一、近几年有关情态动词高考试题的命题规律：

情态动词主要用来表示说话人的情感、态度等，是中学英语语法的重点，也是高考的热点，是单项填空必考的一个知识点。情态动词在近五年高考中主要考查四点：情态动词表示推测和可能性的用法；情态动词与虚拟语气；情态动词的表达"情感、态度、语气等"，情态动词表示 "必要性"等方面的用法。请看近五年有关情态动词与虚拟语气考点分布表：

年份推测情态动词与虚拟语气情感、态度

必要性其他

200440360

2005130220

200632242

200763133

200873121

合计3389177

二、情态动词试题的突破方法：

(1) 学生首先从整体上把握情态动词的语法和语义特征。

(2) 逐个学习，了解每个情态动词的用法特征，尤其要熟练掌握一些常用或常考情态动词的基本用法并认真区别具有相同功能的、意思相近的情态动词的用法。

(3) 收集并熟练掌握真实的口语材料和近几年高考有关情态动词的试题，在真实的语境中去体会、领悟、印证、掌握情态动词的用法特征和常见考点。

三、情态动词的解题技巧：

(1) 认真审题，结合所给出的语境，正确把握说话者的语气、情感、态度、观点等。

(2) 认真思考所给选项中情态动词的基本特征和用法，并结合语境推敲答案。

(3) 要注意把握时间概念。

情态动词无论是表达"推测和可能性"，还是表达"虚拟"这一概念，只要是对过去已经发生的事情进行描述，一律用"情态动词+have done"这一结构；对现在或将来的事情进行描述，用"情态动词+动词或系动词原形"。例如：

（NMET2008山东，24）Thank you for all your hard work last week. I don't think we ______ it without you.

   A. can manage           B. could have managed

C. could manage                D. can have managed

根据题干中所给出的时间last week可知我们已经做完了工作，已经完成，故排除A、C两项，再结合could have done表示虚拟语气以及与前面的I don't think…，故说话者想表达的意思是：离开了你，我们本不可能完成这项工作。故答案为B项。

四、情态动词用法归类与高考试题分析：

（一）表示推测的情态动词

对现在或将来情况推测，用情态动词+do / be / be doing…；对过去的推测，用情态动词+have done / been…；表示肯定推测的情态动词按可能性大小依次为 must, should / ought to, may, might, could；否定推测，常用can't / couldn't，译为"根本不可能"、"想必不会"，表示推测的语气非常肯定，may not, might not或could not译为"可能不"、"也许不"，表示推测的语气不很肯定。  

(1) must表示推测，意为"一定……"，只能用于肯定句中。 must have done意为：一定做过某事或某事肯定发生了。 例如：     

 (NMET2007 江苏)-She looks very happy. She ______ have passed the exam.

-I guess so. It's not difficult after all. 

A. should       B. could       C. must       D. might

【解析】句意为：她看上去很高兴，一定是通过了考试。

【答案】C

(2) should (not) / ought (not) to在中表示根据常规或常识推测，表示"某事应该或不应该发生"，语气比must或can't / couldn't稍弱。

例如： (NMET2007全国I)-How's your tour around the North Lake? Is it beautiful?

-It ________ be, but it is now heavily polluted.

A. will       B. would     C. should       D. must 

【解析】should此处表示推测，意为"应该"。

【答案】C

②(NMET2005上海)There _________ be any difficulty about passing the road test since you have practiced a lot in the driving school.

   A. mustn't    B. shan't    C. shouldn't     D. needn't

【解析】句意：既然你在驾校进行了大量训练，那么通过道路测试按理不应该有困难。

【答案】C

(3) can, could表达推测时，一般用于疑问句和否定句中；can用于肯定句中表示一种理论上的可能性，并不牵涉是否真的会发生，在这种用法中can只能与动词原形连用；could用于肯定句中，语气比may/ might更弱。例如： 

①（NMET2008浙江）You ______ be hungry already - you had lunch only two hours ago!

   A. wouldn't       B. can't     C. mustn't     D. needn't

②（NMET2008天津）She ______ have left school, for her bike is still here.

   A. can't     B. wouldn't     C. shouldn't    D. needn't

③（NMET2008福建）It is usually warm in my hometown in March, but it _____ be rather cold sometime.

   A. must     B. can     C. should          D. would

④（NMET2008辽宁）Peter ____ be really difficult at times even though he's a nice person in general.

   A. shallB. shouldC. canD. must

【解析】①② 两个考题中can用于中表示否定的推测，意为：不可能，一定不会； ③④两个考题中can表示理论上的可能性，翻译为：有时候会……。

【答案】① B ② A  ③ B ④ C

 (4)may (not) / might (not)表达一种不太把握的推测，意为"或许，可能"；might的语气比may较婉转。例如：

① (NMET2008全国II) Liza ___ well not want to go on the trip --- she hates traveling.

   A. will     B. can      C. must      D. may

【解析】may well为固定搭配，意为：很可能，极有可能。

【答案】Ｄ

② (NMET2008四川) Although this ____ sound like a simple task, great care is needed.

   A. must      B. may    C. shall      D. should

【解析】这听起来或许是一项简单的任务，但却需要极大的细心。

【答案】B

③ (NMET2008重庆)-I can't find my purse anywhere.

  -You __ have lost it while shopping.

   A. may     B. can    C. should    D. would

【解析】结合语境可知，回答者是在提醒对方：或许购物时把钱包丢了。

【答案】A

（二）表达虚拟语气的情态动词

对过去的一种结果的假设或虚拟，用情态动词+have done这一结构，常用的有以下几个情态动词：

(1) should (not) / ought (not) to have done本（不）应该做某事，但却没有做或做了，含有责备或后悔之意。例如：

（NMET2008江苏）-I'm sorry. I _________at you the other day.

-Forget it. I was a bit out of control myself.

   A. shouldn't shout    B. shouldn't have shouted

C. mustn't shoutC. mustn't have shouted

【解析】对不起，我那天本不应该对你大喊大叫的。

【答案】B

 (2) could have done本来能够做某事但未做。例如：

（NMET2008山东）Thank you for all your hard work last week. I don't think we ______ it without you.

   A. can manage           B. could have managed

C. could manage              D. can have managed

【解析】根据题干中所给出的时间last week可知我们已经做完了工作，已经完成，故排除A、C两项，再结合could have done表示虚拟语气以及与前面的I don't think…，故说话者想表达的意思是：离开了你，我们本不可能完成这项工作。

【答案】B

(3) needn't have done本没有必要做某事但却做了。要注意needn't do则表达"没有必要去做某事"，时间上应该是现在或将来。例如：

①(NMET2005福建)-Catherine, I have cleaned the room for you.

-Thanks. You ________ it. I could manage it myself. 

   A. needn't do           B. needn't have done   

C. mustn't do           D. shouldn't have done

【解析】根据句意可知Catherine对对方为她打扫了房间表示感谢并提到对方不必为她打扫房间。

【答案】B

②(NMET2007上海春) The boss has given everyone a special holiday, so we        go to work tomorrow. 

   A. can't      B. mustn't     C. needn't      D. shouldn't

【解析】老板给所有的员工放了假，所以我们明天不必再去上班。

【答案】C

(4)would (not) have done本来(不)会发生某事，但却（发生了）或没有发生。常用于虚拟条件句或含蓄虚拟条件引导的虚拟语气，表示对过去所发生事情结果的假设。例如：

(NMET2001上海春) He hesitated for a moment before kicking the ball, otherwise, he ________ a goal.

   A. had scored       B. scored   

   C. would score      D. would have scored

【解析】句中otherwise为含蓄条件，相当于if he had not hesitated for a moment before kicking the ball，这是对过去的一种虚拟假设。

【答案】D

(5) might have done表示"本来可能……"，但实际上没有发生的事。例如：

(NMET2008江西)What a pity! Considering his ability and experience, he ________ better.

   A. need have done             B. must have done

C. can have done              D. might have done

【解析】真是可惜！考虑到他的能力和经验，他本来可以做得更好的。

【答案】D

（三）表达"情感、态度、语气" 等方面的情态动词

1. must表达"情感、态度、语气"主要有以下用法：

(1) 表示主观的义务和必要，主要用于肯定句和疑问句，意思为"必须……，得……，要……"；由must引起的疑问句，肯定回答要用must或have to， 否定回答要用needn't或don't have to,意思是"不必"。另外，must与have to都可以表示"必须"这一含义。must表示一种主观的需要，而have to表示一种客观的需要，意思是"不得不"，其否定形式是don' have to。 

例如：(NMET2008陕西)-What sort of house do you want to have? Something big?

--Well, it ______ be big--that's not important. 

   A. mustn't    B. needn't       C. can't       D. won't    

【解析】Something big?此处意为：Must it be big? 回答者的意思是：房子不必太大-那并不重要。

【答案】B                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

(2) must的否定形式mustn't表示禁止，意思是"不能，不许"。例如：

(2008上海春)When I was young, I was told that I ______ play with matches

   A. wouldn't     B. needn't     C. mustn't       D. daren't

【解析】当我年轻的时候，（家人）就一直告诫我千万不要玩火柴。

【答案】C

(3) must用于条件句或疑问句中，可以用来表示责备、抱怨的感情色彩，意思为"偏要，硬要、干嘛"。例如：

①（NMET2006山东）-May I smoke here ?

-If you ____, choose a seat in the smoking section. 

   A. should       B. could       C. may       D. must

②（NMET2005全国Ⅲ）John, look at the time. ___________ you play the piano at such a late hour?

A．Must       B．Can        C．May       D．Need

【解析】must在这两道试题中均表示"非得，偏要"。

【答案】① D  ② A

2. should

(1) should应该，表示"责任和义务"。例如：

(NMET2008上海) According to the air traffic rules, you ___ switch off your mobile phone before boarding.

   A. mayB. can   C. wouldD. should

【解析】should此处表示根据交通法规应尽的责任和义务。

【答案】D

(2) 在虚拟条件句中用以加强假设语气，表示"与将来事实相反的假设"，用 If+主语+ should +动词原形，当"万一(会)"讲。这时可省略if，将should提到句首，变为倒装句式。请看下面的例子： 

If it should rain (=Should it rain) tomorrow, I would stay at home.万一明天下雨的话，我就待在家里。再如：

(NMET2006湖北)________ fired, your health care and other benefits will not be immediately cut off.

   A. Would you be               B. Should you be   

   C. Could you be               D. Might you be

【解析】句意：万一你被解雇，给你的医疗救助和其它方面的福利也不会被取消。

【答案】B

(3) should还可以用来表示说话人对某事不能理解、赶到意外、惊异等意思，译为"竟然，竟会"。例如：

(NMET2001上海)You can't imagine that a well-behaved gentleman _____ be so rude to a lady. 

   A. might      B. need      C. should       D. would

【解析】句意：你想象不到这么一个表现良好的绅士竟然会对一个女士这么粗鲁。

【答案】C

3. shall

(1) shall用于第一和第三人称，常用于疑问句中，用来征求对方意见。例如：

① (NMET2006北京)-What's the name?

-Khulaifi. _________ I spell it for you?

   A. Shall     B. Would     C. Can     D. Might

【答案】A 

(2) 用于第二和第三人称，表示"命令、威胁、警告、允诺、"等。例如：

（NMET2004，湖南,28）-Excuse me. But I want to use your computer to type a report.

-You _____have my computer if you don't take care of it .

   A. shan't    B. might not    C. needn't     D. shouldn't

【解析】shall此处表示"警告"。

【答案】A

(3) shall也用于宣布法律、规定的要求。例如：

① (NMET2007 四川)-What does the sign over there read?

 -"No person ________ smoke or carry a lighted cigarette，cigar or pipe in this area."

   A. will       B. may     C. shall     D. must

【解析】禁止吸烟是此处的规定。

【答案】C 

4. can

(1) can可以用来表示惊异、怀疑、不相信的态度，主要用于否定句、疑问句或感叹句中。例如：

(NMET2003全国) How ______ you say that you really understand the whole story if you have only covered only part of the article?

A. can      B. must       C. need       D. may

【答案】A

(2) can也可以用来表示请求或许可。例如：

（NMET2004，辽宁）-Mum, I've been studying English since 8 o'clock. ______I go out and play with Tom for a while?

-No, I'm afraid not. Besides, it's raining outside now.

   A. Can't      B. Wouldn't     C. May　　　D. Won't

【答案】A

 (3) can可以表达一般的或永久的能力。be able to也可表达能力，但常用来表达在某件事情中所表现出来的能力，尤指克服困难能够完成某事。例如：

① (NMET2006福建) If it were not for the fact that she ______ sing, I would invite her to the party. 

   A. couldn't        B. shouldn't         C. can't        D. might not

② (NMET1997) The fire spread through the hotel very quickly but everyone ______ get out. 

   A. had to     B. would      C. could      D. was able to

【答案】C D

5. would

(1)will与would可表示"意愿；意志 "。

例如：(NMET2008北京) John promised his doctor he _____ not smoke and he has never smoked ever since.

   A. might        B. should       C. could       D. would

【解析】根据promise可知此处是John向医生表明自己的意志。

【答案】D

(2) would表示过去倾向性或习惯性的动作。used to 也有这一用法，但used to即可用来表达过去的习惯性的动作，也可用来表示过去的状态。例如：

① (NMET1996上海)When he was there, he ___ go to that coffee shop at the corner after work every day. 

   A. would     B. should     C. had better      D. might

② (NMET2007安徽)In my opinion, life in the twenty-first century is much easier than ________. 

   A. that used to be             B. it is used to     

   C. it was used to              D. it used to be

【解析】第一题would指过去习惯性的动作；第二题it 替代life, used to be 指过去的样子。

【答案】A D

五、2009年高考展望及备考建议

随着高考命题改革的深入，命题的角度和思路都在翻新，但不管怎样变化，还是脱离不了词的基本词义、词与词在使用上的细微差别和基本的语法框架。通过对近几年高考情态动词考点的分析、探究，可以看出高考对情态动词的考查非常稳定，2009年情态动词仍然是重点考查项目。另外，高考考点的"稳定性"告诉我们：高考英语命题有很强的规律性。在复习迎考过程中，一定要反复研究近几年高考试题，将高考热点落到实处，反复咀嚼，反复演练，确保精通。

    情态动词提升训练 （原创试题）                                                 

                                              2008年10月23日

1. - When can I come to pick up my computer? I need it next Monday. 

-They ________ be repaired by this Sunday.

A. can       B. should      C. might      D. need

2. How ______ they expect to learn anything when they spend all their spare time watching TV?

   A. can         B. should           C. might            D. could

3. Had I studied harder in senior school, I ________ a university now.

    A. am          B. will be        C. would be       D. must be

4. Can you believe that he _________ marry his young daughter to such an old man only because he is rich.

   A. would     B. should       C. must       D. can

5. - May I use your car, Mom?

- Well…, if you __________.

    A. can      B. must      C. need     D. should

6. Seriously hurt as he was, he _________ tell the police what had happened.

   A. could       B. might        C. was able to      D. couldn't

7. - A bike for me ? Father ________ have chosen a better gift for my birthday.

- He _______ be very happy to know it.

   A. should; must      B. might; wouldn't      C. couldn't; must   D. mustn't; can't

8. _________ it rain tomorrow, the sports meet would be put off until next week.

    A. Should      B. Had        C. If        D. Suppose

9.-Mary looks very upset. She ______ failed to pass the exam.

-I guess so. It's very difficult after all. 

   A. should have       B. could have     C. must have     D. might have

10. When we worked in the same office, we _______ often have coffee together.

    A. might    B. should     C. could     D. would

11. It's so late. Where __________ she have gone?

   A. can        B. must      C. should       D. would

12. The murder _________ caused due to his affairs and the police are still looking into it for further information. .

   A. could be  B. must have been     C. might have been    D. should have been

13.- No wonder you are so sleepy. You ________video games for so long.

- I regret having done it now.

   A. shouldn't have played      B. mustn't have played   

C. couldn't have played        D. might not have played

14. Generally, Tom is a good boy, but he ______be very annoying.

   A. should        B. must         C. will         D. can

15. Since you have made such good preparations, there ________ be any problem about passing the coming exam.

   A. mustn't      B. shan't      C. shouldn't         D. needn't

16. She _______ you more help, even though she was very busy.

   A. might have offered    B. might offer     C. may have offered       D. may offer

17. John _______ pay a visit to me this afternoon, so I don't want to go out in case he comes.

   A. can        B. must        C. may        D. will

18. Mike, you _______ leave all your toys in a mass on the floor like this.

   A. wouldn't       B. mustn't    C. needn't    D. may not

19. I believe Shackleton __________ this unexpected end to his expedition, but he did not waste time on regrets. 

   A. must have mourned      B. must mourn    C. can have mourned    D. could mourn

20. I often see lights in that empty house. Do you think I ______report it to the police?

   A. should       B. may  　　 C. will       D. can

21. -You _________ me you were going to be late. I spent a whole night just waiting for you.

-Oh, I'm sorry, but my car broke down on the way.

   A. can tell    B. could have told    C. could tell    D. can have told

22. It turned out to be a beautiful day! I ___________to bring my umbrella all the way to school.

   A. needn't have bothered        B. didn't need to bother    

C. shouldn't have bothered       D. mustn't have bothered

23. -How _______ you say such an insulting thing to her! She is my best friend. 

- I am very sorry to have done that.

   A. can     B. could     B. should    D. might

24. They ________ because the light is still on.

   A. can't go out   B. can't have gone out   C. mustn't go out   D. mustn't have gone out

25. There's nothing on television. We_________ as well go out tonight.

   A. will    B. shall      C. should    D. may

26. I ________ admit, I was surprised when he passed his driving test the first time.

   A. must         B. can          C. will         D. may

27. All payments ________ be made by the end of the month according to the contract.

   A. shall         B. will          C. can        D. need

28. If I had seen the advertisement, I ________ the job.

   A. should have applied for      B. would have applied for 

C. must have applied for        D. might have applied for

29. He ________ attended the meeting yesterday, for nobody saw him.

   A. couldn't    B. mustn't have     C. couldn't have     D. didn't

30. -What_____________ I wear to the party, my dear? 

-Up to you!

   A. will       B. shall     C. can       D. must

答案：1-5 BACBB        6-10 CCACD       11-15 ACADC  

16-20 ACBAA      21-25BABBD       26-30AABCB