При переводе предложений с модальными глаголами трудности возникают из-за многообразия их значений в различных функциях. Некоторые глаголы могут выполнять несколько функций:
1) вспомогательный глагол:
· для образования времен – will, shall, would, have, be;
· для образования форм сослагательного наклонения – should, would;
2) модальный глагол – can, could, may, might, must, need, ought to, should, shall, will, would, have to, be to, dare;
3) эмоционально-усилительная функция – should.
4.1. CAN
Значение | Пример | |
Ability | ||
· general ability | “Now, you pray, Harold,” she said. “I can’t ”, said Krebs. | |
· capability | We can discuss your paper after lunch. | |
Theoretical Possibility | ||
· general possibility | Anybody who wants to can become a prison visitor. | |
· possibility due to circumstances | Can we use the indefinite article with this noun? | |
· occasional possibility | The Strait of Dover can be very rough. | |
· disbelief | She can hardly be expected to perform any serious function | |
· uncertainty / doubt | Can he be making investigation all alone? | |
Improbability | She can’t have been waiting for us so long. | |
Permission | ||
· asking for / granting / refusing | Can I come and see your pictures? / Of course, you can. / Of course, you can’t. | |
Opportunity | It’s the only occupation where you can be absolutely undistinguished and still flatter yourself a bit. |
COULD
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Значение | Пример | |
Ability | ||
· general ability | The boy could read before he went to school. | |
· capability | He could read a great deal during the holidays. | |
· particular ability | Simon was so tired that he couldn’t open the door. | |
Theoretical Possibility | ||
· possibility / impossibility due to circumstances | You couldsee the forest through the other window before the new block of houses was erected. | |
· general possibility | Anyone couldcome and ask him for help. | |
· occasional possibility | My grandmother could be very unpleasant at times. | |
· uncertainty / doubt | Could she have been waiting for us so long? | |
· improbability | You couldn’t be hungry. You’ve just had dinner. | |
Opportunity | You could have found a more ingenious excuse. | |
Permission | ||
· asking for | Could I borrow $100? | |
· general permission | On Sundays we could stay up late. |
MAY
Значение | Пример | |
Permission | ||
· asking for | Now may I go? | |
· granting | You may smoke in here. | |
· refusing | Members may not bring more than two visitors into the club. | |
Possibility | ||
· ‘chance’ possibility (=possibly) | I wonder how Tom knew about Ann’s engagement? – He may have heard it from Jack. | |
· possibility due to circumstances | Time adverbs may come at either the end of the sentence, but not in the middle. | |
· supposition implying uncertainty | He may be busy getting ready for his trip. | |
· reluctance | I may as well take the child with me. |
MIGHT
Значение | Пример | |
Permission | ||
· asking for | Might I speak to him now? | |
Possibility | ||
· ‘chance’ possibility (= possibly) | He came home alone. You shouldn’t have let him do that; he might have got lost. | |
· possibility due to circumstances | It’s too late to phone him now. He might be sleeping. | |
· supposition implying uncertainty | He might be doing his lessons now. | |
· reluctance | “I’ll go at six.” “That’s far too late; you might just as well not go at all.” |
MUST
Значение | Пример | |
Speaker’s / external authority | ||
· obligation | I must remind you that you are giving a presentation tomorrow. | |
· self-imposed duty | I must see if I can find you something. | |
· necessity | You must leave her out of it. | |
· instructions | A trailer must have two rear lamps. | |
· order | Staff must be at their desks by 9.00. | |
· emphatic advice | You must come and see us when you are in London. | |
· prohibition | Staff mustn’t smoke when serving customers. | |
· deduction | He has a house in London and another in Paris, so he must be rich. |
NEED
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Значение | Пример | |
Necessity (speaker’s authority) | ||
· absence of necessity | You needn’t make two copies. One will do. | |
· advice | You needn’t worry. Everything will be OK. |