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| MODAL VERB |
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| weak /kən/ |
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| strong /kæn/ |
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| 1 | have the ability or means to do sth
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| | 1a | to have the necessary ability , knowledge , money , or equipment to do something （因有必要的能力、知识、资金或设备而）能，能够，会 | | ‘Can you swim?’ ‘No I can’ t.’ “你会游泳吗？”“不，我不会。” | | Ingrid could play the violin by the time she was six. 英格里德6岁就会拉小提琴了。 | | The machine can translate simple messages into 24 different languages. 这种机器可以把简单的信息翻译成24种不同语言。 | | They couldn’ t afford to pay for a proper funeral. 他们出不起钱举办一个像样的葬礼。 | | The UN has promised to help as much as it can. 联合国已经承诺尽力提供帮助。 | |
| | 1b | used for saying that you see , hear , feel , taste , smell , understand , or remember something （用于表示各种感官）能够 | | Paul could hear someone calling his name. 保罗听到有人喊他的名字。 | | There have been May Day celebrations here for as long as anyone can remember. 在人们的记忆之中，这里一直就有庆祝五一节的活动。 | |
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| 2 | used for saying what is possible
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| | 2a | used for saying whether the situation makes it possible for you to do something at a particular time （用于表示某时的条件使人可以做某事）能 | | I’ m sorry, Dr Brown can’ t speak to you now – she’ s got someone with her. 对不起，布朗医生现在不能跟你说话，她有病人在。 | | If it’ s fine tomorrow, we can go fishing. 如果明天天气好，我们就可以去钓鱼。 | | How can I work with all this noise going on? 这么大的噪音，我怎么工作？ | |
| | 2b | used for saying that it is possible to do something （用于表示有可能做某事）可以 | | You can travel from London to New York in under 6 hours these days. 现在从伦敦到纽约只需要不到6个小时。 | | Tickets can be bought from the Tourist Information Centre. 票可以在旅游信息中心买到。 | |
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| 3 | when nothing else is possible
used when only one opinion , meaning , or decision is possible （用于表示只有一种意见、含义或决定可行）可能 |
| How can I possibly refuse such a charming invitation? 我怎么可能拒绝这么诱人的邀请呢？ |
| Can there be any doubt about his intentions? 对他的意图可能有什么怀疑吗？ |
| When he slams the door like that, it can mean only one thing – trouble. 他这么重重地把门关上，只会有一种含义，有麻烦了。 |
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| 4 | used for saying what sometimes happens
used for saying that something sometimes happens or is sometimes possible or true （用于表示某事有时发生、有时可能发生或有时是真的）会，可能 |
| Temperatures can reach 40 degrees C in the summer. 夏天气温可能达到40摄氏度。 |
| Even minor head injuries can be serious. 头部即使受轻伤也可能很严重。 |
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| 5 | always in negatives when sth seems very unlikely
used for saying that you feel sure something is not possible or true （用于表示确信某事不可能或不是真的）不可能 |
| The hotel can’ t be far from here. 旅店不可能离这里很远。 |
| Surely he can’ t have forgotten about the wedding! 他绝对不可能把婚礼给忘了！ |
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| 6 | be allowed to do sth
to be allowed to do something , or have the right or power to do it （用于表示被允许做某事或有权做某事）可以，允许 |
| You can borrow my calculator if you want. 如果需要的话，你可以借用我的计算器。 |
| Anyone age 18 or over can vote in a general election. 18岁及以上者均可在普选中投票。 |
| You can’ t sit there. Those seats are reserved. 你不能坐在那里。那些位子已经被预订了。 |
| Only the President could order the armed forces into battle. 只有总统可以命令部队投入战斗。 |
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| 7 | spoken used in requests, offers etc
used in requests, or when offering or suggesting something （用于表示请求、给予、建议）可以，能 |
| Can you tell me where Mr Lawson’ s office is? 你能告诉我劳森先生的办公室在哪里吗？ |
| Can I have another piece of that delicious cake? 我能再吃一块那可口的蛋糕吗？ |
| Can I offer you something to drink? 要我给你拿点什么饮料吗？ |
| Can I make a suggestion? 我可以提个建议吗？ |
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| 8 | always in negatives when sth should not happen
used for emphasizing that something should not happen or continue （用于强调某事不该发生或继续）不可以 |
| We can’ t go on borrowing money when there’ s no hope of ever paying it back. 如果没有希望还钱，我们就不该再继续借钱。 |
| These men cannot be allowed to profit from their criminal activities. 不能允许这些人从其犯罪活动中牟利。 |
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| 9 | usually in negatives or questions mainly spoken used for expressing surprise
used when you want to emphasize how surprised or shocked you are （用于强调惊奇或震惊）居然，可能…（吗） |
| He can’ t be here already! I haven’ t even started getting dressed. 他不可能已经到了！我都还没开始穿衣服呢。 |
| Of course I’ m not deceiving you. How can you say such a thing! 我当然不是在骗你。你怎么能这么说呢！ |
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| 10 | usually in negatives or questions spoken used for emphasizing how you feel
used with verbs such as ‘say’ , ‘imagine’ , or ‘believe’ when you are telling someone about a situation and you want to emphasize how strongly you feel about it （与say, imagine 或believe 连用，表示强调）能够 |
| I can’ t tell you how relieved I am to know that everyone is safe. 我简直无法向你描述我得知大家都安全时心情有多轻松。 |
| You can guess how I felt when he said I was too old. 你可以猜到当他说我年纪太大时我感觉如何。 |
| I can’ t believe she told him that. 我简直不敢相信她把那事告诉他了。 |
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| 11 | spoken when sb will have to do sth
used for saying what someone will have to do , when you are annoyed with them or do not approve of them （用于表示因不得不做某事而生气或不赞同）可以 |
| If he doesn’ t want to come to work on time, he can go and look for another job. 如果他不想准时来上班，他可以去另找一份工作。 |
| PHRASES |
| - | no can do humorous
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| a very informal way of saying that you cannot do something that you have been asked to do |
| （非正式说法）做不到 |
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| No can do, I’ m afraid – I need the boss’ s signature for that. 恐怕做不到，那样的话，我必须得到老板的签名。 |
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| - | what/who/where can...? spoken
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| used when you cannot understand a situation and you are considering possible explanations |
| （用于表示疑惑或正在考虑可能的解释）究竟什么/谁/哪里会…？ |
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| Who can be phoning us at this time of night? 谁会在晚上这个时候给我们打电话呢？ |
| They should have been here an hour ago. What can have happened to them? 他们一个小时前就应该到这儿了。他们究竟发生什么事了？ |
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