我们常听老外说can/could/may/might,意思都能懂,但是自己使用起来的时候,真的能分清这其中的区别吗?
Can
可以表达一种能力/许可或提议
Ability: Julie can swim.
Permission: Can I come with you? ('May' is also used.)
Offers: Can I help you?
Could
表示可能性/过去的能力/允许或请求
Possibility: That story could be true - who knows!
Past ability: Charlie could swim when he was four years old.
Permission: Could I use your phone please?
Requests: Could you tell me the way to the station please?
May
表示可能性/许可
Possibility: The President may come to our offices if the meeting finishes before 5 pm.
Permission: May I borrow your dictionary?
Might
表示较小的可能性/间接引语中may的过去式
Slight possibility: We might win a prize but I doubt it.
Past form of 'may' in reported speech: The President said he might come.
总的来说,could、might 和 may 都表达了一种可能性,有人会觉得might 所表达的可能性更小,但其实用的时候可以不用在乎这些细节。
来源:华尔街英语