如果您能为我们提供帮助的话,我们将不甚感激。
You could have done better if you had worked harder at it .
如果你再加把劲,本来可以干得更好一些的。
may , might 或许,可能,可以
(might可以看作是may的过去式,这两个词除了时态不相同外,在表达意思的许多方面是相近的。当然may 和might又都有一些各自不同的独特用法。)
1)可能性
I may be busy from tomorrow on .从明天起我可能会忙起来。
You may catch sight of the sunrise from here when you get up before 5 in the morning .你在早晨五点钟以前起来,或许能从这儿看到日出。
I wondered if they might agree with the idea .我想知道他们是否会同意这种想法。
She thought it might be wise to try her luck here .
她认为在这儿碰碰运气也不错。
2)表示允许
May I come in ? 我可以进来吗?
I'd like to have a smoke here if I may .
如果可以的话我想在这儿抽一支烟。
The librarian told her that she might return the book to the library in three days .
图书馆理员告诉她说,她可以在三天后还那本书。
At the press conference , a news reporter asked the chairman if she might trouble him with a question about Taiwan issue.
在记者招待会上,一位新闻记者问大会主席她是否能提一个有关台湾问题方面的问题。
3) may间或用来表示祝愿,也常用于表示目的或让步的状语从句中:
May that day come soon .但愿这天早日到来。
May you succeed in winning the first prize in the game .
祝愿你比赛夺冠成功。
May you continue in your efforts and achieve greatersuccesses .
祝愿你继续努力并取得更大的成功。
4) might也常用于表示目的等状语从句中,或用于虚拟语气的结构中:
I could not convince him , try as I might .我无论用什么样的办法也不能说服他。
They left off earlier on that day so that they might catch the first train .
那天,他们为了赶上头班车动身早一些。
He died so that the others might live .
为了其他的人能活下去,他自己牺牲了。
If you had made better use of your time , you might have learned more .假若你将自己的时间利用得更好一些,你本可以学到更多东西的。
One error in calculation might ruin the whole project .
计算中出一点错就可能毁掉整个工程。
注意:在回答以may引导的问句时,一般说来避免使用may,以免显得太严厉、或不太客气,而改用其他方式。例如:
——May I come in ? ——Yes , please .请进。
我可以进来吗? ——Sure . / Certainly . .请进。
——Please don't . .请不要进来。
——No , you mustn't .不行。
must 应该,必须,一定
1) 表示出于职责、义务该做某事
We must protect people's rights .我们应该保护人民的利益。
Everyone must be loyal to his motherland .
每个人都应该忠于自己的祖国。
You must serve the people when you grow up .
你们长大成人时应该服务于人民。
Students must work hard at their study .
学生应该努力学习。
2)表示出于主观意识而必须要做某事
We must speed up the pace of our economic reform .
我们必须加速经济改革的步伐。
We must keep steps to the scientific development .
我们一定要与科学的发展保持一致步调。
You must hurry up or you'll be late .