GrammarModal verbs 情态动词 (I)Unit1 Festivals around the world· 情态动词的语法特征1 ) 情态动词 不能单独做谓语,除 ought 和 have 外,后面只能接不带 to 的不定式。 2 ) 情态动词没有人称,数的变化,但有些情态动词,如 can 、 will 也有一般式和过去式的变化。3 ) 情态动词的“时态”形式并不是时间区别的主要标志,不少情况下,情态动词的现在式形式和过去式形式都可用来表示现在时间、过去时间和将来时间。can, could 和 be able to 的用法She can/be able to sing the song in English.This machine can make you feel comfortable.1.can, be able to 都可表示“能力”Can 的主语是人或物 ,be able to 的主语是人 We’ll be able to finish the work soon.I haven’t been able to see the film.2.can 只用于现在式和过去式 (could) 。 be able to 可以用于各种时态。 could 用于表示泛指过去的能力。如: I could read when I was four. Although the soldier was badly wounded, he was able to tell what had happened.She ran fast but she couldn’t /wasn’t able to catch the bus.3. 表示特定的某一过去能力或表示成功地做了某事时,只能用 was/were able to , 不能用 could 。 He was able to flee Europe before the war broke out. He was able to swim halfway before he got tired. 表示过去的能力Could I have a look at your notebook?Yes , you can./No, you can't. 4.could 不表示时态 , 表示委婉的请求,(注意在回答中不可用 could )。 Can this news be true?How can you be so foolish? It can’t be Mary. She has fallen ill.5. 表示“惊异 , 怀疑 , 不相信”的态度 ( 主要用于否定句 , 疑问句和感叹句中 )Linda didn’t catch the train. She could have caught it. Don't worry. They could have just forgotten to phone. 6. 表示推测,译为“可能、或许”, can 常用于否定句 ( 意思是 " 不可能已经 ") 和疑问句; could 除用于否定句及疑问句外 , 还可用于肯定句 ( 意思是 " 那时可能 ; 本来可以 ") 。may和might ---May I use your pencil?---Yes,...