Modal verbs

CAN – CANNOT / CAN'T

Caracteristici:

- nu primesc terminație la persoana a III –a singular

- nu au forme pentru toate timpurile
- nu au infinitiv lung

She can play the piano very well.

- ele sunt urmate de infinitivul scurt:
I can swim and dance.

Forma negativă, CANNOT / CAN'T este folosită pentru a exprima incapacitatea:

He can't swim and ride the bike.

Conjugare:

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Short answers

Long form Short form
I can I cannot I can't Can I?
You can You cannot You can't Can you? Can she sing?
He can He cannot He can't Can he?
She can She cannot She can't Can she?
It can It cannot It can't Can it? Yes, she can.
We can We cannot We can't Can we? No, she can't.
You can You cannot You can't Can you?
They can They cannot They can't Can they?

Verbul CAN are aceeași formă pentru toate persoanele, singular și plural și este întotdeauna
urmat de un verb la infinitiv scurt. El se folosește:

a. pentru a exprima abilitatea fizică sau mentală:

I can draw and read very well.
I can ride the bike.
b. pentru a formula o rugăminte:
Can you open the door, please?
c. pentru a cere ceva în mod politicos:
Can I have another piece of cake, please?
d. pentru a cere permisiunea:
Can I play on your computer, please?