【涨姿势】总听老外说can/could/may/might,自己一用就傻傻分不清楚了

2015年08月07日 最英国





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、mightmay 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

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