1.How to use modal verbs CAN, COULD & BE ABLE TO?
Note!
In English Grammar modal verbs are used in many different situations e.g. making requests, permissions, suggestions etc.
e.g. We can use both CAN and COULD to talk about ability, ask and give permission, make an offer or requests.
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2. What's the difference between CAN, COULD & BE ABLE TO?
We'll look at modal verbs CAN, COULD & BE ABLE TO to talk about ability in the past, present & future forms:
a) CAN - present
b) COULD - past
c) CAN - *future
d) BE ABLE TO - *future
Grammar Point!
*There's a slight difference between using 'can' & 'be able to'.
3.Modal verbs CAN, COULD & BE ABLE TO to talk about ability
a) We use CAN to talk about what people,
animals, nature or things are able or
unable to do:
Example Sentence
1) He can't speak Thai.
2) Can plants grow in the desert?
3) You can cook soup in a rice cooker.
4) Can cats swim in water?
5) Mei could not speak English before she came to the UK.
b) We also use CAN to talk about what we're able or unable to do in a situation:
Example Sentence
1) I can't join the club: I'm too busy with work.
2) You can't speak to the manager about it.
3) They can come to the party if they want to.
4) Let's go. We can have dinner on the way there.
5) Don't worry. Susan can help you with the washing-up.
4. How to form modal verb CAN in a sentence - (positive) & (negative)
(Positive Form)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + can + verb (base form) + object
1) We can take the first train.
2) You can do it!
3) My little girl can play the piano.
4) David and Ruth can be here at 9am.
5) He can sing well.
(Negative Form) + Short Form
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + cannot + verb (base form) + object
Short Form (can't)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + can't + verb (base form) + object
Example Sentence
1) I cannot draw.
2) They can't come to the party.
3) We cannot take spicy food.
4) Bill can't drive.
5) Jill can't see well without glasses.
5. How to Form COULD for 'Past' Ability - (positive) & (negative)
c) We use COULD to talk about Past abilities
(Positive Form)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + could + verb (base form) + object
Example Sentence
1) I could play the piano when I was young but now I can't.
2) When I was a teenager, I could stay up all night.
3) Before we had kids, we could go anywhere we want.
4) My dad could speak Mandarin when he was a student.
5) Brad could party all night in his younger days.
(Negative Form)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + could not + verb (base form) + object
Negative (Short Form)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + couldn't + verb (base form) + object
Example Sentence
1)My niece *could not write when she was four.
2) Sally couldn't get in touch with her friend in Paris.
3) In those days students could walk or cycle to school.
4) Brian and Jenny couldn't get tickets for the show.
5) We couldn't find our way to the restaurant.
Grammar Point!
*We also use 'be able to' to talk about person's ability:
e.g.My niece *was able / not able to write when was four.
d) We use CAN to talk about actions in the future that we're able to do based on our current ability or situation.
Example Sentence
1.If we leave now, we can make it for dinner at 7pm.
2.We can meet tomorrow at 5.
3.My husband can take the kids to the park next week.
4.I've got free tickets to Bird's Paradise, so we can go on Sunday if you want to.
5.Do you think she can make it on time for the lesson?
6. How to Form WILL BE ABLE TO for Future Ability- (positive) & (negative)
e) We use WILL BE ABLE TO to talk about the future (it's not grammatically possible to use 'can' with 'will').
(Positive Form)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + will be able to + verb (base form) + object
Example Sentence
1. One day we will be able to live on other planets.
2. If you practise harder, you will be able to speak English more fluently.
3. I believe that scientists will be able to cure the flu some day.
(Negative Form)
-I / you / We / They / He / She / It + won't be able to+verb (base form)+ object
Grammar Point!
*You can also say 'will be unable to' but it's less commonly used
Example Sentence
1. If you don't practise harder, you won't be able / will be unable to speak fluently.
2. We need to earn more money or we won't be able to buy a house in the future.
7. Conversation Example -
Using CAN, CAN'T, COULD, COULDN'T, WILL BE ABLE TO, WON'T BE ABLE TO
Two friends are talking ...
Lucy: What time can we meet later?
Beth: Maybe around 3?
Lucy: Can you make it earlier? I need to get some art supplies at the store.
Beth: I can be there at 2.30. What are you buying?
Lucy: Art sketchbooks and some watercolours.
Beth: I didn't know you can paint.
Lucy: I couldn't but I've been taking watercolour painting lessons for the past 3 months.
Beth: Oh, that's cool. I could paint a little but now I'm more into colouring books.
Lucy: That's interesting. There are so many different types of colouring books.
Beth: Oh yes. I love them. I can easily set up my box of coloured pencils and start colouring the pages. The artwork is always so beautiful.
Lucy: Wow. I would love to get some books and try for myself. Next week is my last lesson. I think I'll be able to have more free time after that.
Beth: Great. Let's get some books and more art supplies.
Lucy: Ok. Oh, but we won't be able to meet up for coffee as often. We'll be too busy doing art.
Beth: Haha... No problem. We can take along our books, meet over coffee and chat while colouring.
Lucy: Oh yes, we can!
Let's Recap!
Modal verbs CAN & COULD have many different uses in English Grammar.
1. We use CAN, COULD in the Present, Past and BE ABLE TO (Future) to talk about ability.
a) CAN for general abilities
b) COULD for Past abilities
c) CAN for future actions
Note: We use CAN to talk about actions in the future which we're able to do based on our current ability or situation.
d) We use WILL BE ABLE TO to talk about the future (grammar not possible to use CAN with WILL).
Check out the links below:
>> Grammar - Future Tense 'will' 'be going to': Difference & Uses
Thank you so much for reading & Happy Speaking!
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