Modals

In the beginning stages, many language learners produce structures such as: I don’t can
play good. What exactly is ungrammatical about this sentence?

Many language learners produce ungrammatical structures. The ungrammatical about this
sentence is that Negative do isn’t used with a modal.

Do the forms can and be able to mean the same thing? How about may and be allowed
to? and will and be going to?

a.) Can- be able to:

In present tense we can use each of them with same meaning. Although, particularly in that
case if we want to express ability.
For example: I can speak English. I am able to speak English. These two sentences mean the
same thing.
In past tense the „were able to” means that the event has occurred successfully, in contrast
with the could where there is only an „option or possibility„.

b. ) May- be allowed to:

In present tense „May” and” be allowed to” can express same, if they are interpreted as
’permission’. In past tense there are differences between these two modal. In case of might the
interpretation is possibility in the past. In case of be allowed to the interpretation is a fact in
the past, where the permission was given.

c. )Will- be going to

If we want to express intention or prediction all of these can be used, but there are differences
between them. The form “be going to “ can’t express willingness, in contrast with will. Be
going to: It indicates that future action is related to the present and will occur relatively soon
after the speech. We can make difference between immediate and remote future. In case of
immediate future (i.e.: right now) we can use be going to, in the other case (i.e.: tomorrow)
we can use will. Anyway, in case of be going to the action has already decided or planned. So
with be going to the action is more certain, than with will.