酷兔英语

(1)"may"表达许可


例:You may have the cake now.(现在你可以吃蛋糕了。)

例:May I come in?(我可以进来吗?)


解说 表达"许可"无"may..."与"can..."的区别:


"may..."通常表达说话者的许可。


例:You may go home now. (=I allow you to go home now.)

(你现在可以回家。=现在我准你回家。)

例:May I borrow your towel?(我可以借用你的毛巾吗?)

No, you may not.(不行,你不可以借用我的毛巾。)


"can..."表达"许可"时用法比较随便。


例:You can go home now.


本句可作如下的两种解释:

1.你现在可以回家。--我准你回家。

2.你现在可以回家。--如老师要我转告你说"你现在可以回家",或者如既然你已把工作做完了,按规定"你现在可以回家"等。


第2.的解释法并非说话者的"许可"。换言之,"can..."可以表达第三者的"许可",或"客观条件的许可"。例如我们看到一个男生要走进女用洗手间,我们就可以对他说:


That's a lady's toilet. You can't go in there.

像这种场合,假定你说"You may not go in there."并不很通顺,也会被误为你是洗手间的管理员了。


请再注意下列两句意思的区别:

例:May I smoke here?

(我可以在此吸烟吗?--请示对方的"许可"。)


例:Can I smoke here?

(这里我可以吸烟吗?--询问对方这里是否禁止吸烟。)


(2)"may"表达可能性


S + may be...= maybe S + be...

S + may + V...= maybe S + (will)+V...


例:The news may be true.

=Maybe [Perhaps] the news is true.

(或许这消息是真的。)


例:She may come to your birthday party tomorrow.

=Maybe [Perhaps] she'll come to your birthday party tomorrow.

(或许她明天会来参加你的生日宴会。)


解说 "may..."表达"可能性"时其意思等于"maybe"或"perhaps",即"或许;也许"。"might..."也一样可用于表达现在或将来的可能性,只是语气较为宛转或对可能性觉得较为不确定。


He might have a hand in that case.

=Maybe [Perhaps] he has a hand in that case.

(或许他涉及那个案子。)


表达可能性的"may/might..."通常不用于疑问句。可能性的疑问通常都使用"Can...?"或者"Do you think...?",例如:

This news may be true.

Can this news be true?

Do you think this news is true?


表达过去的可能性则使用"may/might have +p. p."的句式,例如:He might have left for the United States.(他可能已到美国去了。)


(3)"may"表达目的


句型 S+V in order that +S+may+V...

S+V-(e)d in order that +S+might+V...


例:He studies hard (in order) to get passed in the exam.

=He studies hard (in order) that he may get passed in the exam.

(为了要考试及格他努力在用功。)


例:He sold his house (in order) to pay his debt.

=He sold his house (in order) that he might pay his debt.

(为了要还债他把房子卖掉了。)


解说 如例所示表达目的时使用"to V..."比之使用"that +S+ may/might V..."较普通。"in order to V.../in order that +S+ may/might V..."是表达目的强调句式。


(4)"may"表达祈愿


句型 may you /he ...+ V...


例:May you succeed.

=I hope [wish] you'll succeed.

(祝你成功。)


例:May God save our country.

(愿上帝保佑我们的国家。)


(5)"May"的惯用表达句式


句型 may well +V...=there is good reason for +O +to V...


例:You may well say so.

=There is good reason for you to say so.

(你很有理由这么说。--难怪你这么说。)


句型 may/might as well +V...=had better +V...


例:We may [might] as well start at once.

=We had better start at once.

(我们最好立刻动身吧。)


解说 本句式常用于表达提议或劝告。
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