CAN
The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility
and 3) permission. However there are some other used of Canas we
will see below.
1. To express ability
Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do
something.
- Birds can fly.
- Elephants can't fly.
- I can speak
two languages.
2. To express a possibility (in general)
This refers to a theoretical possibility.
Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For
this you would use may or might.
- It can get
cold there at night so take a jacket.
- I know
you can win the competition.
- Well, I
think your car can be repaired, but it's not going to be
cheap.
3. To offer to do something for others
Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do something for them.
- You
don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you
like.
- Can I carry your bags for
you?
4. To ask for or give permission / To request something
Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission.
Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.
- You can use
my umbrella, I don't need it right now.
- Can I sit in that chair
please?
- Mary,
you can play outside if you like.
- Can I ask you a question?
- You can't go
to the park. It will still be wet from the rain last night.
- We can't leave
the room until the assignment is completed.
5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed
- We cannot park
the car next to this fire hydrant.
- You can drive
as fast as you want on the German motorways.
- You can't smoke
in the restaurant.
- You cannot drive
a car without a license.
6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something is
surprising
- It can't be
dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!
- They can't have
landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax.
COULD
Could is similar to Can and often replaces Can in
the past tense (though not always)
1. To express ability in the past
- I could ride
a horse when I was younger but now I can't.
- She could juggle
eight balls when she was only 10 years old.
- He
could read when he was three years old.
2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to request something (in the
present)
- Could I please use your
bathroom?
- Could we move on to the next
topic now please?
- Could you pass me the salt
please?
- I'm
busy right now. Could you call back later?
3. General permission in the past
- In high
school, we couldn't leave the classroom without a pass.
- He couldn't go
to the concert because his mother wouldn't let him.
Modal Verbs of Ability and Permission
Exercise at Auto-English
Check through the different uses.
TYPE
|
USE
|
MODAL
VERBS
|
EXAMPLE
|
1
|
expressing
ability
|
CAN
|
María can
drive.
|
2
|
asking for
permission
|
MAY, CAN, COULD
|
Could I
borrow your pen?
|
3
|
giving
permission
|
MAY, CAN
|
You can
use my phone.
|
4
|
refusing
permission, prohibition
|
CAN'T, MAY
NOT
|
You may
not talk in the exam
|
5
|
requests
|
CAN, COULD
|
Can you
pass me the salt?
|
Look at the following phrases and write in which type you think it is. Then
use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill the gaps.
|
TYPE
|
|
1
|
_______
|
You
(may/could)________________ leave now if you wish.
|
2
|
_______
|
(Could/May)________________
you open the window a bit, please?
|
3
|
_______
|
(May/Can)________________
you play the piano?
|
4
|
_______
|
Listen,
please. You (may not/could not)________________ speak during this exam.
|
5
|
_______
|
You
(can't/might not)________________ smoke on the bus.
|
6
|
_______
|
(Can't/May)________________
I make a call on your mobile?
|
7
|
_______
|
Do you
know if Mark (can/may)________________ sing?
|
8
|
_______
|
(Can't/May)________________ I
sit here, please?
|
9
|
_______
|
Caroline,
your friends (can/could)________________ stay the night if they want to.
They're perfectly welcome.
|
10
|
_______
|
I'm sorry
but you (can't/may)________________ use the computer until after I've
finished.
|
11
|
_______
|
(May/Could)________________
you lend me 40 Euros til Monday?
|
12
|
_______
|
Listen,
please. Students (may/could)________________ study in the library from
five to nine in the evening.
|