A sentence with the word could in English. Modal verb CAN (could)

Modal verbs are those that characterize duties, opportunities, desires and the need for action. They directly convey the attitude of the speaker to what is happening.
Despite the fact that modal verbs are strong and do not need the use of an auxiliary verb, when building interrogative and negative sentences, they cannot be used on their own without a semantic verb:

I cannot fly. - I can not fly.
You may go. - You can go.

In English, modal verbs are used independently only when they make up a short answer, or the meaning of the statement is clear from the previous context in which semantic (weak) verbs are used:

- Can you read this?
- I can.

Most people cannot run as fast as animals, but some can.

In English for expression possibilities / impossibilities or abilities / inability to do something, two modal verbs are most commonly used - can and may.

They do not change in persons and numbers, as evidenced by the absence of an ending -s- in the present simple tense, do not have all the usual forms for weak verbs (for example, the ending -ing) and do not require the help of an auxiliary verb do/do/did.

Can vs. May

Can and may have meaning in Russian be able / be able / allow. It should be noted right away that in most cases they are not interchangeable. The following statement is written on the image accompanying the article illustration:

Do as you may if you can't do as you could.

This aphorism uses three modal verbs at once, and all three will have different shades of meaning. The sentence itself is translated as follows:

Do what you are allowed to do if you are forbidden to do what you could.

There are certain criteria for choosing one or another verb.

Can has two forms in English - present tense and past tense could, which will also be used in the subjunctive.
However, in English it is possible to use the modal verb can in the future tense. In this case, it will be replaced by an equivalent verb to be able to do smth.

I can read English.-Present Simple
He thought he could do it alone.- Past Simple
I wish I could see it.
He told me he could have seen it earlier.- Perfect

She will be able to finish the painting in Summer.- Future

May used in English in the present tense and past might, which can also be found in subjunctive sentences.

May I come in?-Present Simple
They might come yesterday.- Past Simple
He might be at home.- Subjunctive mood (subjunctive mood)

Use of Can and May

Modal verb can has a wider range of uses compared to the verb may.

1. For expression ability or ability to do something use can:

I can swim. Can you?

2. Can also used to denote capabilities(theoretical or according to some rules):

You can find it in any dictionary.
Russian Railways can chage the fares seasonally.- Russian Railways may change tariffs depending on the season.

3. When banned used for something cannot (can't). You can also meet with prohibitions may, but they will sound too “soft”:

You cannot talk too loud in the library. You can't speak loudly in the library.
You may not talk loudly in the library. You are not allowed to speak loudly in the library.

4. Request can be expressed through can or could. The latter in this case will have emphasized courtesy:

Can you pass me some butter?
Could you pass me some butter?

5. When expressing surprise in interrogative sentences or reproach the narration often uses a modal verb can. Its form could will reflect the extreme degree of the state:

How can you be so rude?- How can you be so rude?
You could tell me in the end.- After all, you could tell me!

6. Cannot (can't) used to denote strong distrust:

She can't work there.- She can't work there.
They couldn't have done it.- They just couldn't do it.

Please note that in almost all cases of use could, the verb underlines exaggerated attitude speaking to current events.

In situations where you ask permission to do something can be used both modal verbs. Offers from may at the same time they will sound more formally:

You can come in.- You can come in.
You may have come in.- Come in./ You can come in.

Modal verbs may/might contain character speaker's uncertainty about the events described. As with could, the past form might transmits greater degree of uncertainty:

Somebody's calling. It may be Mary.- Someone's calling. Maybe it's just Mary.
It may rain. Take an umbrella.- It can start raining. Take the umbrella.

Modal verb may most often used in particularly polite treatment:

May I sit down?- Can I sit down? / May I sit down?
Can I sit down? would rather be translated “May I sit down?”

Often might used in the expression reproach. The proposal sounds particularly poignant:

You might have told me beforehand.- I could have warned you in advance.

In this article, we started a big important topic on modal verbs and talked about two of them. In future publications, we will definitely try to highlight the remaining representatives of this category.

We wish you to be able to master this grammar material! May success be with you!

Victoria Tetkina

Today we will begin to study the category of modality. It includes verbs that are not actions, but allow you to designate shades of the main events. With their help, the desire, possibility, prohibition or permission of the specified action is expressed. In today's lesson, we will analyze what and when the modal verb can in English is intended to denote. This is the most ambiguous and frequently spoken representative of this group. Consider its construction, application and other grammatical nuances.

In general, using this verb is not difficult, so even textbooks for kids contain the principle of forming phrases with can. Of course, only the simplest designs are selected for children, but complicated combinations are not difficult for older people.

present tense

In an affirmative sentence, the compound predicate has the form " can+ infinitive". It is important to note that in this case, infinitives are always used without to.

• Nick can run fastNick can run fast.
• my sister can cook a cakeMysistercanpreparecake.

The conjugation of the verb can in the present tense is the same for all persons of nouns and pronouns: it never changes its form and does not add any endings. By meaning, this form of the verb can express the events of the present or future (nearest).

• My relatives can meet me at the railway station tomorrowMorelativeswill be abletomorrowmeetmeon thestation.
• She can call themtodayShe can call them today.

Modal verbs do not require the participation of auxiliary words, since in fact they themselves are. Therefore, they create interrogative and negative contexts on their own.

In questions, the compound predicate is broken, and can moves to the beginning of the sentence. If there are special interrogative words in the phrase, then they always precede the modal word.

• Can you bring thebook? – Can you bring this book?
• When can they arrive to us? - When can they come to us?

To negate the main verb, can attaches the particle not, forming the combination cannot or abbreviated can't. Pay attention to the continuous spelling of the official form.

• Mywife cannot drive acarMy wife can't drive a car.
• I can 't cook lambchopsI can't cook lamb chops.

Sometimes the verb can is used in English to construct interrogative-negative phrases. They are used in colloquial speech, as they carry an emotional connotation.

• Can 't yourchild warm up foodinthemicrowave? Can't your child heat up food in the microwave?
• Can 't they send methefax? Can't they send me a fax?

Past tense

Officially, grammar distinguishes three forms for a given modal word.

We will keep silent about the subjunctive mood for now, since this is a very complex grammatical complex, but we will consider the constructions of the past.

The past is characterized by all the same forms of structures as in the present, only can is transformed into could. The modal word is still the same for all persons and numbers.

• I could play basketballverywellwhenIwasateenager– I could play basketball very well when I was a teenager.
• could he read whenhewasfive? Did he know how to read when he was 5 years old?
• my friend could not (couldn't) pass the exam - Myfriendnotcouldpassexam.
• couldn't 't she call me? Couldn't she have called me?

Often, in the past tense, instead of could, the verb manage is used (the form of pr. is managed). Its meaning is "succeeded, succeeded." Please note that in this case the infinitive will be used already with the particle to.

• The exam was difficult but I managed to pass it-Examwasdifficult,butto memanagedpasshis.
• She trained hard and she managed to break the world record-She isa lot oftrainedandatherhappenedbeatworldrecord.

Note that sometimes there is the use of can and could in combination with the perfect infinitive, i.e. in combination can/could+ have+ participle II. We will talk more about this a little later, when we discuss use cases.

Future time

The modal verb can in English cannot officially be used in the future tense, i.e. you cannot add will to it. Yes, with its help you can designate shades of the future, as in Present Simple, but nothing more.

We can use can to refer to features we already have, but we plan to take advantage of in the future. If, however, we are talking about what we will only master or receive, then it is necessary to replace can with its equivalent to be able to. This expression is translated as "to be able to do something" and can be used in all tense forms: past, presentand future.

• Myfather is able to solve anyproblemMy father is able to solve any problem.
• Jack was able to dial thenumberandcallthepoliceJack was able to dial a number and call the police.

However, most often this combination is used to express precisely future events.

• We will be able to move to Spain in three yearsWewe canrun overinSpainthrough 3 of the year.
• Nextyear I will be able to speak Englishfluently– Next year I will be able to speak English fluently. .

The turnover to be able to can also be used to express a question or a negative.

• Will you be able to pay forsecond vocational education? – Will you be able to pay for a second vocational education?
• They will not (won't) be able to buy a new model of this carThey arewillnotinablebuynewmodelthiscars.

We have analyzed how the modal verbs can, could and to be able to are used in sentences of various types. Now let's talk about their semantic meaning.

The verb can in English - when and why is it used?

In the preface to the material, we already noted that this verb is polysemantic. The table below will help us to consider in detail all the situations of its use. In it, we give examples of structures and their translation.

Modal verbs are verbs that express a person's assessment of the surrounding reality. Not denoting action, they express attitude towards action.

The action itself (meaning) is expressed by the infinitive of the verb (but without the particle to!), standing after the modal, therefore, they are usually not used separately from semantic ones.

One of the most common and frequently used modal verbs is can (could). Consider the features of its use.

Rules for using the verbs can and could

The verb can, like other modal verbs, has grammatical features:

• The verb can does not change form for various persons and numbers (in the third person singular there is no ending -s).
• Has no impersonal forms(that is, does not form , and ).
• The verb can is missing. In the past tense, this verb turns into the form could, and to form the future tense, a close equivalent is used to be able to (be able to do something).

I could play football from morning till night when I was a child.- I could play football from morning to night when I was a child.

I will be able to send you an answer tomorrow after breakfast. I can send you an answer tomorrow after breakfast.

Note: to be able to has a slightly different connotation. Can expresses the ability, the possibility in a general sense, while to be able to - the ability to do something at a certain point in time.

You can feel the difference with an example:

I can play the piano, but I am not able to do it at the moment because my hand is broken.- I can play the piano, but I can’t play now (I don’t have the opportunity) because my arm is broken.

When forming negatives and questions with modal verbs, auxiliary verbs are not used.

To form a question, can (could) is simply placed before the subject:

Can you give me a screwdriver?- Can you give me a screwdriver?

There are two entries for negation with can - full and abbreviated:

• Cannot(only continuous spelling) - can't (in the present tense);
• could not- couldn't (in the past).

The abbreviated form is used in informal, colloquial speech.

You can't just sit and watch TV all day long. You can't just sit and watch TV all day.

The use of the verb can (lexical meaning of can)

No homework. Without teeth. Without textbooks

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Negatives with the verbs can (could)

They are built without auxiliary verbs, the particle not is placed after the verb can / could.

Examples:

You cannot (can't) act this way, there are children all around.“You can’t act like this, there are children around here.

Jake could not (couldn't) understand anything at the lesson yesterday. Jake could not understand anything during the lesson yesterday.

Interrogative sentences with can/could verbs

To construct a question, let's change the word order characteristic of an affirmative sentence: Can/could + subject + semantic verb + other members of the sentence.

Examples:

Can you find any mistakes in this text? Can you find errors in this text?

Could you read when you were four years old? Did you know how to read when you were four years old?

With the help of interrogative sentences with can (could) they often express a request, which is usually translated into Russian as “Could you”, “permit”:

Can I ask you a couple of questions?– Can I ask you a couple of questions? (May I ask you a couple of questions?)

Could you give me that juicy piece of meat? - Could you pass me that juicy piece of meat?

Building questions with can (could) with qualifying words

For more information, you can use clarifying words:

• Who (who)
• What (what)
• Where (where)
• When (when)
• Which (which)
• why (why)

It remains the same as in an interrogative sentence without qualifying words, but a qualifying word is placed before can/could:

Clarifying word + can / could + subject + semantic verb + other members of the sentence.

Examples:

Who can show me the city? Who can show me the city?

What can Peter do to save the situation? What can Peter do to save the situation?

Note. In questions with clarifying words, the verb can (could) is often not translated:

Where can I find the best restaurant? Where can I find the best restaurant?

Who can speak German? – Does anyone speak German?

Set expressions with can

Let's list them:

• Can't stand- can't stand, can't stand
• Can't help doing something- can't help but do something (can't resist doing something)
• Can't take my eyes off her/him- can't take my eyes off him/her
• Can't think straight- can't concentrate
• Can't get you out of my head- I can't get you out of my head
• Can't get enough of something- can't get enough of anything

Summarize:

• The verb can does not denote action., and therefore is used only together with semantic verbs;
• Could is, but it can also mean in some senses;
• with can, as well as negative ones, are built without the use of auxiliary verbs, simply by changing the word order (for questions) and adding a negative particle (for negation);
• The meaning of the verb can: ability, skill, resolution, doubt (surprise);
• When expressing the meaning of doubt, mistrust using could instead of can will make you less categorical, tough;
• If you ask permission someone, then using could instead of can will make the tone more polite;
• There are many fixed expressions with can, which are better to learn.

Often the verb Can causes controversy over whether the verb is correct or incorrect. It cannot be completely classified as “wrong”, but it cannot be called right either, because at all times it has its own form. We remember that irregular English verbs are special words in English that have their own form for the past tense.

However, Can is a modal verb, and in some cases it also acts as an auxiliary verb. What are English modal verbs? These words (Modal Verbs) differ from other verbs in that they do not denote actions or states, but only convey the attitude of the speaker to the action, which is expressed by the initial form (infinitive) of the verb. Combined with this infinitive, Modal Verbs form a compound verbal modal predicate.

Modal verbs are May, Must, Ought to, Should, etc. And Can- one of them.

The verb we are considering means "to be able, to be able, to be able, to be able." For example:

• my father can play chess. - My father can play chess.
• Can will you help me? - You can help me?
• Ic an help you right now. - I can(able, able) to help you right now.

This modal verb has the following grammatical forms, depending on the tense in which it is used:

• Past Simple: Could

I could not call you, because I was busy.
Tom couldn't come to us, because he caught a cold. Tom couldn't come to us because he had a cold.

• Present Simple: Can

I can talk to him if you want. - I can talk to him if you want.
Can you come to me right now? - Can you come to me right now?

• Future Simple: Will be able

Tom will be able to help you if you ask him for it. - Tom can (be able) to help you if you ask him about it.
Will you be able to finish that work till tomorrow? Can you finish this work by tomorrow?

negative form looks like this: Cannot (can "t), Could not (couldn" t), Won't be able:

• I cannot find his telephone number. I can't find his phone number.
• Alex could not answer the call, because he wasn't in the room. Alex couldn't answer the phone because he wasn't in the room.
• He won't be able to help us, because he'll be absent. “He won't be able to help us because he'll be away.

Interrogative form: Can I? Could I? Will I be able?

• Can you show me the way to the forest? — Can you show me the way to the forest?
• Could I help you with your task yesterday? — Could I help you with the task yesterday?
• Will you be able to come to my party on Friday? Can you come to my party on Friday?

And finally interrogative-negative form: Can I not (can "t I)?, Could I not (couldn" t I)? Won't I be able?

• Can't you listen to me? — Could you listen to me?
• Couldn't Tom know that? Could Tom have known about this?
• Won't you be able to help me with this? "Can you help me with this?"

So, is this the correct verb? Of course not. There can be no doubt about its incorrectness, because in each time it has its own form.

The use of the verb Can in English

Of course, you remember that English grammar is a frequent pitfall. With the verb Can, interesting cases can be observed.

For example, the past tense form could sometimes has the meaning of present tense and future tense: the phrase "Could you help me?" can be translated as "Can you help me?" and also "Can you help me?" and even in the conditional “Could you help me?”.

The same form Could is used in the conditional mood of the English language, in the second and third cases (Conditional of the 2nd and the 3rd case).

Note:

• If I could know that, I would prevent you.- If I could know this, I would warn you.
• If he had known that, he could have us helped. - If he knew, he could would help us.

In this offer could also acts as an auxiliary verb, instead of which there could be would, and should, and might, that is, e forms that are always present in the conditional mood.

The present tense form of the verb Can has the following meanings:

• Skill, ability to do something: Sue can cook a cake. Sue can bake a cake. My father can play chess. — My father can play chess.
• Permission (in this case, the verb Can replaces the verb May, which more often means permission, but in the colloquial form of the language it is customary to use Can): You can go home if you want. - You can go home if you want. Can I take your pencil? — May I have your pencil?
• Possibility: I can find all the mistakes in my dictation. — I can find all the mistakes in my dictation. I can show you the way. - I can show you the way.
• Surprise, doubt Can it be real? - Can it be real? Can it be true that Tom went to Italy? Could it be true that Tom went to Italy?
• In terms of the future tense: I can give you this newspaper tomorrow, if you want. I can give you this paper tomorrow if you want. I can go with you to there the next week. I can go there with you next week.

Future tense form Will be able, indicates ability, opportunity, permission, etc. in the future. For example:

• We will be able to ski and skate in winter.- We will be able to ski and skate in winter.
• You will be able to go home after our lesson. You can go home after our lesson.
• You will be able to see the tall trees on the coast of California. — You can see the tall trees on the coast of California.

The form Be able can also be used in the present tense and have the meaning of an action in the present tense. For example:

• I am able to write this dictation right now. — I can write this dictation right now.
• Tom is able to help you. Tom can help you.

So, these are all forms of the English modal verb Can. This verb is irregular only, judging by the forms for each tense. But from a grammatical point of view, this is Modal Verb, since it often acts as an auxiliary verb.

In this lesson, we will discuss the use modal verb can, and also consider modal verb could in English.

Modal verb can in English

can - be able, I can

You can take my car. You can take my car.

A few rules to remember:

1. Can is self-contained, so we don't use to before the next semantic verb.

I can go. I can go.

2. Can is always used WITHOUT auxiliary verbs. To negate, we add the particle not to can. When asked, can is moved to the beginning.

I can't take you with me. I can't take you with me.

I can't go with them. I can't go with them.

You can't help us. Get away! You can't help us. Leave!

Can you do the same? Can you do the same?

Why can't you believe me? Why can't you believe me?

Can you swim? You can swim?

Can you help me? You can help me?

3. Can is only used in the present tense. In the future tense, the verb can can be expressed by turnover to be able to. For the past tense, the modal verb could is used (more on this later).

My friend Mark will be able to speak English. My friend Mark will be able to speak English.

Mark will not be able to work with Rachel. Mark will not be able to work with Rachel.

Modal verb could in English

could - be able, I can, could

1. Could is the past tense of the modal verb can. But there is a small nuance here. When we talk about what we could do in the past at any (long) point in time, then we use could , but if we are talking about a specific situation, then you should use was (were) able to . Couldn "t can be used in any situation (in a specific situation, or talking about some long time in the past).

When he went to kindergarten, he already could talk. When he went to kindergarten, he could already speak.

Did you cancel the order? Yes I was able to cancel this order. Have you canceled your order? Yes, I was able to cancel this order.

Yesterday I was so tired and I couldn't do nothing. Yesterday I was so tired and couldn't do anything.