助動詞 May 與 Might

May 與 Might

(1) May與表示意志的動詞並用時，表示「許可」，而may not則表示「不許可」。

【觀念確認 】may not 可以縮寫成mayn’t一字，現代英文幾乎不使用矣。

You may have one hundred dollars for daily expense.--你一天可以花一百元

You may not play all day long without studying. (不許可= must not)

You might not play all day long without studying. (客氣的勸說)

深入探討 Might為may之過去形式，意義與may一致，用於表達讓步語氣。

(2) May用於疑問句時，表示「請示、請求」，亦可引導「祈願、祝福」的句子。

可以問你個問題嗎?

May I ask you a question?-------------------------------------(表示請示、請求)

請問芳名

Might I have your name? --------(讓步語氣，比may更客氣，與時間無關)

他問我是否他可以回家了

He asked me if he might go home.------------(表示過去式中的請示、請求)

祝你幸福!

May you be happy!---------------------------------------------------(祈願、祝福)

眉眉角角 ：May I ….?一句的回答

表示「許可」時可以是：

Yes, you may. ； Yes, you can. ； Yes, you are welcome to ……..

否定時(依語氣)可以是：

No, you may not (smoke here). (弱)

No, you can not (smoke here). (中)

No, you must not (smoke here). (強)

No, you shall not (smoke here). (禁制)

(3) May可用於表示「可能性、不確定性」，might表示更深的懷疑，與時態無關。

The report may be true. (表示可能性、不確定性)

The report might be true. (表示更深的懷疑)

Bring more money with you, the car may cost a lot.--多帶點錢吧，那車可貴了

眉眉角角 ：may not不能用來表示「能力」，僅表示「不許可」或「不可能」

He may not arrive at the airport in time. -------------------(表示不可能)

You may not use my car unless you have the license. ---(表示不許可)

解析 表示不許可must not其實比 may not更恰當

(4) May有時具有取代can的作用，但語氣上比can來得弱，may = perhaps can

A man may be known by the company he keeps.-------近朱者赤，近墨者黑

You may take a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink.-強龍不壓地頭蛇

You may have my body, but my love.---------你得到我的身體，得不到我的心

(5) 假設語氣，「對未來的猜測」若用may，表示對預測的事較無信心，或委婉

Even if you go now, you may not be able to help him.--就算去了也幫不了他

I hope that the report may not be true.------------------------希望那報導是錯的

I am afraid that the report may be true.-----------------------那報導恐怕是真的

(6) 表示目的so that, in order that的子句需用may，若主要子句過去式則用might

I work hard in order that I may succeed someday.-------------------愛拼才會贏

We eat so that we may live, but no one should waste any food.----民以食為天

I got up early so that I might not miss the train for work.-----早起上班不遲到

(7) 在由whoever, whatever, wherever……引導表示讓步的副詞子句中，需用may

Whoever may say so, I will kill him.-----------------------誰說的，老子宰了他

Whatever you may do, I will stand on you.-----------無論做什麼，挺你到底

Whenever you may come, you are always welcome.-------------隨時歡迎光臨

Wherever you may be, I will go for you.------無論你在那裡，我要見你一面

Whichever you may choose, you won’t regret.--------------------------童叟無欺

However rich a man may be, he should not despise others.-無論多有錢勿欺人

May的慣用句型(初學者略之)

S + may well + V + O 「…也是理所當然，…也是應該的」

= S + V + O, and well + S + may.

她女兒就是那麼地優秀，她感到驕傲也是理所當然

Since her daughter is so excellent, she may well be proud of her.

= Since her daughter is so excellent, she is proud of her, and well she may.

= Since her daughter is so excellent, she is proud of her with good reason.

= Since her daughter is so excellent, she has good reason to be proud of her.

他當然會那麼問

Of course, he may(might) well ask that.

= Of course, well he may(might) ask that.

= Of course, well may(might) ask that. (對象確定時，主詞亦可省略)

= Of course, he asks that, and well he may(might).

= Of course, he has good reason to ask that.

深入探討 S + may well not + V = S + can not well + V (實在不能…，沒理由…)

實在不知道怎麼拒絕他才好

We may well not refuse him.

= We cannot very well refuse him.

我實在不知道怎麼告訴他這噩耗才好

I may well not tell him the bad news.

= I cannot very well tell him the bad news.

S + may as well + V + O + (as…) 「最好是…，猶如…，不啻…」

= S + had better + V + O + (than…)

You may as well start it in no time (as not).------------------你最好是馬上開始吧

= You had better start it in no time (than not).

One may as well not know a thing at all as know it imperfectly.---半筒水響叮噹

= One had better not know a thing at all than know it imperfectly.

You may as well throw money away as lose it in gambling.--賭博猶如錢丟大海

= You had better throw money away than lose it in gambling.

S + may have + P.P. + O

解析 意解為「可能已經…」，表示對過去的事所做的推測

她現在也該收到我的e-mail了

She may have gotten my e-mail by now.

別放棄，救援隊有可能已經收到我們的求救訊號

Don’t give up! The rescue team may have received our Mayday.

深入體會 表示對過去的事所做強烈肯定的推測用must have + PP

她一定曾經在此，那是她的手錶

    That’s her watch; she must have been here.

  我找不到她，想必她一定是已經離去

    I can’t find her; she must have left.

S + might have + P.P. + O

解析 意解為「有可能已經…，或許可以…」，表示和過去相反的事實

如果她有搭上那班公車，她或許已然到家了

She might have gotten home if she had taken the bus.

如果我有投資那支股，我搞不好已經發了

I might have been rich if I had invested on that stock.

深入體會 S + might + V 和 S + might have + P.P. 的比較

你以後別再那麼做了

You might try not to do that again. (指以後要小心)

你根本不該那麼做

You might have tried not to do that. (指本該小心)

助動詞 Can 與 Could

Can 與 Could

Can無論用於第一人稱或第二、三人稱時皆為意志未來以表示「能力」。

【觀念確認 】can not 可以寫成cannot一字，縮寫can’t通常僅用於口語，寫作時不宜使用。

(1)表示「能力」的 can = be able to 與時態無關

他的英語說的真是好

He can speak English very well.

= He is able to speak English very well.

我完全不會說希臘語

I can’t speak Greek at all.

= I am not able to speak Greek at all.

= I am unable to speak Greek at all.

(請點右鍵"另開視窗"，此YouTube教學內容高中以上聽力適用)

(2) Can為堅定的意志未來，表示較強烈的「許可與否」，與「高度的可能性」。

You can have the buffet as all you can eat.----------------------隨你吃到爆

=You are allowed to have the buffet as all you are able to eat.

解析 前者can表許可，後者can表能力

The test next week can be very difficult.-----------------下次週考恐怕很難

= The test next week is likely to be very difficult.

= The test next week is highly possible to be very difficult.

解析 表示高度的可能性的can，與能力無關

(3) Can用於否定句表示「否定的推測」，用於疑問句表示「強烈的懷疑」。

It can’t be true.-------------------------------------------------這不可能是真的

= It is impossible to be true.

解析 否定的推測

You cannot smoke in the campus.----------------------------校園內不准吸煙

= You are not allowed to smoke in the campus.

解析 否定表示強烈的禁止= must not

You cannot do that.------------------------------------------------你不能那麼做

You are unable to do that.------------------------------------------你辦不到啦

解析 前者表不「許可」，後者表「能力」之不及

Can it be true?-----------------------------------------------這有可能是真的嗎?

= Is it possible to be true?

解析 疑問表示強烈的懷疑

(4) Can用於疑問句，加重語氣(重音)時，表示「不耐煩、失望、訝異」。

What else can he do?----------------------------------------他還能幹什麼好事?

What else can I do?------------------------------------------不然我還能怎麼辦?

What can we do about it?--------------------------------------我們現在怎麼辦?

How can you do that to me?----------------------------你怎能對我做這種事

How can he say so? It’s unfair.---------------------------他說的是什麼鳥話?

(5) Can用於表達某人或某事偶而會發生之意。

Mr. Chen can be very sarcastic.---------------------陳先生講話有時候很酸

= Mr. Chen is sometimes very sarcastic.

解析 表示有時(可能)會….

(6) Can (not) + have + P.P. 的句表示「對過去的推測」。

He cannot have done this. (否定的推測)----------------這不可能是他做的

She showed up, so she can have finished her work.----她有可能已經做好

解析 對過去的推測

(7) Can (not) + have + P.P.用於疑問句表示「對過去強烈的懷疑」。

Can he have done such a thing?(表示強烈的懷疑)-他有可能做這樣的事嗎?

解析 疑問表示對過去強烈的懷疑

深入探討

He couldn’t have done this yesterday.(過去否定的推測)--這不可能是他做的

He could not do this yesterday.(過去否定)-----------------------------他做不來

Can的慣用句型

S + V + as … as … can (be/do) 「非常…」(初學者略之)

He runs as fast as fast (he) can do.---------------------------------他跑得非常快

He is as happy as happy (he) can be.------------------------------他非常地快樂

S + can but + V…「只能…，只好…」(初學者略之)

無人承認一概連坐

There being none to confess, I can but take all as suspects.

【觀念確認】 but = only, just, merely為副詞。

S + cannot help + V-ing… = S + cannot help but + V…「不得不…，忍不住…」

這部電影實在感人，令我忍不住落淚

The movie is so touching that I cannot help shedding tears.

The movie is so touching that I cannot help but shed tears.

【觀念確認】 but為對等連接詞。

S + cannot + V…without + N / V-ing…「(沒)有…，就(不)能…」

= S + cannot + V…but + N / V-ing…

Human beings cannot live without air.----------人類沒有空氣就不能活下去

Human beings cannot live but air.

I can’t live without you.---------------------------------------------我不能沒有你

I can’t live but you

You can’t get good grades without studying hard.------不用功得不到好成績

You can’t get good grades but studying hard.

【觀念確認】此but乃屬介繫詞(= except)，並非對等連接詞

「無論…，也不為過…」

S + cannot + V + O + too… = S +cannot + V + O + enough

Human beings cannot worship the God too much.---------------人須敬畏天地

Human beings cannot worship the God enough.

(8) Could做為can之過去形式，意義與can並無二致，亦可用於表達讓步語氣

【觀念確認 】could not 縮寫couldn’t通常僅用於口語，寫作時不宜使用。

She said “ I can swim well”.(直接引句…表能力)-------她說：「我很會游泳」

She said that she could swim well.(間接引句過去式)--------她說她很會游泳

Don’t let him do that. He could do everything wrong. (讓步語氣，比can不肯定)

Don’t let him do that. He can do everything wrong. (誤…此句只可用讓步語氣)

Could you do me a favor? (讓步語氣，比can更客氣)--------------幫個忙好嗎?

Can you do me a favor?

【觀念確認 】was / were able to比could更具強調「能力」之意味。

He was not able to speak English before, but he is now. (表強調能力)

He could not speak English before, but he can now. (表時間狀態)

Could you deliver the letter to him? (表示請託)

    Were you able to deliver the letter to him in time? (表示辦得到嗎)

    We could leave earlier than we had expected. (因狀況允許而能夠)

    We were able to leave earlier than we had expected. (因設法努力而能夠)

Could (not) + have + P.P. 的句表示「與過去的事實相反」

  如果和平條約及時到達，這場戰爭有可能已經被避免掉了

If the peace treaty had come in time, the war could have been avoided.

如果你早幫我，我早就可以完成工作了

If you had helped me, I could have finished the work.

(請點右鍵"另開視窗"，此YouTube教學內容高中以上聽力適用)

助動詞 未來式助動詞 will & would

未來式現在型助動詞(will, shall, can, may, must)：具肯定意味的語氣，無論肯定句或否定句時皆須寫出，不可省略。

will not = won’t 
shall not = shan’t , sha’n’t
can not = cannot , can’t

may not = mayn’t
must not = mustn’t

【觀念確認 】現代英文已不使用mayn’t及shan’t , sha’n’t

未來式過去型助動詞(would, should, could, might)：具不肯定意味的語氣(讓步語氣)，用於假設語氣時，皆表示和現在事實相反，用於強烈意願的假設語氣時會被省略。

would not = wouldn’t should not = shouldn’t could not = couldn’t

【觀念確認】 might not 無縮寫型式，所有未來式助動詞皆無過去分詞(P.P.)

* 使用要點

Will 與 Would

(1) will和原形動詞構成未來式，肯定句和否定句皆具有堅定的意味，疑問句則有要求明確回答“可”，“否” 的意味。

(2) Would是will的過去式，用法與will相同，帶有讓步語氣，因而肯定句和否定句皆有委婉，客氣，不確定的意味，疑問句則有客氣的請求的意味。

【觀念確認】 讓步語氣：即是具不肯定、不確定意味的語氣。

I will study English tomorrow.       (未來式肯定句)

I will not study English tomorrow. (未來式否定句)

Will you study English tomorrow? (未來式疑問句)

What will you study tomorrow?      (未來式疑問句)

            I think I would study English tomorrow.   (未來式讓步語氣肯定句)

            I think I would not study English tomorrow. (未來式讓步語氣否定句)

            Would you mind giving me a hand? (未來式讓步語氣疑問句)

            What would you study tomorrow?    (未來式讓步語氣疑問句)

Will 與Would於疑問句中，Would表謙恭的要求，比Will來得更加客氣。

【觀念確認】Would於謙恭的要求疑問句中，僅用於第二人稱，第一、第三人稱均不適用

Would you mind doing me a favor?------------------(麻煩您)幫我個忙好嗎?

Would you show me the way to the railway station?-------可否告訴我…?

Would you like to have dinner with me?------------------------你要不要...?
 

深入探討 Would於表示建議，即徵求對方同意，則用於第二、第三人稱，不可於用第一人稱
 

Would you/they like to join us?-----------------------------------想不想要...?

Would you/they mind going with us?----------------------------在不在意...?

Will 與 Would於假設語句中，Will表肯定的未來，Would表不確定的未來。

         If you don’t study harder, you will fail on the test (肯定的未來)

        As long as you work hard, you will succeed in the future. (肯定的未來)

        When he comes tomorrow, I will give him the book. (肯定的未來)

        If I were you, I wouldn’t do that. (不確定的未來)

        I wish that I would be the right one for you. (不確定的未來)

       Had he been careful, the accident wouldn’t have happened. (不確定的未來)

Will 與 Would用於推理，實為假設語氣，不具有未來的含意。

You will(must) be he, I suppose.--------------------我猜您一定就是那個人了

The phone is ringing. It will(must) be Mary.------------一定是Mary打的電話

I suppose he would be ninety or so when he died.---他過世時大概九十上下

There is a ring at the door. I don’t know who it would be.-----是誰按門鈴啊

Will they be able to hear us talking at such a distance? (意指不可能..怎可能)

Would they be able to hear us talking at such a distance? (意指可能..竟然能)
 

深入探討 Would that = I wish that，意為「但願」，是為假設句

Would that I were young again. = I wish that I could be young again.

間接引句中若主要子句為過去式，則從屬子句須用would代替will。

他告訴我那一天下午Mary會在圖書館裡

He told me that Mary would be in the library that afternoon. (間接引句)

He said to me, “ Mary will be in the library this afternoon.” (直接引句)

我問Joan她會不會去參加聚會

I asked Joan if she would go to the party. (間接引句)

I asked Joan, “ Will you go to the party?” (直接引句)

will have + P.P.表示推測，would have + P.P. 表示與過去事實相反

He will have left Taiwan when you arrive at the airport. (表示對未來的推測)

You will(must) have heard the news. (表示對過去的推測)

The war would have been avoided if the peace treaty had come in time.