1、may与might的用法一、表示允许(1)表示请求允许(即请求别人允许自己做某事),两者都可用,只是 might 表示的语气较委婉(但并不表示过去):May I come round in the morning?我早上来可以吗?Might I have a little brandy?我可以喝点白兰地吗?I asked her if I might call and see her.我问她我可否来看她。I’d like to ask a question if I may.如果可以的话,我想提个问题。(2)表示给予允许(即自己允许别
2、人做某事),通常要用 may而不用might:You may leave whenever you please.你高兴随时可以走。You may go or stay, according as you decide.是去是留由你自己决定。You may use the room so long as you keep it clean.你可以使用这个房间,只要你能保持干净。体会以下对话的问句与答句:A:May [Might] I stay?我可以留下吗?(表请求,可用两者)B:Yes, you may.可以。(表允许,不能用 mi
3、ght)【注】在通常情况下,may 表示允许(请求允许或给予允许)时,总是针对“现在”或“将来”而言,若要表示已经给予或已经存在的允许,则通常不用 may,而用can:Nowadays, children can do what they like.现在小孩子喜欢干什么就可以干什么。It’s unfair. He can stay and I have to leave.这不公平,他可以留下,而我却得离开。例外的情况是,might用于间接引语和 may 用于否定句表示禁止:He said that I might borrow his
4、 car.他说我可以用他的车。Visitors may not (=must not) feed the animals.参观者不得给动物喂食。二、表示推测两者都可用,只是 might 比 may 语气更不确定,表示的可能性更小。(1)在句型使用方面:两者均可用于肯定句和否定句,但用于疑问句时,may通常不用于句首,但可用于疑问句的句中(如特殊疑问句等),而might尽管可以用于疑问句的句首,但不算普通,通常会改用其他句式(如用could等):He may [might] know the answer.他可能知道答案。And who
5、 may [might] she be?那么她会哪一位呢?Do you think he may [might] not be able to pay?你认为他可能会付不起钱吗?Might it be true?那会是真的吗?【注】在很正式的文体中,may 可用于否定疑问句的句首:May we not be making a big mistake?我们难道不可能在犯大错误吗?(2)在用法方面注意以下几点:①后接动词原形,表示对现在或将来的推测:You may [might] be right.你可能是对的。He may [might
6、] tell his wife.他也许会告诉他妻子。②后接动词进行式,表示动作正在进行或将要发生:I may [might] be going back in the fall.我可能秋天回去。She may [might] be waiting for us.她可能在等我们。They may [might] be going abroad next month.他们可能在下个月出国。③后接动词完成式,表示对过去可能发生的事进行推测:She may [might] have read it in the papers.她可能在报上已读
7、到过此事。He may [might] have gone to have his hair cut.他可能理发去了。They may have seen him.他们可能见到过他。I might have come to a wrong conclusion.我或许得出了错误的结论。might 后接动词的完成式,除表示对过去的推测外,还有以下用法(不用may):1)表示过去某事可能发生而实际上却并没发生:A lot of men died who might have been saved.很多人本来可以获救的却死了。It was
8、really very dangerous. I might have killed myself.那真的是太危险了,我差点没命了。2)表示委婉的批评或责备:You might have made greater pro