1 Can

Can is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English.

Can is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use can to:
talk about possibility or impossibility
express ability or opportunity
make requests
ask for or give permission
Examples:
I can ride a horse. ability
We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity
She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission
Can you hand me the stapler? request
Any child can row up to be president. possibility
Structure of Can
subject can main verb
!he main verb is al"ays the bare infinitive #infinitive "ithout $to$%.
subject auxiliary verb main verb
& can play tennis.
' (e
cannot
play tennis.
can't
) Can you play tennis)
*otice that:
Can is invariable. !here is only one form of can.
!he main verb is always the bare infinitive.
!he main verb is al"ays the bare infinitive #infinitive "ithout $to$%. We cannot say:
Use of Can
can: Possibility and Ability
We use can to talk about "hat is possible, "hat "e are able or free to do:
She can dri!e a car.
"ohn can spea# Spanish.
I cannot hear you. $I can't hear you.%
Can you hear me?
*ormally, "e use can for the present. +ut it is possible to use can "hen "e make present
decisions about future ability.
,. Can you help me with my homewor#? #present%
+. Sorry. I&m busy today. 'ut I can help you tomorrow. #future%
can: Requests and rders
We often use can in a question to ask somebody to do something. !his is not a real
question ' "e do not really "ant to kno" if the person is able to do something, "e "ant
them to do it- !he use of can in this "ay is informal #mainly bet"een friends and family%:
Can you ma#e a cup of coffee( please.
Can you put the )* on.
Can you come here a minute.
Can you be quiet+
can: Permission
We sometimes use can to ask or give permission for something:
A. Can I smo#e in this room?
'. ,ou can't smo#e here( but you can smo#e in the arden.
#*ote that "e also use could, may, might for permission. !he use of can for permission is
informal.%
Usin! "Can" in Present# Past# and $uture
.ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. /tudy the chart
belo" to learn ho" $can$ behaves in different contexts.
.odal 0se
1ositive 2orms
3. 4 1resent 5. 4 1ast
6. 4 2uture
*egative 2orms
3. 4 1resent 5. 4
1ast 6. 4 2uture
7ou can also use:
can
eneral ability
3. & can speak Chinese.
5. /(&2! !8
$C809:$
& could speak Chinese
"hen & "as a kid.
6. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
& "ill be able to speak
Chinese by the time &
finish my course.
3. & can;t speak
/"ahili.
5. /(&2! !8
$C809:$
& couldn;t speak
/"ahili.
6. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
& "on;t be able to speak
/"ahili.
be able to
can
ability durin
a specific
e!ent
3. With a burst of
adrenaline, people can
pick up cars.
5. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
With a sudden burst of
adrenaline, he "as able
to lift the car off the
child;s leg.
6. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
With a sudden burst of
adrenaline, he "ill be
able to lift the car.
3. Even "ith a burst of
adrenaline, people can;t
pick up something that
heavy.
5. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
Even the "eight lifter,
couldn;t lift the car off
the child;s leg.
6. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
Even three men
"orking together "on;t
be able to lift the car.
be able to
can
opportunity
3. & have some free
time. & can help her
no".
5. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
& had some free time
3. & don;t have any
time. & can;t help her
no".
5. /(&2! !8 $+E
,+9E !8$
& didn;t have time
be able to
yesterday. & "as able to
help her at that time.
6. &;ll have some free
time tomorro". & can
help her then.
yesterday. & "asn;t able
to help her at that time.
6. & "on;t have any
time later. & can;t help
her then.
can
permission
3. & can drive /usan;s
car "hen she is out of
to"n.
5. /(&2! !8 $+E
,998WE: !8 $
& "as allo"ed to drive
/usan;s car "hile she
"as out of to"n last
"eek.
6. & can drive /usan;s
car "hile she is out of
to"n next "eek.
3. & can;t drive /usan;s
car "hen she is out of
to"n.
5. /(&2! !8 $+E
,998WE: !8 $
& "asn;t allo"ed to
drive /usan;s car "hile
she "as out of to"n
last "eek.
6. & can;t drive /usan;s
car "hile she is out of
to"n next "eek.
may
can
request
Can & have a glass of
"ater)
Can you give me a lift
to school)
-equests usually refer
to the near future.
Can;t & have a glass of
"ater)
Can;t you give me a lift
to school)
-equests usually refer
to the near future.
could, may
can
possibility(
impossibility
,nyone can become
rich and famous if they
kno" the right people.
9earning a language
can be a real challenge.
)his use is usually a
enerali.ation or a
supposition.
&t can;t cost more than
a dollar or t"o.
7ou can;t be <=- &
thought you "ere
about 3> years old.
)his use is usually a
enerali.ation or a
supposition.
could