A第一人称
I/we can是最常用的形式:
I can take a day off whenever I want.
我什么时候想休息一天就休息一天。
I/we may可以意为我/我们获准做某事:
I may leave the office as soon as I have finished.
我获准一结束工作就可以离开办公室。
但这不是很常用的结构,更常说:
I can leave/Im allowed to leave
我可以离开/人家允许我离开
I/we may/might在间接引语中更为常见:
You may leave when youye finished, he says/said.
他说:你做完以后就可以走。相当于:
He says we may leave/He said we might leave
他说/说过我们可以走
但在口语中常会使用 can/could:
He says we can leave./He said we could leave.
他说/说过我们可以离开。
B第二人称
这里 may主要用来表示说话人的允许: You may park here (你可以在这里停车)意指我允许你在这里停放汽车,一般情况下它不是指警察等准许你在此停车,也不是说你有权停车。can可在这里代替may用来表示许可,是不正式的用法。它不仅表示给予许可,而且还表示获得许可的意思。 You can park here(你可以在这里停车)意指我允许你停车/警察准许你停车/你有权利在这儿停车。
同样: You can take two books home with you(你可以带两本书回家)意指我允许你带走/图书馆允许你带走。 You cant eat sandwiches in the library(你不能在图书馆里吃三明治)意为我不允许你在图书馆吃三明治/图书馆工作人员不准许或这么做不合适。
could可以在具有附带条件的情况下使用:
Why dont you ring him?You can/could use my phone.
你为什么不给他打电话?你可以用我的电话。
could还常用于动词过去式引导的间接引语中:
He said I could use his phone.
他说我可以用他的电话。
C 第三人称
表示说话人的允许时,可用may,正如上面B所示:
He may take my car.
他可以用我的车。(我许可他这么做。)
They may phone the office and reverse the charges.
他们可以给办公室打电话让对方付电话费。(我许可他们这么做。)
但may主要用于不具体指某个人而泛指一类人的权力或允许的话语中:
In certain circumstances a police officer may(= has the right to) ask a driver to take a breath test.
在特定的情况下警官可以(有权)要求驾驶员接受酒精检测。
If convicted,an accused person may(=has the right to) appeal.
如果宣告有罪,被告有权上诉。
Scrabble rules:No letter may be moved after it has been played.
纵横拼字游戏的规则:字母棋子已落到棋盘上就不许再动了。
在非正规英语中常会使用 can/cant:
He can take the car.
他可以用这辆车。
They can phone the office.
他们可以给办公室打电话。
A police officer can ask a driver
警察有权要求驾驶员
An accused person can appeal.
被告有权上诉。
No letter can be moved
字母棋子不许再动
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