coming.

除了，正如您希望理解的 那樣，他們不會來。

They left part of their sentence unsaid.

他們保留了句子的一部分，沒有說。

The full sentence might be something like:

整句話是某些像：

I would come if I wasn’t so busy.

I would come if I wasn’t so busy.

I would come if I was free.

I would come if I was free.

I would come, but I don’t want to spend any money on buying you a present.

I would come, but I don’t want to spend any money on buying you a present.

You don’t know.

您不知道。

The point is: the other person won’t come to your birthday dinner in reality.

要點是：在事實裡，那個人不會 出席您的生日晚餐。

And, reality is probably more important to you, right?

事實對您來說是更 重要的，對嗎？

Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem if everybody was direct and said exactly what

當然，如果每個人是很直接的， 準確地講出他們是什麼意思，

they meant, but in the real world, people are often indirect, and they don’t say exactly

這不是問題，但是，在現實生活裡， 人們通常是不直接的，他們不會

what they mean.

準確地說出他們的意思是什麼。

Also, people usually speak with contractions: I’ll, I’d, she’ll, she’d, etc.

同樣，人們通常講縮讀字： I’ll, I’d, she’ll, she’d，等等。

It can be hard to hear the difference, but the meaning can be totally opposite.

那可能很難去聽出區別，但是， 意思可以是完全相反的。

If you’re listening, and you’re not sure if someone said I’ll or I’d, here’s

如果您在聽，您不確定 某人是說I’ll或是I’d，這裡

our advice: ask!

是我們的建議：問！

It’s important, because you could completely misunderstand the situation.

那是重要的，因為您可能 完全誤解狀況。

We’ve talked a lot about will and would here, but what about might?

在這裡，我們談了很多與will和 would相關的，但是，might呢？

Can you use might to talk about the imaginary future?

您可以用might來談論 假設的未來嗎？

You can use might to talk about the real future or the imaginary future.

您能使用might來談論事實上的 未來或者假設的未來。

Look at three sentences:

看三個例句：

It might snow next week.

It might snow next week.

He might have a different suggestion.

He might have a different suggestion.

Taking the bus might not be the best way to get there.

Taking the bus might not be the best way to get there.

Are these sentences about the real future, or not?

這些句子是與事實上的 未來有關嗎？

Is it possible that it will snow next week, or not?

有可能下週會下雪嗎？

These sentences are about the real future.

這些句子是與事實上的未來有關。

They all describe real future possibilities that you aren’t 100% sure about.

他們所有都描述了您不是100%確定的 事實上的未來可能性。

In a simple sentence like this, might is always about real future possibilities.

在像這樣的簡單句子裡，might總是與 事實上的未來的可能性相關。

However, you can also use might to talk about the imaginary future, too.

然而，您也可以使用might來 談論假設的未來。

Do you know how?

您知道是怎樣的嗎？

Here are some examples:

這裡是一些例子：

If I had more energy, I might join you.

If I had more energy, I might join you.

He might not pay you back if you lent him the money.

He might not pay you back if you lent him the money.

Can you see the difference?

您可以看到區別嗎？

You can use might to talk about the imaginary future only in a sentence with if.

您只有在有if的句子裡可以使用 might來談論假設的未來。

You also need to use a past tense verb after if.

您也需要在if後面使用一個過去時態。

Think about something: what do these sentences mean?

想想一些事情：這些句子 意思是什麼？

The first sentence means that I don’t have more energy, so I won’t join you, but I’m

句一的意思是我沒有足夠的氣力了， 所以，我不會加入你們，但是，

imagining a future in which I have more energy, and even in that imaginary future, I’m not

我假設假如之後我有更多氣力， 即使在那個假設的未來，我也

100% sure I would join you.

不是100%確定我會加入你們。

Clearly, whatever you’re inviting me to isn’t very exciting.

很清楚，無論您邀請我去做 什麼，都不會令人很興奮。

He might not pay you back if you lent him the money.

He might not pay you back if you lent him the money.

I don’t think you’ll actually lend him the money in reality, but I’m imagining

我不認為在現實裡，您實際上 會借錢給他，但是，我假設了一個

a future where you do lend him the money, and in that imaginary future, I’m not 100%

您借錢給他的未來，在那個 假設的未來裡，我不是100%

sure whether he would pay you back or not.

確定他是否會還錢給您。

Finally, this is one case where might and may are different.

末句，這是一個might和 may不同的事例。

You can’t use may in these sentences to talk about the imaginary future.

您不能在這些句子裡使用may 去談論假設的未來。

Only might is possible.

只有might是可能的。

Up to now, you’ve seen how to use will, might and would to talk about the future.

直到現在，您看到了怎麼使用will、 might和would來談論未來。

But, what about the past?

但是，關於過去呢？

First of all, you can’t generally use will to talk about the past.

首先，您一般不能使用will 去談論過去。

There are one or two cases where you can, but it’s rare.

有一到兩個您可以的例子， 但是，那是極少的。

Generally, will is about the future, or sometimes the present.

一般來說，will是與未來或現在的 某個時刻相關的。

You can use would or might to talk about imaginary past situations.

您可以使用would或might來談論 假設的過去的情形。

What does ‘imaginary past’ mean?

“imaginary past”意思是什麼？

Like the imaginary future, it means you imagine a past which didn’t happen.

就像假設的未來，那意思是您假設 一個沒有發生過的過去。

For example, let’s say that you studied history at university.

例如。我們說您曾在大學裡 學習歷史。

You want to imagine a past where you studied medicine instead.

您想要假設一個您學過 醫學的過去。

You might say something like:

您或許會說某些像是：

If I’d studied medicine, I would have become a doctor.

If I’d studied medicine, I would have become a doctor.

I might have been more interested in my studies if I’d studied medicine.

I might have been more interested in my studies if I’d studied medicine.

In these cases, you’re imagining a different past.

在這些事例裡，您在假設 一個不同的過去。

You didn’t study medicine; you studied history.

您沒學過醫學，您學過歷史。

But, what if you had studied medicine?

但是，如果您學過醫學呢？

Imagine it; that’s the situation these sentences are describing.

假設它，那就是這些句子 在描述的情形。

A question: what do you need to add after would or might to make the meaning past?

一個問題：在would或者might後面您 要加什麼來造過去式的意思？

You need to add have and a past participle verb.

您要加have和一個動詞的 過去分詞。

Also, when talking about the imaginary past, you almost always use an if-sentence.

同樣，當您在談論假設的過去， 您幾乎總是使用一個if句子。

Let’s see some more examples:

我們來看更多例子：

I would have bought you a present if I’d known it was your birthday!

I would have bought you a present if I’d known it was your birthday!

If I had missed the train, we might never have met!

If I had missed the train, we might never have met!

Next question: can you explain what these sentences mean?

下一個問題：您可以解釋 這些句子意思是什麼嗎？

Let’s look together.

我們一起來看一下。

The first sentence is imagining a different past.

句一是在假設 一個不同的過去。

In reality, I didn’t know it was your birthday, and I didn’t buy you a present.

在事實上，我不知道那是您的生日， 我沒有買一個禮物給您。

But, I’m imagining a different past, where I knew it was your birthday.

但是，我在假設一個不同的過去， 我知道那是您的生日。

In that imaginary past, I’m 100% sure I would have bought you a present.

在那個假設的過去，我100%確定 會買給您一個禮物。

The second sentence is also imagining a different past.

句二也是在假設一個不同的過去。

In reality, I didn’t miss the train, so we did meet.

在事實上，我沒有錯過火車， 所以，我們相遇了。

However, in my imaginary past, I missed the train.

然而，在我假設的過去， 我錯過了火車。

In this imaginary situation, I’m not 100% sure whether we would have met or not.

在這個假設的情形裡，我不是 100%確定是否我們會相遇。

Maybe we would have met somewhere else, or on another day, but maybe not.

或許我們會在其他某個地方，或在 某一天相遇，但是，或許沒有相遇。

You can see that these sentences contain a lot of information!

您可以看到這些句子包含 有大量的信息！

However, you only really need to think about two (or maybe three) things:

然而，您僅僅真的需要考慮 兩件（或者三件）事情：

One: are you 100% sure or not 100% sure?

一：您是100%確定，或者 不是100%確定？

If you’re 100% sure, use will or would.

如果您100%確定，使用 will或would。

If not, use might.

如果沒有，使用might。

Two: are you talking about real life, or an imaginary situation?

二：您在談論一個真實的生活， 或是一個假設的情形？

If you’re talking about real life, use will or might.

如果您在談論真實的生活，使用 will或might。

If you’re talking about an imaginary situation, use would or might.

如果您在談論一個假設的情形， 使用would或者might。

The final thing: you need to think about whether you’re talking about the future or the past.

最後一件事情：您要考慮您是在 談論未來或是過去。

However, this doesn’t change which verb you should use; it just changes how you should

然而，這不會改變您應當使用的 動詞；那只會改變您要

use them.

怎樣使用它們。

You can practice this topic more with a quiz on our website: Oxford Online English dot

在我們的網站上，您可以用一個 隨堂小測驗來多練習這個主題：

com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

Check the link in the video description!

看下影片描述裡的連接！

See you next time!

下次見！

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！