Can (verb): usage rules. Modal verb can (could): meaning, use

Modal verb can is one of the most used modal verbs in the English language. It has the meaning of ability or ability, both physical and mental. It can be used to express a request, permission or prohibition, and probability or improbability.

For example:
I can ride a horse.
I I can ride a horse. ( Expresses ability.)

We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris.
When we are in Paris, we Can stay with my brother. ( Expresses possibility.)

She cannot stay out after 10 pm.
She can not walk after 10 pm. (Expresses prohibition.)

Can you hand me the stapler?
Not can can you pass me the stapler? ( Expresses a request.)

Any child can grow up to be president.
Any child Maybe grow up and become president. ( Expresses probability.)

Using the modal verb can 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 can in different situations.

Sometimes verb can can be used in a negative and interrogative form to express a small, doubtful probability, as well as annoyance and bewilderment, as, for example, in the last two sentences of the above table (It can"t cost more than a dollar or two. and You can"t be 45! I thought you were about 18 years old.)

For example:
Can he have gone?
Really he left? (= Can't be so that he leaves.)

In the same cases, the modal verb could can be used, for example:

She can"t (= couldn't) have said it.
She I could not to say this. (= Can't be for her to say it.)

Also verbs can And could can be used with verbs of feeling and perception ( see, smell, taste, understand, feel, hear etc.) to give a hint of effort in performing an action expressed by a semantic verb. When translated into Russian, the modal meaning is not emphasized.

For example:
Can you see that house?
See this house?

Can you hear that strange noise?
You do you hear this strange noise?

They say that someone else's family is in the dark. But the same expression can also be applied to foreign languages. They really are darkness. There are so many complex and incomprehensible things in any of them that it is sometimes almost impossible to learn someone else’s speech. But in connection with European integration, as well as the desire to visit America, many people teach English language. This is the speech that is taught in schools and kindergartens, universities and academies. This is an international language, which today is very, very unprofitable not to know. It has many different difficulties and incomprehensible moments that do not exist in the Russian language. For example, can is a verb belonging to the modal group and denoting a person’s physical skill.

The purpose of modal verbs

In English grammar, can is a verb that belongs to a separate group of modal verbs. These words lack all the basic forms that are characteristic of other verbs, and therefore they are sometimes called insufficient, or Defective Verbs. under no circumstances are they used independently, but only in combination with the infinitive of any other verb.

Modal verb can in English, like other words of this group, without the infinitive of another verb, it is used only in cases where it is clear from the context. For example, I wanted to open the door but I couldn't. (I wanted to open the door, but I couldn't).

The verb can and its use in different forms

Can is the verb that is used most often in English. It is often used when it is necessary to indicate the physical ability to perform some action, for example, he can hear, I can do it, you can and so on. In the past tense this word changes to could.

Like other modal verbs, it is used not in accordance with general rules. Thus, the affirmative and negative forms do not imply the use of the particle to between the verb and the given modal word. Thus, the construction He can to read is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is: He can read.

It is forbidden to use will to form the future tense of a modal verb. That is, saying “I will can write you tomorrow” is prohibited.

The verb can does not change in any way in the third person singular. If the construction He swims, She reads or It sings is considered accepted, then with the modal verb in question, these expressions will have the following form: He can swim or She can read.

Can to express negation changes and can be used in two versions: cannot (could not) or can’t (couldn’t). The shortened form is the most acceptable and often used in spoken language. In the British and American versions the form can't be pronounced different ways. In British English it sounds like , and in American English it sounds like .

When constructing a question, the modal verb comes first, for example: Can you dance? -Can you dance?

Uses of the modal verb can

The rules of use of which we will consider below are used with the infinitive in indefinite form without the to element. The form could also has a similar meaning, but in the past tense. So, the word is used to define:

• The ability (opportunity) of a mental or physical nature to do something. For example, Could he swim when he was younger?
• Requests. Both forms of the modal verb are used in the interrogative form. A request using could is the preferred option, and is used in those sentences that are addressed to another person. Example: Could you tell me where the cinema is? (Can you tell me where the cinema is?).

• Ban. The form can’t is often used if it is necessary to prohibit someone from doing something: you can't or you can't. You can't eat this. You have an allergy. (You can't eat this. You're allergic).

Another use case

Modal English is also used to express incredulity, suspicion and bewilderment. The context influences a lot here, and therefore there are many nuances. Hesitation with a note of doubt is often used in negative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form. Oleg can’t swim across Lake Svitjaz. - Yes, Oleg cannot swim across (Bewilderment, distrust).

Can and to be able to

Can is a verb that has an almost equivalent analogue - to be able to. Can can be replaced by this phrase only if the modal verb is used in the meaning be able to do something.

Often the synonymous phrase “to be able to” is written or spoken when it is necessary to say that something needs to be done in the future tense, because there is no future tense option for the modal verb can. True, it is important to take into account a certain nuance: the modal verb itself is capable of belonging to the future tense.

The expression be able to in the future tense is relevant in cases where we are talking about a probability, opportunity or skill that is not present in this moment, but it will arise in the future. It is prohibited to use the verb can to denote a possibility or ability that will arise only in the future.

Using the phrase to be able to in the present tense sounds very strange. In such sentences, the modal verb can is considered the most acceptable.

Could have and Past Participle

The verb can (we discuss the rules for using the verb in this material) is often used in such a variant as could have plus Past Participle (third form of the verb, past participle). Such a turn of phrase can denote an action that a person could have performed, but never did. For example, He could have married her but he didn’t want to. - He could have married her, but he didn’t want to.

Also, using this construction, you can express a guess or assumption about something that happened in the past. For example, Linda could have told him the truth. - Maybe Linda told him the truth. Through the phrase could have plus Past Participle, they express a hypothesis about what did not happen in reality.

More precisely - to modal verbs. These verbs do not express specific processes (actions), but only show the speaker’s attitude to the action, its assessment, i.e. opportunity, necessity, permission, etc.

Modal verbs are defective verbs because they do not have all the forms that other verbs have. Today we will get acquainted with the modal verb “can”. Let's get started.

Education rules

The first thing to remember when using modal verbs "can" and "could" is after them Necessarily another one is coming semantic verb. After all, the modal verb Can itself does not report an action, but only shows our attitude towards it: “I can do some action.” And after this “I can” it is necessary to add “I can do what?”: “can drive a car” (I can drive a car), “can cook” (I can cook), etc.

Second - after “can” we we don't use in speech particle " to": "can speak English". We are accustomed to the fact that two verbs in English must be connected with each other using “to”: “decide to take a nap” (decide to take a nap) or “offer to go shopping” (offer to go shopping).

But modal " can/could" works without « to».

Third - " can" is used when someone Maybe do something now, and " could" - when someone could to do something in the past, now, most likely, can no longer be done.

Forms of the modal verb Can

As we have already said, the modal verb “can” belongs to “defective verbs” and has only 2 forms: “can” and “could”. We use these forms with any subject, both singular and plural.

I can(am able to) ride a horse. - I Can(know how) to ride a horse.
I could(was able to) speak Chinese when I was a kid. - When I was a child, I knew how to speak Chinese.

To construct the question, we will simply put “can” and “could” in the first place, there is no need to add anything else.

The equivalent of the verb can is be able to

So we've seen the "can" form for the present and past tenses, but what about the future, present continuous, and other tenses in English?

In such situations, you should use the modal verb " be able to" It means " be able to do something" Since in this expression all operations are carried out with the verb “be”, which changes freely in tenses, this phrase can replace “can” in any tense:

I will be able to do the task tomorrow.
I won't be able to do the task tomorrow.
Will you be able to do the task tomorrow? - Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.

Conclusion

Things to remember about the verb can:

• "Can" is a modal verb. No other auxiliary or modal verbs can appear alongside it in the same sentence:

do / does / did / am / is / are / was / were - auxiliary verbs;
may / must / might / should - other modal verbs.

• "Can" can only be used in the present tense. In Can the past tense has the form " could" or " was able to / were able to», in future - « will be able to", I want to be able to - " I want to be able».
• Before the word " can"particle" to" stand can not. As, in fact, after.
• Not every Russian " Maybe" rolls into English " can" There are words " may/might", meaning probability, but not skill.
• Remember the phrase: “ What can I do?. This is how questions are constructed with “ can».

And finally, " can"can be not only a verb, but also a noun. Moreover, as a noun, “can” does not mean “skill” or “be able” at all, but “tin can”, “aluminum beverage can”, “oil barrel”, “barrel”, etc.

Why will you succeed in English? Because you can!

Big and Friendly family EnglishDom

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.

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?

The verb can belongs to a group of verbs that have certain features.

In this article I will tell you how this group of verbs differs from the rest, in what cases we use can, consider the past form of this verb and learn how to build all types of sentences with it.

Features of the use of verbs expressing the speaker’s attitude

Can belongs to a group of verbs that express the speaker's personal attitude. For example: opportunity, desire, duty, necessity, readiness.

Such verbs have a number of features that distinguish them from other verbs in the English language:

1. They are independent verbs.

With them you do not need to use do, does, did, will, etc. to ask a question or construct a negation. Not is added to them (in negation). And in questions they are placed first in the sentence.

He does not can fly.
He can't fly.

He cannot fly.
He can't fly.

Does he can fly?
Can he fly?

Can he fly?
Can he fly?

2. The particle to is never placed after such verbs.

He can't fly.
He can fly.

He canfly.
He can fly.

3. These verbs do not change their ending depending on actor

He can't fly.
He can fly.

He can fly.
He can fly.

Use of the verb can in English

The verb can is translated as “I can.” We use it when we talk about the present tense.

The verb can is used in the following situations:

1. When we talk about mental or physical ability
(I can swim, I can solve an equation)

I can dance.
I Can dance.

Tony can run fast.
Tony Maybe run fast.

2. When we ask permission to do something or ask about a request
(can I open the window, can I ask a question)

Can I look at this document?
Can should I take a look at this document?

Can she bring me coffee?
Maybe will she bring me coffee?

3. When we talk about the possibility of doing something
(I can help you, I can bring it)

4. When we talk about the likelihood that something will happen
(he might be late, it might be hard)

The verb can is in the past tense

The verb can has the past tense form could, which translates as “could”.

Could is used in the following situations:

1. To express the possibility or ability to do something in the past.
(could have tried, could have played all day as a child)

I could help.
I could help.

He could speak French.
He could To speak French.

Pay attention e: Could is used in another meaning that has nothing to do with the past tense. It is used:

2. To ask permission or express a request in a more polite manner than with can.
(could you close the window, could you bring me some water)

Could are we sitting?
Could should we sit down?

Could did you call Tom?
Could would you call Tom?

Could can you help me?
Could would you help me?

This form is very actively used when traveling when you ask strangers tell you something or help you.

Affirmative sentences with the verb can/could

Affirmative sentences - when we affirm something, that is, we say that someone can/could do something.

The verb can is independent on its own, so it does not require other auxiliary verbs. Also remember that it does not change in any way depending on the character. The sentence formation scheme will be like this:

The one in question + can/could + action

You can invite other people.
You can invite other people.

He could kiss her.
He could kiss her.

Negative sentences with the verb can/could

By using this verb in a negative sentence, we say that someone does something can't/couldn't. In this case, we add the negative particle not to can. Sentence formation scheme:

The one in question + can/could + not + action

Note: Can and the particle not are written in one word, that is, we do not put a space between them: cannot.

She cannot stop crying.
She can not stop crying.

I could not go to the cinema.
I couldn't go to the cinema.

Abbreviations:

When negated, we can use the following abbreviations:

can + not = can’t

could + not = couldn’t

I can’ t answer your question.
I I can not answer your question.

She couldn't’ t leave a lesson.
She I could not leave the lesson.

Interrogative sentences with the verb can/could

To ask someone if they can do something, we need to be able to build interrogative sentences. To ask the question can we put it first. Sentence formation scheme:

Can/could + the person in question + action?

Can are we talking?
Can shall we talk?

Could do you explain this rule?
Could could you explain this rule to me?

When answering, you can use can/cannot:

Yes, I can.
Yes I can.

No, I cannot.
No I can not.

As well as other expressions suitable in meaning. For example:

Of course.
Certainly.

Sure.
Certainly.

I think so.
I think yes.

I doubt it.
I doubt.

I'm afraid not.
I'm afraid not.

Interrogative sentences with clarifying words

To clarify any information we are interested in, we can use the following words when asking a question:

• What - what
• Where - where
• Who - who
• Which - which
• Why - why
• When - when

To construct a question with these words, we put them in first place, the rest of the word order remains as in a regular question. Scheme for forming such a question:

Clarifying words + can/could + the person in question + action?

When can you call me?
When can you call me?

What could I tell him?
What could I tell him?

So, today we got acquainted with the verb can, which has certain features in its use. If you still have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. Now is the time to move on to practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article, and I will answer them.

1. Can you remind me to take an umbrella? Yes I can.
2. He could have warned you.
3. They cannot swim across this river.
4. Could you wait? Yes, I could wait.
5. She couldn't speak English.
6. Can your friends turn off the music? No, they can't turn off the music.
7. He can drive a car.
8. Can she sing a song?