Sentences with can and can't. Modal verb Could in English

Modal verb can(can) and its form could(could) is the most common modal verb in English. We use it to show that we can, know how, are capable of doing something. In this article we will get acquainted with all the features of the modal verb can (could).

The first thing to remember is after can or could there must be another verb. After all, on my own can 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 dance(I can dance) can sing(I can sing), etc.

And the second thing that must not be forgotten is after can we don't put to: can speak English. We are accustomed to the fact that two verbs in English must be related to each other using to: decide to drink coffee(decide to have coffee) or offer to go for a walk(offer to go for a walk). But modal can works without to.

We noted that this modal verb has two forms: can And could. We use these forms with any subject, both singular and plural.

My friend can speak Japanese. - My friend knows how speak Japanese.

My friends can dance salsa. - My friends can dance salsa.

What's the difference between can And could? Can used when someone knows how to do something at present, and could– when someone knew how to do something in the past, now, most likely, they no longer know how.

He can swim. - He can swim.

He could swim. - He knew how swim.

How to build a sentence with can (could)

In the table we clearly show how to use can in different types of sentences.

Statement
Subject	Can/could	Action	Example
I You He She It We They	can could	verb	I can help you. - I can help you. They could ride a bike. - They knew how to ride a bicycle.
Negation
I You He She It We They	cannot (can't) could not (couldn't)	verb	I cannot help you. - I can not help you. They couldn't ride a bike. “They didn’t know how to ride a bicycle.”

And in the question, as expected, the word order will be slightly different.

Question
Can/could	Subject	Action	Example
Can Could	I you he she it we they	verb	Can I help you? - I can help you? Could they ride a bike? – Did they know how to ride a bicycle?

Let's look at a few features of use can:

Can (could) is always between the subject and the predicate.
To ask questions, we will simply reschedule can And could first place, there is no need to add anything else.
Particle in negation not joins can (could), forming the shape cannot (could not). IN colloquial speech we usually cannot reduce to can't (couldn't). By the way, cannot– this is the only modal that merges with the particle not when writing. Do you know how to pronounce it correctly? can't: /kɑːnt/ or / kænt/? There is a British variant of pronunciation - / /. And teacher Ronnie will teach you American version pronunciations in your video.

What does the modal verb can (could) mean?

The easiest way to understand the meaning is can (could) with examples. We express with can:

The mental or physical ability to do something.
In this case can (could) is usually translated as “to be able”, “to be able to”.

I can’t speak to you now but I can call you in the evening. – I can’t talk to you now, but I can call you in the evening.

He could speak French. - He could speak French.

Can you drive a car? - Can you drive a car?
Commonly accepted statements

We use can, when we want to show that some statement is true in most cases. Here we translate can as in "can".

The vacuum can frighten your cat. – A vacuum cleaner can scare your cat. (as a rule, cats are scared of vacuum cleaners, but not all)

In New York it can be difficult to rent an apartment. – It can be difficult to rent an apartment in New York.

Flowers can grow faster if they get a lot of sunshine. – Flowers can grow faster if they receive a lot of sunlight.

It should be noted that we do not use the form could to express this meaning.

Permission, request, prohibition.
There are several patterns here: a request is usually conveyed through a question, permission through a statement, and a prohibition through a denial. If we see a request or permission in a sentence, we translate can the verb “to be able”, the prohibition is most often translated by the word “impossible”.

– Can I take your car for the weekend? – Can I borrow your car for the weekend? (request)
– Yes, you can. - Yes you can. (permission)
– But you can’t exceed the speed limit. – But you can’t exceed the speed limit. (ban)

We can express our request using can And could. Both options are often used in speech, only such requests differ in the degree of politeness. Let's look at examples:

Can you tell me where the nearest bus station is? – Can you tell me where the nearest bus stop is? (this kind of treatment is more typical if you are communicating with a person of the same age)

Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is? – Could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is? (this is a more polite question; more often the British will use this option in order to be as polite and courteous as possible in the conversation)

With the help can we can not only ask for permission, but also propose something ourselves. To do this we use the question form.

Can I offer you a cup of tea? – Can I offer you a cup of tea?

Can I help you choose a dress for the party? – Can I help you choose a dress for the party?

Watch an interesting video from the teacher Alex, in which he, to those already known to us can And could, added a verb may.
- You can also learn about the features of the modal verb may in the article “”.
Surprise, doubt, disbelief.
This function also has its own patterns: doubt and distrust are usually found in negative sentences, and surprise - in interrogative ones. The verb is translated can (could) in such cases with the words “really”, “can’t be”, “hardly”, “can’t believe”, “possibly”, “probably”.

Can these shoes cost so much money? - Are these shoes really worth that much? (astonishment)

He can't work all day round. - It can’t be that he works around the clock. (mistrust)

Do you know that could is a past tense form can. But if we want to express doubt in the past, we use the form can't have.

He can’t have fallen asleep at the meeting. “It’s impossible that he fell asleep during the meeting.”

They can't have missed the last bus. “I can’t believe they missed the last bus.”

If someone violated a prohibition or did not listen to advice, then you can reproach him for this, using the same verb can. There is, however, one peculiarity: such sentences are constructed in the form of a negative question.

Can’t you just stop telling silly jokes to the guests? -You can just stop telling me silly jokes guests?

Can't you get along with her friends? – Can’t you communicate normally with her friends?

Set expressions with the verb can (could)

Can (could) occurs in some established expressions. Here are a few of the most common ones:

Can’t (couldn’t) but do something– there was nothing left but.
I couldn't but agree with him. “I had no choice but to agree with him.”
Couldn't help doing something- I couldn’t resist; couldn't help but.
I couldn't help laughing. – I couldn’t help but laugh.
Can’t stand something/somebody– I can’t stand something/someone.
I can't stand him. – I can’t stand him.

To make sure that the modal verb can (could) is well remembered by you, take the test and keep our convenient sign for yourself.

(*.pdf, 259 Kb)

Test

Using the modal verb can (could)

Often verb Can causes controversy over whether it is a regular or irregular verb. It cannot be completely classified as “wrong”, but it cannot be called correct either, because at all times it has its own own form. We remember that irregular verbs in English are special words V English language, which have their own form for the past tense. Is Can an irregular verb or a regular verb in English?

However, Can is a modal verb, and in some cases it acts as auxiliary. What are English modal verbs? These words ( Modal Verbs) differ from other verbs in that they do not denote an action or state, but only convey the speaker’s attitude to the action that is expressed initial form(infinitive) of the verb. In combination with this infinitive, Modal Verbs form a complex verbal modal predicate.

Modal verbs are May, Must, Ought to, Should, etc. AND Can- one of them.

The verb we are considering means “to be able to, to be able to, to be able to, to be capable.” Eg:

My father can play chess - My father can play chess.
Can can you help me? - You can help me?
Ic an help you right now. - I Can(able, able) to help you right now.

This modal verb has the following grammatical forms depending on the time in which it is used:

Past Simple: Could

I could not call you, because I was busy.- I couldn’t call you because I was busy.
Tom couldn’t come to us, because he caught a cold. Tom couldn’t come to us because he had a cold.

Present Simple: Can

I can talk to him if you want. - I can talk to him if you want.
Can you come to me right now? -Can you come to me right now?

Future Simple: Will be able

Tom will be able to help you if you ask him for it. - Tom will be able (will be able) to help you if you ask him about it.
Will you be able to finish that work till tomorrow? -Can you finish this work by tomorrow?

Negative form looks like this: Cannot (can"t), Could not (couldn"t), Won’t be able:

I cannot find his telephone number. — I can't find his phone number.
Alex could not answer the call, because he wasn’t in the room. — Alex couldn’t answer the call because he wasn’t in the room.
He won’t be able to help us, because he’ll be absent. “He won’t be able to help us because he’ll be away.”

Interrogative form: Can I? Could I? Will I be able?

Can you show me the way to the forest? -Can you show me the way to the forest?
Could I help you with your task yesterday? — Could I help you with the task yesterday?
Will you be able to come to my party on Friday? -Can you come to my party on Friday?

And finally interrogative-negative form: Can I not (can"t I)?, Could I not (couldn"t I)? Won't I be able?

Can't you listen to me? - Could you listen to me?
Couldn't Tom know that? “Couldn’t Tom have known about this?”
Won't you be able to help me with this? -Can you help me with this?

So, is this a regular verb? Of course not. There is no doubt that it is incorrect, because in each time it has its own form.
English modal verb can with translation (to be able; to be able).

Use of the verb Can in English

You, of course, remember that English grammar has frequent pitfalls. Interesting cases can be observed with the verb Can.

For example, the past tense form Could sometimes it has the meaning of present tense and future tense: the phrase “Could you help me?” can be translated as “Can you help me?”, as well as “Can you help me?” and even in conditional mood"Could you help me?"

The same form Could is used in the conditional mood of the English language, in the second and third cases (Conditional of the 2nd and the 3rd case).

Note:

If I could know that, I would prevent you.- If I could to know this, I would warn you.
If he had known that, he could have helped us. - If he knew, he could would like to help us.

IN this proposal could also acts as an auxiliary verb, instead of which there could be would, And should, And might, that is, e forms that are always present in the conditional mood.

The present tense form of the verb Can has the following meanings:

Skill, ability to do something: Sue can cook a cake. — Sue can bake a cake. My father can play chess. — My father knows how to play chess.
Resolution (in this case verb can replaces verb may, which more often means resolution, but in colloquial form language it is customary to use Can): You can go home if you want. -You can go home if you want. Can I take your pencil? —Can I borrow your pencil?
Opportunity: I can find all the mistakes in my dictation. — I can find all the mistakes in my dictation. I can show you the way. - I can show you the way.
Surprise, doubt: Can it be real? - Could this be real? Can it be true that Tom went to Italy? — Could it be true that Tom went to Italy?
In the meaning of the future tense: I can give you this newspaper tomorrow, if you want. - I can give you this newspaper tomorrow if you want. I can go with you to there the next week. - I can go there with you next week.

The form of the future tense, namely Will be able, indicates ability, possibility, permission, etc. in the future. For example:

We will be able to ski and skate in winter.- We will be able to ski and skate in winter.
You will be able to go home after our lesson. - You can go home after our lesson.
You will be able to see the tall trees on the coast of California. — You can see tall trees on the California coast.

Form Be able can also be used in the present tense and mean action in the present tense. For example:

I am able to write this dictation right now. - I can write this dictation right now.
Tom is able to help you. - Tom can help you.

So, these are all forms of the English modal verb Can. This verb is irregular only judging by the forms for each tense. But from a grammatical point of view, this is a Modal Verb, since it often acts as an auxiliary verb.

Modal verb can is one of the most common verbs in the 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 V 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 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 still more milk could not buy?
Could will you wake up any later? - And you are even later could not wake up?

But in this case great importance has intonation and context. 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 conditional offers, 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.

To effectively learn English and understand it intuitively, understanding the rules for using English modal verbs is vital. However, it’s not always easy to figure out all these subtleties on your own, so let’s do it together. And we will begin, perhaps, with the easiest modal verb to understand and master - can.

Verb meaningCAN

We all know how important it is to express in words your ability or ability to do something. For this purpose, in the English language there is a small and cute verb - can. It is with the help of it that you can tell your English-speaking interlocutors about your abilities and skills, and you can also ask permission to do something, make a request or suggestion.

Can or Could

Could is the original past form of the verb can, which is used to express ability in the past, as well as in indirect speech. At the same time, in requests, requests, orders or proposals it is customary to say “could”, this is considered more polite form appeals. On the other hand, when you ask for permission or permission, the correct way to say it is can.

Let's look at examples.

In the sense of being able to -ability (opportunity).

He can speak English very well - He can speak English very well.

When he was five he couldn’t swim, but he could rollerblade - When he was five years old, he couldn’t swim, but he knew how to rollerblade (past tense).

She said she could do it - She said she can do it.

In the meaning of permission (permission) –permission

You can take a break after you do this exercise - You can take a break after you do this exercise.

Can I use you laptop? Can (you) allow me to use your laptop? - Yes, you can.

Can I ask you something? - Could I ask you something?

Can I help you? - Can I help you?

Request, suggestion– request,offer

Could I have some more coffee, please? — Can I have some more coffee?

Could you do me a favor? – Can I ask you a favor?

I could do this for you - I can do this for you (sentence meaning - let me do this for you).

Possibility in the sense of "maybe" -possibility

It could rain today. - It might rain today.

This can’t be true - This cannot be true.

It should also be noted that in negative and interrogative sentences, in combination with the perfect infinitive, can and could express the impossibility, improbability that an action could happen and are translated into Russian as unlikely, hardly, cannot be.

For example:

You couldn't have doneit. – I can’t believe you did it (You couldn’t do it).

She can’t have learned English so quickly. “It’s unlikely that she could have learned English so quickly.”

A hypothetical possibility in the sense of “could” is onlycould

We could get there on time if only you’re going faster – If you walked faster, we could arrive on time.

These are, perhaps, all the rules for using the modal verb can and its brother could, which are not at all difficult to learn. But finally, we will reveal one more nuance to you.

These verbs also have another form - be able to. This form can be used in all tenses - present, past and future. But to a greater extent, beableto is necessary to express all those possibilities that we described above in the future tense and tenses of the Perfect group.

For example:

He won’t be able to come today - He won’t be able to come today.

He has not been able to do what are you asked - He did not have the opportunity (he could not, was not able) to do what you asked.

Can is the simplest and easiest of the English modal verbs and you will surely master it with ease after reading our article.

Your application is accepted

Our manager will contact you soon

There was an error sending

Send again

Modal verb "can" used in English to express a person's ability to do something. This verb does not serve to indicate an action, it has a different meaning. That's why it's called modal.

During the construction of interrogative and negative sentences"can" behaves the same as "to be". That is, it does not need any auxiliary verbs.

Conjugation of the verb "can". Affirmative sentences.

Examples of affirmative sentences with the verb can

I can swim. I can swim. Mary and Brad can read and write. Mary and Brad can read and write. She can dance several hours without a break. She can dance for several hours without a break.

Negative sentences with "can"

Examples of negative sentences with the verb can

He can't swim. He can't swim. Their parents can't drive. Their parents don't know how to drive (a car). These people can’t understand the French language. These people cannot understand French.

Interrogative sentences with "can"

Examples of interrogative sentences with the verb can

Can he drive? Can he drive a car? Can you understand English speech? You can understand English speech? Can Nina and Peter write poems? Can Nina and Peter write poems?