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情态动词主要用来表示说话人的看法、态度等，它是英语动词中较难把握的一类，也是每年高考必考内容。综观近几年高考试题可以发现，命题者常常借助语境和句子之间意义上的细微差别，来考查考生对情态动词的理解和掌握。因此在平时学习中同学们除了要能够准确掌握它们的基本用法和意义外，还要充分利用高考试题所设置的语境来分析句子之间所体现的特殊关系。近几年的命题热点：情态动词的基本用法辨析，情态动词表示态度的用法辨析，情态动词表示推测的用法辨析，情态动词在虚拟语气中的运用。
一些常见情态动词的非常用意义往往为高考考查的焦点，考生须正确理解其含义并根据句子意思选择正确的情态动词。
1. must 和have to。
两者都表示“必须”，但 must 含有说话人主观上的看法、态度；have to 则表示客观上的需要。
【考例】 You be careful with the camera. It costs!
A. must B. may C. can D. will
【答案】 A
【解析】 句意为：你一定要小心使用这部照相机，它很贵的！根据It costs可知，照相机很昂贵，故选择A项，意为“必须，一定要”。
【考例】 You buy a gift, but you can if you want to.
A. must B. mustn't C. have to D. don't have to
【答案】 D
【解析】 don't have to 意为“没有必要，不必”，符合语境。句意为：你没有必要买礼物，但如果你想买的话，也可以买。mustn't表示“不准，禁止”，不符合语境。
【考例】 I can't leave. She told me that I stay here until she comes back.
A. can B. must C. will D. may
【答案】 B
【解析】 考查must表示“必须”的基本意思，指说话人的主观要求。句意为：我不能走。她告诉我必须待在这里直到她回来。另外，must用于疑问句，有责备、抱怨的感情色彩，意为“偏要，硬要”；而mustn't则表示“禁止，不允许”，是说话人强有力的劝告。
【考例】 — you interrupt now? Can't you see I'm on the phone?
—Sorry Sir, but it's urgent.
A. Can B. Should C. Must D. Would
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意为：——你一定要现在打断我吗？难道你没看到我在打电话吗？——对不起，先生。不过，事情确实很急。Must you... 意为“你一定要……吗”，must用于疑问句表示一种不满与谴责。
【考例】 Tom, you leave all your clothes on the floor like this！
A. wouldn't B. mustn't C. needn't D. may not
【答案】 B
【解析】 这里表示说话人强有力的劝告，意为“禁止、不允许”。
2. can和could。
两者都可用来表示能力，意为“能够，会”；可用来表示许可（常用在口语中）或表示怀疑、惊异、不相信等态度（常用于否定句，疑问句或感叹句中），与can相比，could所表达的语气更加委婉。
【考例】 Jim says we stay in his house as long as we leave it clean and tidy.（2020天津卷）
A. must B. can C. need D. should
【答案】 B
【解析】 句意为：吉姆说只要能保持干净和整洁，我们可以待在他家里。根据句意可知，此处表示许可，故使用can。
【考例】 Samuel, the tallest boy in our class, easily reach the books on the top shelf.（2017北京卷）
A. must B. should C. can D. need
【答案】 C
【解析】 此处表示能力，应使用can。句意为：塞缪尔是我们班最高的男生，他能轻松地够到书架顶层的书。
【考例】 It was really annoying; I get access to the data bank you had recommended.（2016天津卷）
A. wouldn't B. couldn't C. shouldn't D. needn't
【答案】 B
【解析】 句意为：这真的很让人恼火，我无法使用你推荐的那个数据库。wouldn't意为“不愿意”；couldn't意为“不能”；shouldn't意为“不应该”；needn't意为“不必”。故选B项。
3. shall和should。
shall用于一、三人称疑问句表示征求对方意见；用于二、三人称肯定句或否定句表示说话人对听话人的禁止、命令、警告、允诺或威胁等。
should 用来表示建议、责任、义务时，可译为“应该，应当”，此时可用ought to替换；也可用来表示惊讶、忧虑、赞叹等情绪（用在疑问句中）；还可用来委婉地陈述自己的意见。
【考例】 It was sad to me that they, so poor themselves, bring me food.
A. might B. would C. should D. could
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意为：让我难为情的是，他们自己那么穷，竟然还给我带吃的。should有“竟然”的意思，表示惊讶。
【考例】 One of our rules is that every student wear school uniform while at school.
A. might B. could C. shall D. will
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意为：我们的一项规定是在校期间每个学生都得穿校服。shall用于二、三人称肯定句或否定句可表达“禁止”“命令”“警告”“威胁”或“允诺”等语气，根据句意应选shall。
【考例】 —I haven't got the reference book yet, but I'll have a test on the subject next month.
—Don't worry. You have it by Friday.
A. could B. shall C. must D. may
【答案】 B
【解析】 考查shall在第二人称中表示允诺的用法。句意为：不要担心。你在星期五之前可以得到这本书。
【考例】 —I think I'll give Bob a ring.
—You . You haven't been in touch with him for ages.
A. will B. may C. have to D. should
【答案】 D
【解析】 根据语境，此处表示对方的“责任，义务”。
4. would rather和had better。
“had better +动词原形”意为“最好做……”，否定句式为had better not；“would rather +动词原形”意为“宁可，宁愿”，否定句式为would rather not。
【考例】 If you are planning to spend your money having fun this week, better it—you've got some big bills coming.
A. forget B. forgot C. forgetting D. to forget
【答案】 A
【解析】 此处better是you had better的省略说法，意思是“最好……”。
【考例】 —Shall we go skating or stay at home？
—Which do yourself?
A. do you rather B. would you rather C. will you rather D. should you rather
【答案】 B
【解析】 考查“would rather +动词原形”结构，表示征询对方意见，意为“宁愿，宁可”。
5. used to。
“used to +动词原形”表示“过去常常做某事”或表示过去的一种惯常状态。
【考例】 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
【答案】 D
【解析】 根据语境，此处“used to +动词原形”表示过去的一种惯常状态；be used to do sth.表示“被用于做某事”。
1. 对现在或将来的推测用“情态动词+动词原形”结构。
肯定的推测一般用must, should, may（might）或can（could），其中，must的语气最强，译为“肯定”“准是”“想必是”；should的语气次之，译为“很可能”“应该”，指按常理推测；may（might）, can（could）的语气最弱，译为“有时会”“也许”“可能”。
否定推测分为两种情况：语气不很肯定时，常用may / might / could not，意为“可能不”“也许不”；否定语气较强时，则用can't，意为“根本不可能”“想必不会”，表示惊异、怀疑的感情色彩。
【考例】 You be Carol. You haven't changed a bit after all these years.
A. must B. can C. will D. shall
【答案】 A
【解析】 本题考查情态动词表推测的用法。句意为：你肯定是卡罗，这些年你一点也没有变。根据句意应使用must表示对现在的肯定推测。
【考例】 Life is unpredictable; even the poorest become the richest.
A. shall B. must C. need D. might
【答案】 D
【解析】 句意为：生活无法预测，即便最贫穷的人也可能会成为最富有的人。表示肯定的推测应使用must或might，A、C项不能表示推测，可排除。must表示推测时语气最强，意为“肯定，准是”，与本题表达的语气不符。might表示推测的语气较弱，意为“有时会，也许，可能”。
【考例】 It be the postman at the door. It's only six o'clock.
A. mustn't B. can't C. won't D. needn't
【答案】 B
【解析】 由后面一句“才刚刚六点钟”可知，门口的“肯定不是”邮递员，表示可能性最强的否定推测，要用can't。故答案为B。
2. 对过去发生事情的推测，用“情态动词+have done”。对过去发生事情的肯定推测用“must / may / might等+have done”；否定推测用“can / may / might not +have done”；疑问推测用“can +have done”。
【考例】 George too far. His coffee is still warm.（2016浙江卷）
A. must have gone B. might have gone C. can't have gone D. needn't have gone
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意为：乔治不可能走得太远，他的咖啡还是温的。此处表示对过去事情的否定推测，应使用can't have done。must have done sth.表示对过去事情的肯定推测，might have done sth.意为“或许做了某事”，needn't have done sth.意为“本来没有必要做某事而做了”。
【考例】 My book, The House of Hales , is missing. Who have taken it?
A. need B. must C. should D. could
【答案】 D
【解析】 句意为：我的那本书名是 The House of Hales 的书不见了。会是谁把它拿去了呢？对过去的疑问推测用“Can / Could... have done”。
【考例】 Jack described his father, who a brave boy many years ago, as a strong-willed man.
A. would be B. would have been C. must be D. must have been
【答案】 D
【解析】 本题考查情态动词表示对过去进行推测的用法。句意为：杰克把他的父亲描述为一个意志坚强的人，他的父亲多年前肯定很勇敢。用must have been表示对过去事情的肯定推测。
【考例】 —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
【答案】 C
【解析】 根据上文“她看起来很高兴”和下文“这次考试毕竟不难”可推知她“肯定”通过了考试。对过去已发生事情的肯定推测用“must +完成时”。should have done sth.意为“本应该做某事而实际上没有做”；could have done sth.表示“本来能够做成某事的但结果没能做成”，含有遗憾的意味；might have done sth.意为“或许做了某事”，语气很不肯定。
1.“should (ought to)+完成时”表示本应该做某事而实际上没有做。其否定式表示某种行为不该发生却发生了。
【考例】 —Sorry, Mum! I failed the job interview again.
—Oh, it's too bad. You have made full preparations.
A. must B. can C. would D. should
【答案】 D
【解析】 句意为：——对不起，妈妈！我又没有通过职位面试。——噢，太糟糕了。你本应该做好充分准备的。表示“本应该做某事而未做”应使用“should have done”的形式。
【考例】 They have arrived at lunchtime but their flight was delayed.
A. will B. can C. must D. should
【答案】 D
【解析】 此题考查“情态动词+have done”的用法。will作情态动词通常不加完成时，will have done是将来完成时；must have done意为“一定，准是”，表示对过去的肯定推测；should have done sth.意为“本应该做某事而没做”。根据题意，他们本该在午饭时到达，但是他们的航班晚点了，故答案为D。B项是强干扰项，由分句中was delayed可知，这是一般过去时，是描述过去的事情，故应用can的过去式could，could have done sth.表示“本能做某事却没做”。
2.“could+完成时”表示本来能够做成某事但结果没能做成，含有遗憾的意味。
【考例】 We the difficulty together, but why didn't you tell me?
A. should face B. might face C. could have faced D. must have faced
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意为：我们本来能够一起面对困难的，但是你当时为什么没有告诉我？表示对过去本来能够做却未做的事情的一种遗憾或后悔，应使用could have done的形式。
3.“needn't +完成时”表示本来不必做某事而实际上做了某事。
【考例】 I have worried before I came to the new school, for my classmates here are very friendly to me.
A. mightn't B. mustn't C. needn't D. couldn't
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意为：我来新学校之前本没有必要担心的，因为在这里我的同学们对我非常友好。needn't have done sth.表示本没有必要做某事而实际上已经做了某事。根据句意可知选择C项。
【考例】 We have bought so much food now that Suzie won't be with us for dinner.
A. may not B. needn't C. can't D. mustn't
【答案】 B
【解析】 句意为：既然苏西不与我们一起吃晚饭，我们本来不必买这么多食物的。needn't have done sth.表示某事已经做了，但后来觉得没必要去做，因此常含有责备或遗憾之意，译成汉语通常是“本来不必做……”，根据句意应选择B项。注意此句中now that相当于连词，表示因果关系，意为“既然”。
【考例】 The weather turned out to be fine yesterday. I the trouble to carry my umbrella with me.
A. should have taken B. could have taken C. needn't have taken D. mustn't have taken
【答案】 C
【解析】 根据句意“昨天天气转晴了，我本来是不需要带伞的”可知应使用needn't have done sth.，意思是“本来不需要做某事而做了”，表示“后悔，遗憾”的感情色彩。
情态动词should, would, could, might等可与动词原形或动词的完成时连用，表示虚拟语气。一般说来，上述情态动词+动词原形构成表示现在或将来意义的虚拟语气；与完成时连用构成表示过去意义的虚拟语气。
【考例】 I to my cousin's birthday party last night, but I was not available.
A. went B. had gone C. would go D. would have gone
【答案】 D
【解析】 句意为：昨晚我本可以去参加我表哥的生日聚会的，但我没空。选项中能表示对过去虚拟的只有D项。would have done sth.意思是“过去本来会做某事而未做”。
【考例】 Had I known about this computer program, a huge amount of time and energy .
A. would have been saved B. had been saved C. will be saved D. was saved
【答案】 A
【解析】 根据句子的倒装特征判断此处是省略了if的虚拟语气。原句是：If I had known about this computer program, a huge amount of time and energy . 故选择A项。句意为：如果我早知道这个电脑程序，就可以节省大量的时间和精力了。表示对过去意义的虚拟，主句中应使用“情态动词+完成时”形式。
【备考建议】
掌握情态动词的基本词义及其用法是把握情态动词的关键，同时要认真比较每个情态动词的用法，注意其细微差别，如shall, can, must, should, will的用法差异；熟悉每个情态动词的适用场合，根据语境及说话人的语气选择恰当的情态动词，如用于推测时，must只用于肯定句中，can一般不能用于肯定句中。may / might不能用于疑问句中；牢记情态动词表示推测的用法，尤其是对过去发生情况的推测；积累虚拟语气的用法，尤其是一些句式和特殊情况。
1. —I hear you've got a set of Australian coins. I have a look?
—Yes, certainly.
A. Do B. May C. Need D. Should
2. Michael be a policeman, for he is much too short.
A. needn't B. can't C. should D. may
3. —May I leave the office before 5 o'clock in the afternoon?
—No, I'm afraid you .
A. needn't B. shouldn't C. mustn't D. won't
4. It has been announced that candidates remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected.
A. can B. will C. may D. shall
5. The traffic light is red, so I stop my car.
A. must B. have to C. can D. mustn't
6. I told Sally how to get here, but perhaps I for her.
A. had to write it out B. must have written it out C. should have written it out D. ought to write it out
7. Jack yet, otherwise he would have telephoned me.
A. mustn't have arrived B. shouldn't have arrived C. can't have arrived D. needn't have arrived
8. Children in public very often, or they will be too proud.
A. should be praised B. shouldn't have praised C. shouldn't have been praised D. shouldn't be praised
9. Tom show his exam results to his parents.
A. dare not B. dared C. dare to D. dares not to
10. She the film. She knows nothing about it.
A. can't see B. can't have seen C. must see D. mustn't have seen
11. They must have been here the day before yesterday, ?
A. mustn't they B. weren't they C. must they D. had they
12. —I didn't see her yesterday.
—Oh, but you .
A. must have B. ought to C. should have D. cannot have
13. —Why do you make me do so?
—I am sorry that you do such a thing.
A. would B. can C. should D. may
14. —Where ?
—I got stuck in the heavy traffic, or I here earlier.
A. did you go; had arrived B. are you; would come C. were you; would come D. have you been; would have been
15. he come, the problem would be settled.
A. Would B. Should C. Shall D. If
1. He seldom listens to others. He answer for what he has done.
2. Mr. Bush is on time for everything. How it be that he was late for the opening ceremony?
3. It's strange that he come so late. He is always on time for everything.
4. —What happened to the young trees we planted?
—The trees (grow) well, but I didn't water them.
5. I was really anxious about you. You (leave) home without a word.
6. If you really want yourself to be in good health, you be always smoking so much.
7. —Nancy (receive) the letter from her mother.
—No, she can't have. The postman hasn't come yet.
8. She (read) the book. She knows nothing about it.
9. —Where is my English book, mum?
—It be in Tom's room. Last night he was reading it when I came to his room.
10. I tried to call you last week but your dog simply not let me come through the gate.
11. When John Montagu made the very first sandwich in England in 1762, he (imagine) that it would still be very popular almost 250 years later.
12. —I've prepared all kinds of food for the picnic.
—Do you mean we bring anything with us?
13. The boss said to the secretary,“If you work well, you have a pay rise.”
14. Can you believe that he marry such a girl much older than him?
15. —Can I tell my best friend about it?
—No, I don't want anyone else to know it. You tell anyone.
16. —She looks very happy. She have passed the exam.
—I guess so. It's not difficult after all.
17. I still remember my happy childhood when my mother take me to Disneyland at weekends.
18. —My cat's really fat.
—You have given her so much food.
19. —What does the sign over there read?
—“No person smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe in this area.”
20. In crowded places like airports and railway stations, you take care of your luggage.
21. The weather turned out to be fine yesterday. I have taken the trouble to carry my umbrella with me.
22. Tom, you leave all your clothes on the floor like this!
23. What do you mean, there are only ten tickets? There be twelve.
24. —What do you think we can do for our aged parents?
—You do anything except to be with them and be yourself.
25. John, look at the time. you play the piano at such a late hour？
26. Some people who don't like to talk much are not necessarily shy; they just be quiet people.
27. He did not regret saying what he did but felt that he (express) it differently.
28. —May I take this book out of the reading room?
—No, you . You read it in here.
29. It's said that they have swum to the island from the continent, but they (do) it because the ocean in between is too wide.
30. Mark have hurried. After driving at top speed, he arrived half an hour early.