燒腦文法一次搞定:英文「推測語氣」怎麼用?
我們時常會對未曾經歷的過去或未知未來做「推測假設」,在英文當中可以使用「情狀助動詞」表示,如:can、may、might、could、should、would、must...,其中 must 的語氣最強烈,具有「一定是、肯定是」的意思。
句型用法如下:
💡『S + 情態助動詞+ beV / 原形V.』表示對現在或未來事件的推測
Rowena must feel exhausted after staying up late three nights in a row.
連續三天熬夜下來,羅伊娜肯定累壞了。
Jessica is late. She might still be home right now.
Jessica遲到了,她現在搞不好還在家。
That restaurant must be great. It's always crowded.
那間餐廳一定很不錯,裡面總是好多人。
💡『情態助動詞+have+過去分詞p.p.』表示對過去事件的推測
Someone might have been here already; the door is not locked.
這裡可能已經有人來過了,因為這道門沒有鎖起來。
A snake could have come from the grass and bitten hikers. Luckily, no snakes were there.
蛇在當下是有可能從草地鑽出來咬登山客一口的,幸運的是,沒有蛇在那裡。
Jenny could have married the rich man for an easy life, yet she married the waiter for love.
珍妮本來可以嫁給那個有錢人過上好日子,但她為愛嫁給了一個服務生。
It may have been Pam who forgot to lock the door. She was the last one to leave the classroom yesterday.
很有可能是潘忘了鎖門,她昨天是最後一個離開教室的人。
‼ 若想表達對過去事件的「肯定推測」,則用 must + have + p.p. 表示
Helen's performance tonight was wonderful. She must have practiced a lot.
海倫今晚的表演棒極了,她一定下了很多苦工。
💡 may / might / must 三者的可能性比較
‼ 可能性由高到低為:must> may> might
1. may:確定程度略低於 must。
It may rain later today, so I'm bringing an umbrella.
今天晚點可能會下雨,所以我要帶把傘。
2. might:確定程度最低
雖然 might 亦可作為 may 的過去時態,但在表推測的用法中並不是時態的區別,只是單純表示「可能性」程度不同。
Tina might join the soccer team if she has time after school.
如果蒂娜放學之後有時間,她可能會加入足球隊。
3. must:表示說話者認為某事「必定」是正確的。
Lawrence must be feeling tired after he helped me move around all the furniture in the house this afternoon.
勞倫斯一定感到很累,他今天下午幫我把房子裡所有的家具搬來搬去。
‼ 上述的情態助動詞可搭配 not 形成否定句:
Linda may not come to the party because she isn't feeling well.
琳達可能不會來參加派對,因為她身體不太舒服。