Everything you need to know about the modal verb 'Can':
— translation, transcription and pronunciation;
- features of the modal verb;
— ‘Can’ in the present, past and future;
- ‘Can’ in negative and interrogative form;
- use of the verb 'Can' - rules and examples;
Modal verb‘Can’ is translated into Russian: I can, I can, I can handle it, it’s possible.
Transcription: 'Can' - .
In sentences, the sound 'a' is swallowed and pronounced as - kn - kn.
Pronunciation of 'Can'
Features of the modal verb 'Can'
1. There is no particle - to - between the verb 'can' and another verb
He can go shopping tomorrow. X
2. There is no ending - s - at the end of the verb 'can'
He can't go shopping tomorrow. X
He can go shopping tomorrow. Correct option.
3. At the end of the second verb, the ending -s- is also not placed.
He can go shopping tomorrow. X
He can go shopping tomorrow. Correct option.
4. The ing form is not used.
He can't swim. X
He can swim. Correct option.
5. Not used in the future tense with the auxiliary verb will.
I will can help you. X
I can help you. Correct option.
6. The interrogative form is formed without an auxiliary verb - Do -
Do you can walk? X
Can you walk? Correct option.
7. The negative form is formed using the particle not, it is placed after the modal verb.
She does not sing. X
She can't sing. Correct option.
Forms of the verb 'Can' - present, future and past tense
PRESENT - I can walk. I can walk.
PAST - I could walk. I could walk.
FUTURE - I will be able to walk. I'll be able to walk.
'Can' in negative form
Can’t - can’t - I can’t.
You can’t - you can’t.
She/he can’t - she/he cannot.
They/we/ - they/we cannot.
I can't believe it. I can not believe.
He can't stay long. He can't stay long.
She can't jump. She can't jump.
'Can' in interrogative form
Can I ask you? Can I ask you? Can I ask you something?
Can she write me? Can she text me? Can she write to you?
Can he meet me? Can he meet me?
Use of the verb 'Can'
1. When we have the skill/ability to do something:
I can drive a car. I can drive a car.
He can't speak Japanese. He can't speak Japanese.
Can you cook? Can you cook?
2. When to ask permission:
Can I go for a walk? Can I go for a walk?
Can I come in? Can I come in?
Can I come today? Can I come today?
3. When to ask for something:
Can I have some more coffee? Can I get some more coffee?
Can I use your tablet? Can I use your tablet?
Can you call me back? Can you call me back?
Can you send me your photo? Can you send me your picture?
4. When to get permission:
You can take this bike. You can take this bicycle.
You can do what you want. You can do whatever you like.
Sentences with Can + be construction
Yes, it can be confusing.
Yes, it can be confusing.
English can be strange.
English can be strange.
This can't be true.
It can not be true.
This can be real.
This could be real.
The world can be better.
The world could be a better place.
I can be a super friend.
I can be a very good friend.
Can and its past form could are practically the most frequently used modal. It is found in literature, in the media, and in colloquial speech. If we compare the frequency uses can and could, it becomes clear that can is much more common. This is due to the fact that in colloquial speech and literature events occur mainly in the present tense, which means that can will be used in the meaning of physical possibility. Let's look at the grammatical features of these modal verbs and the features of their use.
Grammatical features of can and could
Like most modals, can/could are used without the to particle after them, that is, with the so-called “bare” or bare infinitive. The use of to after these modals is one of the most gross and cartoonish mistakes. This is equivalent to saying “he haves” instead of the grammatically correct “ ”. There are not so many modals that require a piece of the infinitive after themselves and they can be easily remembered. According to the general rule, to is not placed after modal verbs:
- I can do this of course, but you should be careful and take care of yourself - Of course, I can do this, but you should be careful and take care of yourself.
- Who can translate this text into Spanish? — I can, I am a translator but with little practice. — Who can translate this text into Spanish? — I can, I’m a translator, but I have little experience.
- Could you help me with this luggage? It’s too heavy and I have just had a surgery and not allowed to lift heavy things – Could you help me with my luggage? He is very heavy. And I just recently came out of surgery and I can’t lift weights.
In all three examples it is clear that after can/could there is a verb immediately without an infinitive particle.
The next feature, more related to can, is that this verb has the past tense form - could. It is used not only directly in the past tense, but also in sentences with speech agreement, as well as in conditional sentences.
- I could do it when I was younger, but I am not twenty now and even not thirty, you should admit. “I could do this when I was younger.” But I’m no longer twenty, or even thirty, as you must have noticed.
In this case, the speaker refers his speech to the past, when he could have performed a certain action. Here we simply use could in the basic meaning - the physical ability to do something in the past tense and nothing more.
- The doctor said that they could swim if they want to but not for long distances - The doctor said that they can swim if they want, but long distances must be avoided.
Here is a sentence that has obviously been translated from direct speech to indirect speech. According to the rule of tense agreement, can should have passed into the past tense, namely, become could due to the fact that in the first part of the sentence there is said - an indicator of the need for agreement.
In interrogative and negative sentences, can/could are used without auxiliary verbs and themselves take their place in sentences:
- Can we get out of here? I don’t like this place, I am scared and I don;t believe this woman, she looks strange – Can we get out of here? I don't like this place, I'm scared and I don't trust this woman. She looks strange.
- I can’t tell you the truth just because I don’t know all the details, I am not the person to be asked for truth in this matter – I can’t tell you the truth because I don’t know all the details. I am not the right person to ask about the truth regarding this situation.
In the first sentence in the question, can has taken the place of the auxiliary verb in the general question. And in the second case, it also stands where, according to the meaning, there should be an auxiliary with a negative particle not. These are reflections of the history of the development of modals, when auxiliary verbs had not yet appeared in the form as we know them, but modals already existed and were used. In order to emphasize the special status of most modals, later they began to be used without auxiliary verbs.
Can does not have a future tense form. This means that to denote a possibility in the future, the equivalent of to be able to is used:
- I will be able to read this book in English in a year I suppose - I think I can read this book in English.
Also, the modals can/could do not change across faces. That is, they use only one form:
- We can sing, she can sing, but you – you can’t at all – We can sing, she can sing, but you – you can’t at all.
Using can/could in different situations
As stated above, can, as a basic rule, denotes the physical or mental ability to do something. That is, this is what a person can do based on his own strengths and skills. This rule is best illustrated by cases for denoting physical possibility:
- I can swim well, don’t be afraid – I can swim, don’t worry.
Second case - general possibility or probability, something that can be easily inferred from the available facts.
- She can be there, it’s quite her style – to vanish in some hidden nook for a couple of days – She can be there, it’s like her to disappear for a couple of days and sit in some secluded corner.
The third is not a specific, but a theoretical possibility. Sentences of this type are familiar to everyone from school:
- You can see a lot of pictures in the museum – In the museum you can see a lot of paintings.
Can is often used in questions expressing a request. By the way, in negations that mean refusal, only can is used, as can be seen from the following example:
- Can I come in? - No, you can’t, I am too busy. - Can I come in? - No, you can’t, I’m very busy.
can has an equivalent - may. But even to a question that begins with may, the answer will still be can’t. This question is more formal and polite than the can option.
- May I take this cake? - No, you can’t. It's for guests. —Can I have some cake? - No, you can’t, this is for guests.
Could, as opposed to can, is used either as a more polite option or to express an action in the past. To indicate reproach, could + have +V3 is used:
- Look what are you did! You could have been more careful! - Look what you've done! You could be more careful!
Modal verb can- one of the most common verbs in English language. It is most often used when you need to express opportunity to take some action, in other words, to say “I can do this,” “he can,” “you can,” and so on. Verb could is the past tense form of the verb can, which we will also look at in this article.
Table: modal verb Can in affirmative, negative, interrogative form
- You can solve your problems later. - You can solve your problems later.
- We can watch this movie next time. - We Can watch this movie next time.
Also, instead of the verb can, the phrase will be able to can be used to denote a possibility in the future; read more about this below.
2. To express a request.
Are used can And could in interrogative form. A request with could sounds a little more polite; it is used in sentences addressed to another person (that is, not with the pronoun I).
3. To express a prohibition.
Verb can't often used to express a prohibition, that is, to say not “you cannot,” but “you are not allowed.”
4. To express surprise, doubt, disbelief.
There are many nuances here, much depends on the context.
Doubt with a tinge of mistrust is more often expressed in negative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form:
- He can't swim across Lake Tahoe. - Yes can not he swims across Lake Tahoe (distrust, doubt).
Surprise with a tinge of doubt and distrust is usually expressed in interrogative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form. In translation, the word “really” is often used to make the meaning clearer.
- Can this unicorn be real? – Really is this unicorn real?
If in the same question we use could the meaning will change a little. You'll get something like:
- Could this unicorn be real? – Could you this unicorn be real?
Often offers with can\could used ironically, with sarcasm, for example:
- Could do you buy more milk? -And you are even more milky could not buy?
- Could will you wake up any later? - And you are even later could not wake up?
But in this case, intonation and context are of great importance. One of the characters in the TV series “Friends,” Chandler, used similar phrases with “Could it be” so often that he was even sometimes imitated. Unfortunately, this feature of Chandler's speech was almost not reflected in the translation.
5. To express doubt about what happened
That is, I don’t believe that something happened. Scheme: cannot + have + Past Participle (affirmative or interrogative form).
The phrase is usually translated using “cannot be” or another suitable expression.
- He is my best friend, he cannot have betrayed me. - He is my friend, it can't be that he betrayed me.
- Billy doesn't have much money. He can't have bought this car. Billy doesn't have much money. He couldn't this car buy.
- Can she have forgotten to pick up the kids from house? – Really she I might have forgotten pick up children from home?
Revolution could have + Past Participle
Separately, we should consider the phrase could have + (past participle, third form of the verb). It may mean:
1. An action that someone could have done but did not
- She could have married him but she didn’t want to. - She could go out for him get married, but didn’t want to.
- They could have bought a house here 20 years ago but chose not to. - They could buy house here 20 years ago, but decided not to do it.
There is often a hint of reproach involved.
- You could have helped me instead of just sitting there. - You could help me instead of sitting here.
- I could have done more to help you. Sorry. - I could do more to help you. Sorry.
2. Assumption, guess about something that happened in the past
In this case, with a slightly different meaning, can be used may have or might have, cm. " ".
- Simon could have told her the truth. – Maybe, Simon told tell her the truth.
- They could have overheard what we said. – They could hear what we said.
In negation and question you can use can have + Past Participle, then you get a turn like “Really...?” or “It can’t be...”, discussed above (clause 5 “To express doubt about what happened”)
- Can she have forgotten about our meeting? – How could I she forget about our meeting?
- He can't have seen us. – Can't be so that he us saw.
3. Assumption about something that did not actually happen
This case belongs to one of the types of conditional sentences; read more about them in.
- I could have done well in my exam if I had worked harder. – I could have done better in the exam if I had prepared better.
Modal verb can and phrase to be able to
Verb can in the meaning of “to be able to do something” can be replaced by a synonymous phrase to be able to+ verb (to be able to do something). But there is a difference between these two ways of expressing possibility.
Can\to be able to in the future tense
It is usually said that turnover to be able to convenient to use when you need to talk about the possibility of doing something in the future, because the verb can there is no future tense form (you cannot say will can).
But here it is important to remember this nuance.
The verb can itself can refer to the future. For example:
- You can rest later. Now we have to work. - You you can(you can) rest later. Now we have to work.
- We can read this book tomorrow, let's play videogames. - We we can(we can) read this book tomorrow, let's play video games.
In the future tense, the phrase be able to is used when we talk about an opportunity, ability, skill that does not exist now, but will appear in the future. The verb can cannot be used to express a possibility, an ability that will only appear in the future.
- Right: I will be able to walk properly after the surgery. - I I can Walking normally after surgery.
- Wrong: I can walk properly after the surgery.
- Right: will be able to work as a sailor. – When I finish these courses, I I can work as a sailor.
- Wrong: When I complete this training course, I can work as a sailor.
Both options, can or to be able to, can be used when talking about decisions or agreements related to the future:
- The doctor can\will be able to see you later today. - Doctor will be able see you later today.
- I can\will be able to help you with your homework later. - I I can help you with your homework later.
- I can\will be able to give you a lift home tonight. - I I can give you a ride home tonight.
Can\to be able to in the present tense
To be able to sounds more formal, even strange. It’s the same as saying in Russian not “I can play the guitar,” but “I’m capable of playing the guitar.”
- I can play a guitar. - I Can to play guitar.
- I am able to play a guitar. - I capable to play guitar.
- Michelle can can bake delicious pies.
- Michelle is able to bake delicious cakes. – Michelle capable bake delicious pies.
Variants with can are used much more often.
Can \ to be able to in the past tense
When we're talking about about an ability or opportunity that existed in the past, you can use both options:
- When I was younger, I could could remember everything better.
- When I was younger, I was able to remember everything so well. – When I was younger, I could remember everything better.
Please note that in the past tense could usually means (in affirmative sentences) the ability to do something in general and is not used when talking about some one-time action at a certain moment. It makes more sense here to be able to.
- Right: We were able to visit Mary on Monday, because she wasn’t busy. - We were able to visit Mary on Monday because she was not busy.
- Wrong: We could visit Mary Monday, because she wasn’t busy.
IN negative sentences both couldn’t and wasn’t\weren’t able to can be used for both long-term actions and one-time ones.
- I couldn't / wasn't able to finish all my homework yesterday. - I could not finish homework yesterday.
- I couldn't / wasn't able to see the band at all from where I was standing. - I don’t feel like it at all wasn't visible(couldn't see) the musicians from where I was standing.
- I couldn't / wasn't able to drive when I was younger. - I couldn't drive, when I was younger.
Modal verb could has the meaning of probability or possibility in the past. It can be used to express requests and suggestions. Also verb could often used in conditional sentences as a conditional form of a verb can .
For example:
Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city.
Due to heavy rains the river could flood the city. ( Expresses probability.)
Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11.
By the age of 11, Nancy was already knew how ski like a pro. ( Expresses a possibility in the past.)
You could see a movie or go out to dinner.
You we could watch a movie or go out to dinner. ( Expresses a proposal.)
Could I use your computer to email my boss?
Couldn't should I use your computer to send an email to my boss? ( Expresses a request.)
We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend.
We we could somewhere to go if I didn't have to work this weekend. ( Conditional offer.)
Using the modal verb could in the present, past and future tenses
In most cases, the use of modal verbs in the past and future tenses is different from other verbs. The table below shows use of a modal verb could in different situations.
| Usage | Affirmative forms 1. Real 2. Past 3. Future |
Negative forms 1. Real 2. Past 3. Future |
Synonyms |
| could in probability value |
1. John could John could be the one who stole the money. 2. John could 3. John could go to jail for stealing the money. |
1.Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money. Mary I could not be the one who stole the money. 2.Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money. 3.Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime. |
might, may |
| could in the meaning of the conditional form of the verb can |
1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world. could travel the world. 2. If I had had more time, I could 3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world. |
1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world. I couldn't travel the world. 2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world. 3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world. |
|
| could in the meaning of a sentence |
1. There is no present tense form. 2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. 3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii. |
There is no negative form. | |
| could in the meaning of ability in the past |
I could run ten miles in my twenties. I could running ten miles when I was twenty-something. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. Verb could can not used in affirmative sentences to describe a short-term or one-time ability, in this case you need to use be able to.
|
I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties. I could not ran more than a mile when I was twenty-something. I couldn't speak Swahili. Verb could Maybe used in negative sentences to describe a short-term or one-time ability. |
be able to |
| could in the sense of a polite request |
Could I have something to drink? Couldn't Should I drink something? Could I borrow your stapler?
|
Couldn't does he come with us? Can't will he come with us? Couldn't you help me with this for just a second? Requests usually relate to the near future. |
can, may |
Please note that in the meaning of a request:
- can has a neutral shade:
Can can you help me?
You can help me?
- could has a more polite connotation:
Could can you help me?
Could you will you help me?
- may has a more formal tone:
May I come in?
Allow me to come in?