Rules for using the verb can. Everything about the verbs can and could in English: rules, examples, diagrams

Verb can belongs to the group of so-called modal verbs. Modal verbs are not used independently, but only in combination with the infinitive of the semantic verb. They denote the possibility, ability, probability, necessity of a completed action expressed by a semantic verb.

In a sentence, the modal verb is part of the compound verbal predicate, and always comes before the main predicate. can translated as "to be able":

We can do it without him. - We can do this without him.

Typically modal verbs Not have all the forms that other verbs have. Can has only two temporary forms, but this does not at all detract from its semantic value.

After can the verb is in the infinitive form without the to particle, that is, the verb does not have any personal endings, no matter what number and person it is in. At the very can never Not personal endings appear, no matter with which subject it is used:

All simple adverbs of frequency (never, rarely, often, usually, always) still, in all types of sentences, come before the main semantic verb.

I can always take the children from the kindergarten.

Complex adverbs of frequency (once a month, four times a year...) still appear at the end of the sentence.

She can go to the fitness club twice a week.

Note

Can, like the word “mogu” (you can, can, etc.) in Russian, can refer to present And future time:

We can call on him right now. - We can drop by to see him right now.

I can finish this work next week. - I can finish this work next week.

Negative sentences

Unlike other verbs, can- verb self-sufficient and completely does not need in auxiliary verbs when constructing negative and any interrogative sentences.

To construct a negative sentence you just need to add to can negative particle not. More on offer Nothing does not change.

Can has two negative forms, which differ only in spelling and pronunciation. As a rule, the negation can't is not used, but it is cannot.

A very popular short form of negation is can"t, which according to classical reading rules is pronounced as [ k a: n t].

General question

To form a general question, use a verb can to the beginning of the sentence. None

I can speak Spanish fluently.
Can he speak Spanish fluently? Yes, he can.

Special questions

To ask a specific question, put it before the verb in a general question. can question word. None There are no other changes in supply.

In a question to the subject, as in a special question, Who/What is put in first place, in second place - can, only in third place, in the place of the subject, is the predicate immediately located, since the subject ( who/ what) has already been used.

Who can_ tell_ me what your homework for today is?

Negative questions

When forming negative questions from special and general ones, to the verb can negation is added not. Negative questions usually use the short form can"t.

A general negative question is, in fact, rhetorical, with a share of emotional load.

Can"t you listen to me more attentively?!
Can't you listen to me more carefully?!

Can"t she tell the truth this time? -
Can't she tell the truth just this once?!

The same emotional coloring is preserved in a special question beginning with why.

Why can't we go to the party with them?!

In other negative special questions, the emotional load is not so noticeable.

Negative questions to the subject

Who can"t dance well? Raise your hands.
What else in the car can't work properly?

Modal verb could has the meaning of probability or possibility in the past. It can be used to express requests and suggestions. Also verb could often used in conditional sentences as a conditional form of a verb can .

For example:
Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city.
Due to heavy rains the river could flood the city. ( Expresses probability.)

Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11.
By the age of 11, Nancy was already knew how ski like a pro. ( Expresses a possibility in the past.)

You could see a movie or go out to dinner.
You we could watch a movie or go out to dinner. ( Expresses a proposal.)

Could I use your computer to email my boss?
Couldn't should I use your computer to send an email to my boss? ( Expresses a request.)

We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend.
We we could somewhere to go if I didn't have to work this weekend. ( Conditional offer.)

Using the modal verb could in the present, past and future tenses

In most cases, the use of modal verbs in the past and future tenses is different from other verbs. The table below shows use of a modal verb could in different situations.

Please note that in the meaning of a request:

- can has a neutral shade:

Can can you help me?
You can help me?

- could has a more polite connotation:

Could can you help me?
Could you will you help me?

- may has a more formal tone:

May I come in?
Allow me to come in?

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 the distinctive features of 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).

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, modal verbs have an individual form in 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 sentence the verb shall does not act as a modal verb, 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.

The 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 - the 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 contribute to the assimilation of new material as much as its practical application. 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.

Modal verbs are verbs that express a person’s assessment of the surrounding reality. Without denoting an action, they express an attitude towards the action.

The action (meaning) itself 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). Let's 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, it does not form , and ).
• The verb can has no . In the past tense, this verb goes into the form could, and to form the future tense, they use the equivalent equivalent to be able to (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 meaning. Can expresses ability, possibility in a general sense, while to be able to – the ability to do something at a certain point in time.

The difference can be felt in the following example:

I can play the piano, but I am not able to do it at the moment because my hand is broken.– I know how to play the piano, but I won’t be able to 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 writing) – 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.

Use of the verb can (lexical meaning of can)

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Negations with 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 behave like that, there are children around here.”

Jake could not (couldn’t) understand anything at the lesson yesterday.– Jake couldn’t understand anything during class yesterday.

Interrogative sentences with verbs can/could

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) a request is often expressed, which is usually translated into Russian as “Could you”, “allow”:

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?

Constructing questions with can (could) with clarifying words

For additional information, please clarify:

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

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

Specifying word + can/could + subject + semantic verb + other parts 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 should 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- I can’t stand it, I can’t stand it
• Can't help doing something– I can’t help but do something (I can’t resist doing something)
• Can't take my eyes off her/him– I can’t take my eyes off him/her
• Can't think straight– I 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– I can’t get enough of anything

Summarize:

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

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.

He can go shopping tomorrow. X

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. The interrogative form is formed without an auxiliary verb - Do -

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

7. The 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.
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.

Sentences with Can + be construction
Yes, it can be confusing.

Yes, it can be confusing.
English can be strange.

English can be strange.
This can't be true.

It can not be true.
This can be real.