PREMISSION:OTHER TENSES 在其他時態中表示許可
表示許可的can在過去時里可用could:
We could use his pool whenever we wanted to.我們隨時都可以用他的游泳池。
而在條件時態里,也可以使用could:
If we were in the USA, I could drive a car at 16.如果我們在美國,16歲我就可以開車。
這時也可以用allow或permit來代替could..例如, 上面過去時態的例子變成下面這樣:
We were allowed to use his pool whenever we wanted to.
而上面條件時態的例子可以這么用:
If we were in the USA, I would be permitted to drive a car at 16.
If we were in the USA, they could permit me to drive a car at 16.
其他時態都只能用allow和permit:
Has he ever been allowed to use this phone?他被允許用這部電話嗎?
I had never been permitted to go into his room before that day.在那天以前從來不讓我進他的屋子。
Will she be allowed to come to the party?她會被允許參加聚會嗎?
USING ‘CAN’ TO EXPRESS ABILITY 用can表示能力
情態動詞can還可以用來表示能力,can只能用在現在時里:
Woman Can you play the piano and the guitar?你會彈鋼琴和吉他嗎?
Man I can play the piano, but I can’t play the guitar.我會彈鋼琴,但我不會彈吉他。
過去時態里要用could:
I could read when I was four.我4歲的時候就會閱讀了。
I couldn’t swim until I was 15.直到位5歲我才會游泳。
而在條件時態里,要用could這種時態:
If you learne french, you could help me.如果你學了法語,你就可以幫我了。
還可以用be able to來代替上述can和could.例如上面研修例子可以改寫成下面這樣:
I was able to read when I was four.
I wasn’t able to swim until I was 15.
If you learned French, you would be able to help me.其他時態都必須用be able to :
I have been able to speak Swedish for many years.我會說瑞典語很多年了。
I would love to be able to play a musical instrument.我很希望能演奏某種樂器。
USING ‘CAN’ TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY 用can表示可能性
can還可能用來表示可能,它表示的是一般的可能性性:
In winter, you can ski there.冬天,你可以在那兒滑雪。
You can drive there in less than an hour.開車不到位個你就可以到那兒。
有時屆用來表示會發生的可能:The tide here can be dangerous.這兒的湖水很危險。
Mosquitoes can be a problem near the lake.待在湖的附近,蚊子是個問題。
在過去時態里要用could:
We used to live in Canada. In winter, you could ski there. In summer, mosquitoes could be a problem.
MULTI-WORD VERBS:WITH ‘UNDER’ under的短語動詞
under的基本意思是“在……之下”, 它可以和許多動詞一起使用,但慣用句卻并不多。
首先,看一下使用字面意思的under詞組:
The fox crawled under the fence and escaped.狐貍從籬笆下爬出去逃跑了。
Get under the blanket to keep warm.蓋上毯子會暖和點兒。
The sailors tried hard, but eventually the boat went under.船員們努力營救,最終還是沉了。接下來的是under和動詞組合后,產生的許多新的意思。