英语的情态动词(modal verbs)可以协助主动词,表达一句话的语气;有时,不同的情态动词还会多少扭转一句话的含意。例如Shall I come in?和May I come in?这两句话的含意一样吗?答案是否定的。
用May提问,目的在请求对方同意某事,是种客气方式,意思是:我想进来,不知你允许吗?
用Shall提问,目的在探听对方要不要我进来,有点像Do you want me to come in?而你要我进来,我就进来,你不要我进来,我就不进来。
现在再比较下列各组,看看语意有何差别:
(1) a. Shall I read this book now?
(你现在要我看这本书吗?)
b. May I read this book now?
(我现在可以看这本书吗?)
(2) a. Shall I buy the stamps for you?
(你要我替你买邮票吗?)
b. Can I buy the stamps for you?
(我可以替你买邮票吗?)
(3) a. Shall I write the annual report?
(你要我写年终报告吗?)
b. Might/May/Can I write the annual report?
(我可以写年终报告了吗?)
最后,再看看另外两句的差别何在?
(4) Our basketball team has gone to Malaysia.
(5) Our basketball team has been to Malaysia.
第4句子里用gone;5里用been。一字不同,意思有别。
前句的含义是:这支队伍现在已不在这儿到马来西亚去了。后句的意思是:这支队伍曾经去过马来西亚,但现在已在这儿。
同样的,第6句和第7句的含义差别也和4及5一样:
(6) Jade has gone to China.
(7) Jade has been to China.
由此可见,have gone to和have been to尽管样貌相似,用的都是现在完成时态,但含意并不相同。
通过上述例句的对比,可以知道今天早上,海伦去看过牙医了的英译句应该是8或9:
(8) Helen has been to the dentist.
(9) Helen went to see the dentist this morning.不能说:
(10) Helen has gone to the dentist this morning.
还有,针对Where have you been before?这句问话,正确的答案是11不是12:
(11) I have been to London.
(12) I have gone to London.
因为人还在说话,怎么可以在伦敦?
在结束本文之前,请比较13a和13b,以确定其语意:
(13) a. The security guard is used to watch the bank.
b. The security guard is used to watching the bank.
13a. 是被动句,意思是:保安人员被用来看守银行。主动句是:Someone uses the security guard to watch the bank.
13b. 是接系动词+used to + 宾语
(linking verb + used to + object),意思是:
保安人员习惯于看守银行。
其他例子:
(14) Are you used to living in a cold counrty?(你习惯住在寒冷国家吗?)
(15) I am quite used to cold weather.(我相当适应冷天气。)
王者荣耀进军欧美市场
国内英语资讯:Chinese state councilor meets 72nd UN General Assembly president
国内英语资讯:Heavy rain kills 2 in Guangxi, strands 9,000 air passengers in Sichuan
国内英语资讯:Chinas top health authority urges stronger maternal safety measures
做个理智的粉丝 Be a Wise Fan
过度关爱对孩子不利Too Much Care Can be Harmful to Children
国际英语资讯:Trump envoy mediates Israeli-Palestinian water deal
高情商的人外出旅游是怎样的?
国际英语资讯:Brazilian President Temer survives parliamentary commission vote
五一国际劳动节 The International Worker’s Day
淘宝造物节创新公司层出不穷
LV推出了智能手表,代言人是鹿晗
无需内疚 单身也是一种选择
海航高级定制制服亮相巴黎时装周
国内英语资讯:Jack Ma to team up with UN agency head to spur young Africans in business
多旅行,少压力Less Stress, More Travel
上半年检察机关立案侦查职务犯罪3万余人
国际英语资讯:World Petroleum Congress ends in Istanbul with hopes for future cooperation
国际英语资讯:Trump in Paris to improve ties despite divergence on climate, trade
硅谷的新饮料好神奇,一瓶等于一餐饭?
True colors?
国内英语资讯:China to further promote innovation, entrepreneurship
给朋友的一封信A Letter to a Friend
上海迪士尼游客爱上超大火鸡腿 迪士尼热门美食盘点(组图)
如何提高自学能力How To Improve The Ability of Self-learning
Rough and ready?
《蓝精灵:寻找神秘村》电影精讲(视频)
萌萌哒创意戚风蛋糕,你舍得下嘴吗?(组图)
多亏了中国式相亲价目表 老外都知道“势利眼”长啥样啦
大学生课外阅读的好处The Benefit of Reading Outside the College