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Can, Could, Be Able To

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23 views4 pages

Can, Could, Be Able To

Uploaded by

mahmoud.adriano.shenawy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modals of Ability: Can, Could, Be able to, May, Might

These five verbs are examples of modal verbs.

• can

• could

• be able to

• may

• might

Modal verbs are helping/auxiliary verbs that express ideas like ability, permission, possibility,
and necessity. Many modal verbs have more than one meaning. They are always followed by the simple
form of a verb. For example,

❖ Alan can swim well.


❖ This shows that Alan has the ability to swim.

1. Modals for Ability

Let’s start with expressing ability! We use can, be able to and could to show that someone has (or
doesn’t have) an ability to do something.

Present/Future Negative Past Ability Negative


Ability

Alan can swim well. Jackie cannot play Paul could speak Chinese Mary couldn’t finish her
piano. when he was a child. homework last night.

I can meet you after We can’t visit Last night, there were no You couldn’t find the
school. Vancouver this clouds in the sky and they website this morning,
weekend. could see all the stars. could you?

I am able to speak I am not able to When I was a young child, I I wasn’t able to finish
two languages. speak Arabic. wasn’t able to tie my shoes. my test yesterday.
Present/Future Negative Past Ability Negative
Ability

Brenda is able to run Stacey isn’t able to Shaun was able to complete Paula wasn’t able to
quickly. finish a marathon. the assignment. pass the class.

You are able to We aren’t able to They were able to catch six You weren’t able to
program a computer. make a reservation fish on their trip. understand the answer,
tonight. were you?

Did you notice that the verbs after “can/could/be able to” are always in the simple form?

Alan can swim well. (subject + auxiliary verb + simple verb + ...)

Do NOT change the modal auxiliary OR the main verb for he/she/it subjects. In addition, do not
add “ing” or “ed”.
➢ Alan can swims well. Wrong!
➢ Alan can to swim well. Wrong!
➢ Alan can swimming well. Wrong!
➢ Alan could swam well. Wrong!

How can we make questions about ability? It’s easy!

Modal auxiliary + subject + main verb + ... ?

❖ Can she play guitar?


❖ Could you speak English when you were a child?

BE + subject + able to + main verb + ... ?

❖ Are you able to understand the homework?


❖ Were you able to finish the test?
❖ Was he able to pass the exam?

Notice that we do not need the verbs “do/does/did” when we make questions!
2. Modals for Possibility

Let’s learn about expressing possibility now.

The verbs may, might and could show possibility now and in the future. In this case, they have the same
meaning.

Look at this conversation:

A: My mother said that it may snow tomorrow.

B: Really? It might snow?! That’s great! I could make a snowman or go for a “snow” walk.

A: Don’t get too excited. If the temperature is high, it may not snow. It may rain.

B: Well, I guess I could still go for a walk in the rain.

Be careful with may + “be” and “maybe”. Compare these sentences. Both are correct.

❖ Ann is not here today. She may be sick. “may be” is a modal.
❖ Ann is not here today. Maybe she is sick. “Maybe” is an adverb.

3. Modals for Permission

Finally, let’s look at ways to ask for and give permission. We use may, could and can to do this.

Formality Example

most formal/polite May I go to the washroom?


*only used with “I” and “we”

medium formal Could I borrow your dictionary?


Could he pay you tomorrow?

casual Can I call you back later?


Can she have a cookie?
Now, look at the (main) verbs that come after the subject. They are always in the simple form, just as
with other modal verbs.

Again, the most polite/formal way to answer these questions is with “may.”

Examples:

May I go to the washroom? Yes, you may (go to the washroom).


Yes, you can.

Can she have a cookie? Yes, she can.

Notice that we do not “contract” may + not = mayn’t. Wrong!


Can’t and couldn’t are common contractions, however.

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