Another bit of English Grammar – Modals… they are everywhere!
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that on its own has no meaning. It only adds meaning to the main verb, giving more details about the action.
They are really useful and express ideas like ability, permission, possibility, and necessity and most of them have more than one use… confusing, right?
But don’t worry, to help you remember we will explore when and how to use them in context… Ready?
CAN is a modal verb that expresses ABILITY, which is what this lesson is about. It is used to talk about actions and events in the PRESENT or in the FUTURE… COULD is also used to talk about ABILITY, but in the PAST.
WARNING!! it is a modal that can also be used to express POSSIBILITY.
How to use CAN to talk about the PRESENT…
It is a verb form we use most often to talk about general ability; things that were learnt once (or not!) and the ability to repeat them again and again.
I can play the bagpipes.
He can’t read well.
Can they swim?
It is also used to talk about specific ability; to do something specific or as a one-time event, in one particular situation that is happening now.
I can see the stars in the sky tonight.
He can’t reach the top of the shelf.
Can’t they leave it for later?
How to use CAN to talk about the FUTURE…
It is also used to talk about the ability to do things in the future like attend events or help with something. But in general, ‘able to’ is more commonly used for future ability.
I can help you tomorrow.
He can’t come to the party on Saturday.
Can’t we pick them up on the way?
How to use COULD to talk about the PAST…
It is a verb form we use most often to talk about the general ability to do something in the past.
I could play the bagpipes back then!
He couldn’t read well when he was 8.
Could they swim by the time they went to school?
It is also used to talk about specific ability; to do something specific or as a one-time event in the past.
I could see the stars in the sky that night.
He couldn’t reach the top of the shelf.
Couldn’t they call the police when it happened?
HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER TO MAKE SENTENCES?
This modal verb is made by using ‘can’ for the PRESENT and ‘could’ for the PAST together with the base form [V1] of the main verb that describes the action or event.
Affirmative sentences
WARNING!!
For the PAST form, ‘could’, adding a time reference might be needed to clarify that it is an ABILITY and not a POSSIBILITY that is being talked about (though possibility also has a different intonation, 😅 it is complicated!!).
For sentences that are ‘positive‘ or affirmative, you can use ‘can’ or ‘could’ and the V1 form. As simple as that! 👍
TOP TIP!! Can is used for all persons, including the third person singular!
He cans
She cans
It cans
He can
She can
It can
Negative sentences
For sentences that are ‘negative‘ you use the same components, can or could and the V1 form, but you have to add the ‘not’ after can or could
TOP TIPS!!
‘Can not’ = ‘can’t’
OR ‘cannot’
Cannot is used to stress the fact that it is not possible.
I can’t ride a bycicle.
I cannot get there today!
‘Could not’ =‘could not’
OR ‘couldn’t’
Could not is used to stress the fact that it was not possible.
I could not get here today.
They couldn’t call yesterday.
Questions
For questions you also use can or could and the V1 form, but you must swap it 🔄 with the person/entity responsible for the action [the subject].
To make a negative question simply add a ‘not’ after can or could and before the person/entity responsible for the action [the subject].
Can’t you travel to New York this month?
Couldn’t he tell you where she was?
And that is it! It wasn’t too bad after all! 😎
Here you have some online games to help you practice what you have learnt! ENJOY!!
There is a nice collection of CAN as a modal of ability exercises on this page!!