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Question with the modal verb can. Modal verbs can and could and their uses

They say that someone else's family is in the dark. But the same expression can also be applied to foreign languages. They really are darkness. There are so many complex and incomprehensible things in any of them that it is sometimes almost impossible to learn someone else’s speech. But due to European integration, as well as the desire to visit America, many people are learning English. This is the speech that is taught in schools and kindergartens, universities and academies. This international language, which is very, very unprofitable not to know today. It has many different difficulties and incomprehensible moments that do not exist in the Russian language. For example, can is a verb belonging to the modal group and denoting a person’s physical skill.

The purpose of modal verbs

In English grammar, can is a verb that belongs to a separate group of modal verbs. These words lack all the basic forms that are characteristic of other verbs, and therefore they are sometimes called insufficient, or Defective Verbs. under no circumstances are they used independently, but only in combination with the infinitive of any other verb.

Modal verb can in English language, like other words of this group, is used without the infinitive of another verb only in cases where it is clear from the context. For example, I wanted to open the door but I couldn't. (I wanted to open the door, but I couldn't).

The verb can and its use in different forms

Can is the verb that is used most often in English. It is often used when it is necessary to indicate the physical ability to perform some action, for example, he can hear, I can do it, you can and so on. In the past tense this word changes to could.

Like other modal verbs, it is used not in accordance with general rules. Thus, the affirmative and negative forms do not imply the use of the particle to between the verb and the given modal word. Thus, the construction He can to read is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is: He can read.

It is forbidden to use will to form the future tense of a modal verb. That is, saying “I will can write you tomorrow” is prohibited.

The verb can does not change in any way in the third person singular. If the construction He swims, She reads or It sings is considered accepted, then with the modal verb in question, these expressions will have the following form: He can swim or She can read.

Can to express negation changes and can be used in two ways: cannot (could not) or can’t (couldn’t). The shortened form is the most acceptable and often used in spoken language. In the British and American versions the form can't be pronounced different ways. In British English it sounds like , and in American English it sounds like .

When constructing a question, the modal verb comes first, for example: Can you dance? -Can you dance?

Uses of the modal verb can

The rules of use of which we will consider below are used with an infinitive in an indefinite form without the to element. The form could also has a similar meaning, but in the past tense. So, the word is used to define:

The ability (opportunity) of a mental or physical nature to do something. For example, Could he swim when he was younger?
Requests. Both forms of the modal verb are used in the interrogative form. A request using could is the preferred option, and is used in those sentences that are addressed to another person. Example: Could you tell me where the cinema is? (Can you tell me where the cinema is?).

Ban. The form can’t is often used if it is necessary to prohibit someone from doing something: you can't or you can't. You can't eat this. You have an allergy. (You can't eat this. You're allergic).

Another use case

Modal English is also used to express incredulity, suspicion and bewilderment. The context influences a lot here, and therefore there are many nuances. Hesitation with a note of doubt is often used in negative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form. Oleg can’t swim across Lake Svitjaz. - Yes, Oleg cannot swim across (Bewilderment, distrust).

Can and to be able to

Can is a verb that has an almost equivalent analogue - to be able to. Can can be replaced by this phrase only if the modal verb is used in the meaning be able to do something.

Often the synonymous phrase “to be able to” is written or spoken when it is necessary to say that something needs to be done in the future tense, because there is no future tense option for the modal verb can. True, it is important to take into account a certain nuance: the modal verb itself is capable of belonging to the future tense.

The expression be able to in the future tense is relevant in cases where we're talking about about a probability, opportunity or skill that is not in this moment, but it will arise in the future. It is prohibited to use the verb can to denote a possibility or ability that will arise only in the future.

Using the phrase to be able to in the present tense sounds very strange. In such sentences, the modal verb can is considered the most acceptable.

Could have and Past Participle

The verb can (we discuss the rules for using the verb in this material) is often used in such a variant as could have plus Past Participle (third form of the verb, past participle). Such a turn of phrase can denote an action that a person could have performed, but never did. For example, He could have married her but he didn’t want to. - He could have married her, but he didn’t want to.

Also, using this construction, you can express a guess or assumption about something that happened in the past. For example, Linda could have told him the truth. - Maybe Linda told him the truth. Through the phrase could have plus Past Participle, they express a hypothesis about what did not happen in reality.

Verbs) are very actively used in the English language, so the ability to use them correctly is very important. To learn this, you need to know distinctive features such words and in what cases their use is justified. Let's look at the most used modal verbs: can / could (be able to). But first of all, let's figure out what modal verbs are and how they differ from ordinary verbs.

What verbs are called modal?

Unlike ordinary English verbs, modal verbs do not denote any processes or states, but only indicate the attitude of the actor to the action itself. For this reason, they are not used independently, but are always part of a predicate made up of verbs. For example: I can write it in a song (I can write/describe it in a song).

There are relatively few words of this type in English. The most commonly used of them are the modal verbs can (could), may (might), must.

Unique properties of modal verbs

Words of this type belong to defective verbs (insufficient) because they do not have all the properties of ordinary verbs. For example, of the three above individual form modal verbs have the past tense: can (could), may (might). Most other similar terms lack such properties as future tense, perfect forms and passive voice, continuous form (for example: need, ought to and dare, must). In most cases, the corresponding equivalent words are used instead.
Modal verbs do not have impersonal forms (infinitive, gerund and participle).
Modal words never act as an independent member of a sentence - only together with another verb in the infinitive form, but without the usual particle to (except need to, ought to). For example: I believe I can fly (I believe that I can fly), but: I need to feel loved (I need to feel loved).
Unlike other verbs, which in the Present Simple (present tense) in the third person singular receive the ending -s, modal verbs do not have such a feature. For example: She can read very well (She can read very well), but: My sister reads tales (My sister reads fairy tales).

Modal verb can in English

This modal word is literally translated as “to be able to do something” or “to be able to do something.” It is the most common in the language of proud Britons and is used in speech when the speaker wants to talk about what he can, can do or is capable of. For example: Joan can wax her car in 2 hours.

The modal verb can (could) refers to those modal verbs after which the particle to is never used. But, as mentioned above, it has a special form could in the past tense. And in the form of the future tense it is replaced by the equivalent of being able to. For example: He shall be able to repair your microwave oven tomorrow. It is worth noting that in this proposal verb shall acts not as a modal, but as an auxiliary word to denote the future tense.

What meaning does the word can carry in sentences?

Other modal verbs with similar meanings

In some cases, the verbs can/could - must, may/might can act as synonyms. Thus, the modal word may and its individual form might, used in the past tense, mean possibility, prohibition, permission or asking someone for something: May I ask you? (Can I ask you?). This request question can be translated into English differently: Can I ask you something?

Must is the most formal of all the above modal verbs. It is used to indicate a need, an order, or urgent advice: You must do it. Unlike can and may, it does not have a specific form for use in the past tense, but has its own equivalent have to.

Modal verbs can, could, must, may can be used with equal success in request sentences. But the verb must has a connotation of obligation, may - formality, can - neutral, and could - an extreme degree of polite treatment.

In some cases could can have the same meaning as may/might. But it is worth remembering that in the negative form they are somewhat different. For example: She couldn’t have seen him (She couldn’t see him), but: She mightn’t have seen him (She probably couldn’t see him). In the first sentence, couldn’t expresses firm confidence in the impossibility of a certain event, and in the second, mightn’t denotes doubt, probability, but not firm certainty.

Could and be able to

As a rule, the modal verb can is used in the present tense, in the future - be able to, and in the past in most cases - its form could (although it is acceptable to replace it with the equivalent was/were able to). For example, the sentence: I could see that she was nervous, can be translated like this - I was able to see that she was nervous. However, the first option is preferable. But there is a difference - modal verb could means the ability to do something in principle, and was/were able to refers to such a possibility only in a specific case.

Although the form could is considered intended for use in the past tense, it can be freely used in the present as well as future tenses. The most common uses of could in speech are:

In the meaning of the probability of some event, if you can safely replace it with other modal words: may/might. For example: You could be the one who listens (You can be the one who listens).
In condition sentences: I could be the one who stays, baby, if you call my name (I can be the only one who stays, baby, if you call me by name).
In the role of offering any service or advice to someone, could is used only in affirmative sentences of the past and future tenses. For example: You could be more healthy if you do exercise regularly.
As a polite request related to the near future: Could I borrow your pen? (Can I borrow your pen?). In this case, you can freely replace could with the verbs can or may.

As an ability in the past, however, if it was short-term, it is permissible to use only the negative form couldn't. For example: Jane could speak Polish when she was a kid. Yesterday, my dad couldn't lift the couch by himself (Yesterday my father couldn't lift the sofa on his own).

How are different types of sentences constructed with the modal verb can?

A classic statement is made using the following scheme: active person + can/could + active verb + minor members of the sentence. For example: I can hear the birds (I can hear the birds).

In the case of negation in the scheme, the particle not is added after the modal verb. For example: She can’t read very fast (She can’t read very fast).

The order of the interrogative sentence will differ from the affirmative and negative: can/could + active person + verb + minor members. For example: Can I take a picture with you? (Can i take a photo with you?).

Set expressions with modals can and could

The verb can (could), like most modals, is part of several established phrases. The most famous among them are:

Can’t stand somebody/something - can’t stand/get annoyed because of someone/something. For example: Nobody can stand Tom when he smokes a cigar (Nobody can stand Tom when he smokes a cigar / Everyone is annoyed when Tom smokes a cigar).

Can’t/couldn’t but do something - have no other choice but to do something. For example: I couldn’t but agree with her (I had no choice but to agree with her).

Can't/couldn't help doing something- unable to resist doing something. For example, the title of Elvis Presley's song: Can't Help Falling in Love.

Modal verb can (could): exercises

Few things are as conducive to learning new material as practical use. Therefore, below are several tasks that will help you understand the modal verb can.

In the first exercise, you need to choose the correct form: can/could or its equivalent for the future tense be able to - and insert it in place of the blanks.

In the second task you need to choose what to put in the blanks: can/can’t or could/couldn’t.

In the final exercise, you need to insert modal verbs in place of the gaps: can, could, may, must, shall, should or would.

The modal verb can and all its forms are an integral part of any polite conversation, which means that they cannot be avoided when studying the language of the British and Americans, especially its colloquial form. There isn't a lot of information about these modals, so it won't be hard to remember clearly. And the most The best way to achieve this is to constantly practice, doing exercises and communicating in English with friends.

More precisely - to modal verbs. These verbs do not express specific processes (actions), but only show the speaker’s attitude to the action, its assessment, i.e. opportunity, necessity, permission, etc.

Modal verbs are defective verbs because they do not have all the forms that other verbs have. Today we will get acquainted with the modal verb “can”. Let's get started.

Education rules

The first thing to remember when using modal verbs "can" and "could" is after them Necessarily another one is coming semantic verb. After all, the modal verb Can itself does not report an action, but only shows our attitude towards it: “I can do some action.” And after this “I can” it is necessary to add “I can do what?”: “can drive a car” (I can drive a car), “can cook” (I can cook), etc.

Second - after “can” we we don't use in speech particle " to": "can speak English". We are accustomed to the fact that two verbs in English must be connected with each other using “to”: “decide to take a nap” (decide to take a nap) or “offer to go shopping” (offer to go shopping).

But modal " can/could" works without « to».

Third - " can" is used when someone Maybe do something now, and " could" - when someone could to do something in the past, now, most likely, can no longer be done.

Forms of the modal verb Can

As we have already said, the modal verb “can” belongs to “defective verbs” and has only 2 forms: “can” and “could”. We use these forms with any subject, both singular and plural.

I can(am able to) ride a horse. - I Can(know how) to ride a horse.
I could(was able to) speak Chinese when I was a kid. - When I was a child, I knew how to speak Chinese.

To construct the question, we will simply put “can” and “could” in the first place, there is no need to add anything else.

The equivalent of the verb can is be able to

So we've seen the "can" form for the present and past tenses, but what about the future, present continuous, and other tenses in English?

In such situations, you should use the modal verb " be able to" It means " be able to do something" Since in this expression all operations are carried out with the verb “be”, which changes freely in tenses, this phrase can replace “can” in any tense:

I will be able to do the task tomorrow.
I won't be able to do the task tomorrow.
Will you be able to do the task tomorrow? - Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.

Conclusion

Things to remember about the verb can:

"Can" is a modal verb. No other auxiliary or modal verbs can appear alongside it in the same sentence:

do / does / did / am / is / are / was / were - auxiliary verbs;
may / must / might / should - other modal verbs.

"Can" can only be used in the present tense. In Can the past tense has the form " could" or " was able to / were able to», in future - « will be able to", I want to be able to - " I want to be able».
Before the word " can"particle" to" stand can not. As, in fact, after.
Not every Russian " Maybe" rolls into English " can" There are words " may/might", meaning probability, but not skill.
Remember the phrase: “ What can I do?. This is how questions are constructed with “ can».

And finally, " can"can be not only a verb, but also a noun. Moreover, as a noun, “can” does not mean “skill” or “be able” at all, but “tin can”, “aluminum beverage can”, “oil barrel”, “barrel”, etc.

Why will you succeed in English? Because you can!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

Everything you need to know about the modal verb 'Can':

— translation, transcription and pronunciation;
- features of the modal verb;
— ‘Can’ in the present, past and future;
- ‘Can’ in negative and interrogative form;
- use of the verb 'Can' - rules and examples;

The modal verb ‘Can’ is translated into Russian: I can, I can, I can handle it, it’s possible.

Transcription: 'Can' - .
In sentences, the sound 'a' is swallowed and pronounced as - kn - kn.

Pronunciation of 'Can'

Features of the modal verb 'Can'

1. There is no particle - to - between the verb 'can' and another verb

He can go shopping tomorrow. X

2. There is no ending - s - at the end of the verb 'can'

He can't go shopping tomorrow. X
He can go shopping tomorrow. Correct option.

3. At the end of the second verb, the ending -s- is also not placed.

He can go shopping tomorrow. X
He can go shopping tomorrow. Correct option.

4. The ing form is not used.

He can't swim. X
He can swim. Correct option.

5. Not used in the future tense with the auxiliary verb will.

I will can help you. X
I can help you. Correct option.

6. Interrogative form formed without an auxiliary verb - Do -

Do you can walk? X
Can you walk? Correct option.

7. Negative form is formed using the particle not, it is placed after the modal verb.

She does not sing. X
She can't sing. Correct option.

Forms of the verb 'Can' - present, future and past tense

PRESENT - I can walk. I can walk.
PAST - I could walk. I could walk.
FUTURE - I will be able to walk. I'll be able to walk.

'Can' in negative form

Can’t - can’t - I can’t.
You can’t - you can’t.
She/he can’t - she/he cannot.
They/we/ - they/we cannot.

I can't believe it. I can not believe.
He can't stay long. He can't stay long.
She can't jump. She can't jump.

'Can' in interrogative form

Can I ask you? Can I ask you? Can I ask you something?
Can she write me? Can she text me? Can she write to you?
Can he meet me? Can he meet me?

Use of the verb 'Can'

1. When we have the skill/ability to do something:

I can drive a car. I can drive a car.
He can't speak Japanese. He can't speak Japanese.
Can you cook? Can you cook?

2. When to ask permission:

Can I go for a walk? Can I go for a walk?
Can I come in? Can I come in?
Can I come today? Can I come today?

3. When to ask for something:

Can I have some more coffee? Can I get some more coffee?
Can I use your tablet? Can I use your tablet?
Can you call me back? Can you call me back?
Can you send me your photo? Can you send me your picture?

4. When to get permission:

You can take this bike. You can take this bicycle.
You can do what you want. You can do whatever you like.