MODAL VERBS: CAN / CAN’T + COULD / COULDN’T

CAN CAN’T COULD COULDN’T

1) Impossibility in the present. 1) Impossibility in the past.
1) Possibility in the present. 1) Possibility in the past.
USES 2) Lack of permission in the 2) Lack of permission in the
2) Permission in the present. 2) Permission in the past.
present. past.
3) Ability in the present. 3) Ability in the past.
3) Lack of ability in the present. 3) Lack of ability in the past.
E.g. Women couldn’t vote in
E.g. You can move house. E.g. I could sing well when I
1890.
E.g. Can I go to the party, E.g. She can’t stay here. was young.
E.g. She couldn’t come to my
EXAMPLES mum? E.g. You can’t go to this party. E.g. I couldn’t go to a party.
party.
E.g. I can speak English and E.g. He can’t swim. E.g. She couldn’t ride a bike
E.g. I couldn’t watch TV when
German. then.
I was a kid.

• Affirmative à Subject + MODAL VERB + verb (base form) + Complements.

• Negative à Subject + MODAL VERB (negative form) + verb (base form) + Complements.
STRUCTURES • Interrogative à MODAL VERB + Subject + verb (base form) + Complements?
Yes, + Subject + MODAL VERB.
No, + Subject + MODAL VERB (negative form).