Modals
Modal verb 中文是情感動詞，用來表達可能、意願、必要性等動詞。
我們從不會在情態動詞後面的動詞加上 -ing、-s 或 -ed。
我們也不需要使用助動詞 do 構成疑問句和否定句的動詞。
Modal verbs show possibility, intent, ability, or necessity. Common
examples of modal verbs include can, should, and must. Modal verbs
are used to express certain hypothetical conditions, such as
advisability, capability, or requests
Modal verbs 用法主要有 5 種：
1. 談及能力
2. 提出請求並請求許可
3. 談及可能性和確定性
4. 談論必要性和禁止
5. 提供建議
用法一：談及能力
在談及能力時，我們會使用 can could 等 modal verbs。
類似 be able to。
我們用 could 來談論過去的能力。在這些情況下，could 是 can 的
簡單過去式
我們還用 could 來談論某人何時開始能夠做某事
用法一 can 例句
I can play tennis very well
I cannot (can’t) windsurf at all
Can you play tennis? Yes, I can.
Can you windsurf? No, I can’t。
用法一 could 例句
When he was young, my grandfather could run the 400-
metre race faster than anyone else at his school.
(He could do it then, but he can’t do it now.)
I could swim when I was four.
(I learnt to swim when I was four. I can still swim.)
用法二：提出請求並請求許可
我們使用 modal verbs can/could/may/might + bare infinitive
來提出請求和請求許可。
不同 modal verbs 取決於情況的正式程度：
簡單而言：
(最不 formal) can could may might (最 formal)
若果要提出要約和邀請，我們使用表達方式 would like。
用法二 例句
Can you lend me your calculator?
用法二 常見錯誤
我們只在希望被允許做某事時才使用 may。不過，我們不能用 May
you（或 Might you）提出請求：
(錯誤)May you give me a lift to the airport?
(正確) Could you give me a lift to the airport?
用法三：談及可能性和確定性
我們使用 modal verbs may/might/could + bare infinitive 來談論
可能性，我們使用 will、shall 和 must 來談論確定性。
Certain will shall must
Less certain may might could
用法三 例句
There must be some special event today.
It will take longer than usual to get to school today.
There’s very little traffic today. It won’t take long to get to
school.
I shall be away for only a few days.
I shan’t be away for long.
We may have to go to a convenience store instead.
I’m not sure where the calculator is. It could be/might be in
my bag.
用法四：談論必要性和禁止
我們用 must/have to/need to + bare infinitive 來談論必要性，
即必須的事情/我們被要求或期望做的事情。
必要性強 必要性弱
must have to need
should ought to
to
我們使用否定形式 must not（不得）和 cannot（不能）來談論禁止，
即不允許我們做的事情：
用法四 例句 (必要性)
All children must go to school.
I had to walk to school when I was a child.
I should go to the gym, but I’m too tired.
I really ought to go home, but I don’t want to miss the
second half of the game.
用法四 例句 (禁止)
You mustn’t cross the street here.
We cannot wear jeans to school.
用法四 常見錯誤
否定式 must not vs need not 兩者的意思是很不同的：
You mustn’t go in there. It says ‘No entry’.
(你不准進去。)
You needn’t go in there. There’s nothing in there.
(沒有理由去那裡。)
用法五：提出意見
我們可以使用 must/have to/need to/had better/should/ought
to + bare infinitive 來給出建議。
我們根據我們的建議的強弱程度使用不同的 modal verbs：
強烈 較弱
must have to need
should ought to
to
用法五 例句
You should/ought to take up a sport.
（=我認為你最好……）
You should not (shouldn’t)/ought not to (oughtn’t
to) watch so much TV.
（=我認為這對你來說是個壞主意……）
Should I start playing football? Which team should I join?
要談論過去的動作，我們還使用結構：modal verbs + have + 過去
分詞：
You should have come to the match.
You shouldn’t have stayed at home alone.
You needn’t have spent money on a ticket.
I could have given you one for free.
