Parting

Could in interrogative sentences. Modal verb can, could, be able to in English

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

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 used alone, but only in combination with the infinitive of any other verb.

The modal verb can in English, like other words of this group, without the infinitive of another verb is used 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 most commonly used verb in English. Often it is used when it is necessary to designate a physical possibility, to perform some action, for example, he can hear, i can do it, you can etc. In the past tense, this word changes to could.

Like other modal verbs, it is not used 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 (He can read) is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is: He can read.

Will is not allowed to form the future tense of a modal verb. That is, saying I will can write you tomorrow (I can write to 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 take the following form: He can swim or She can read.

Can for 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 commonly used in the spoken language. In the British and American versions, the form can't is pronounced in different ways. In British English, it sounds like, and in American -.

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

Cases of using the modal verb can

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

The ability (possibility) 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 more preferable, and it 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?).

Prohibition. The can't form is often used when it is necessary for someone to forbid 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 astonishment. Context plays a role here, so 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 (Perplexity, distrust).

Can and to be able to

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

Often, the synonymous turnover to be able to is written or said 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 here: the modal verb itself is capable of belonging to the future tense.

The expression be able to in the future tense is relevant when it comes to a probability, opportunity or skill that does not exist at the moment, but will arise in the future. At the same time, it is forbidden to use the verb can to denote an opportunity or ability that will arise only in the future.

The use of 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 consider the rules for using the verb in this material) is often used in such a variant as could have plus Past Participle (the third form of the verb, participle in the past tense). 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 speech turnover could have plus Past Participle express a hypothesis about what did not happen in reality.

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. Is Can an irregular verb or a regular English verb?

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 instance:

my father can play chess. - My father can play chess.
Can will you help me? - You can help me?
I c 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.
English modal verb can with translation (to be able; to be able).

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.

Verbs) are very actively used in the English language, so the ability to use them correctly is very important. To learn this, it is necessary to know the distinctive features of such words and in what cases their use is justified. Let's look at the most commonly 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 composed 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 kind in English. The most 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, modal verbs have an individual form in the past tense: can (could), may (might). Most other similar terms are devoid of such properties as the future tense, perfect forms and passive voice, continued 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 for 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 ones 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 literally translates as “to be able to do something” or “to be able to”. It is the most common in the language of the proud British and is used in speech when the speaker wants to tell about what he can, knows how or what he is capable of. For example: Joan can wax her car in 2 hours (Joan can wax her car in two hours).

The modal verb can (could) refers to those modal verbs after which the to particle 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 be able to. For example: He shall be able to repair your microwave oven tomorrow (He will be able to fix your microwave oven tomorrow). It is worth noting that in this sentence the verb shall does not act as a modal, but as an auxiliary word for the future tense.

What semantic load does the word can carry in sentences?

Other modal verbs with similar meaning

In some cases, the verbs can / could - must, may / might act as synonyms. So, the modal word may and its individual form might, used in the past tense, mean the possibility, prohibition, permission or request of someone about something: May I ask you? (Can I ask you?). This question-request 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 (You must / must do it). Unlike can and may, it does not have a specific past tense form, but has its own equivalent of have to.

Modal verbs can, could, must, may can be used with equal success in request sentences. But the verb must is obligatory, may is formal, can is neutral, and could is an extreme degree of politeness.

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 a firm belief in the impossibility of a certain event, and in the second, mightn't denotes a doubt, a probability, but not a firm belief.

Could and be able to

As a rule, the modal verb can is used in the present tense, be able to in the future, 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 (I could see that she was nervous), you can also translate it 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 an opportunity only in a particular case.

The form could, although considered intended for use in the past tense, can be freely used in the present as well as the future tenses. The most common uses of could 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 conditional sentences: I could be the one who stays, baby, if you call my name (I can be the one who stays, baby, if you call me by name).
In the role of offering some service or advice to someone, could is used only in affirmative sentences of the past and future times. For example: You could be more healthy if you do exercise regularly (You could be healthier if you exercised regularly).
In the role of a polite request relating 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, only the negative form couldn "t is acceptable. For example: Jane could speak Polish when she was a kid (Jane knew how to speak Polish when she was a child). Yesterday, my dad couldn't lift the couch by itself (Yesterday my father couldn't lift the couch on his own).

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

A classic statement is made using the following scheme: acting person + can / could + acting 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, a particle not is added after the modal verb. For example: She can not read very fast (She cannot read very quickly).

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

Set expressions with modal words can and could

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

Can't stand somebody/something - not stand/get annoyed with someone/something. For example: Nobody can stand Tom when he smokes a cigar

Can’t / could not 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 not to do something. For example, the title of an Elvis Presley song: Can "t Help Falling in Love (I can't help but fall in love).

Modal verb can (could): exercises

Few things contribute to the assimilation of new material as its practical application. Therefore, below are a few tasks that will help you deal with 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 gaps.

In the second task, you need to make a choice what to put in the gaps: can/can't or could/couldn't.

In the final exercise, you need to insert modal verbs in place of 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 are indispensable when learning the language of the British and Americans, especially its colloquial form. There is not much information about these modal words, so it will not be difficult to remember it clearly. And the best way to achieve this is to constantly train, do exercises and communicate in English with friends.

Modal verb can is one of the most common verbs in the English language. It is most often used when it is necessary to express opportunity to take some action, in other words, to say “I can do this”, “he can”, “you can” and so on. Verb could- this is the past tense form of the verb can, we will also consider it in this article.

Table: modal verb Can in affirmative, negative, interrogative form

You can solve your problems later. - You can solve your problems later.
We can watch this movie next time. - We Can watch this movie next time.

Also, instead of the verb can, the turnover will be able to can be used to indicate the possibility in the future, read more about this below.

2. To express a request.

Are used can And could in an interrogative form. The request with could sounds a little more polite, it is used in sentences addressed to another person (that is, not with the pronoun I).

3. To express prohibition.

Verb can't often used to express a prohibition, that is, to say not “you cannot”, but “you cannot”.

4. To express surprise, doubt, distrust.

There are many nuances here, much depends on the context.

Doubt with a hint of distrust is more often expressed in negative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form:

He can't swim across Lake Tahoe. - Yes can not he swim across Lake Tahoe (distrust, doubt).

Surprise with a hint of doubt, mistrust is usually expressed in interrogative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form. In translation, the word “really” is often used to make the meaning clearer.

Can this unicorn be real? - Really is this unicorn real?

If in the same question to use could the meaning will change a bit. You will get something like:

Could this unicorn be real? - Could it this unicorn be real?

Often, proposals can\could used ironically, with sarcasm, for example:

Could you buy more milk? - And you have even more milk could not buy?
Could did you wake up any later? - And you later could not wake up?

But in this case, intonation and context are of great importance. One of the heroes of the series “Friends”, Chandler, used such phrases with “Could it be” so often that he was even sometimes mimicked. Unfortunately, this feature of Chandler's speech almost did not appear in the translation.

5. To express doubt about what happened

That is, I do not believe that something happened. Scheme: cannot + have + Past Participle (affirmative or interrogative form).

Turnover is usually translated with “cannot be” or another suitable expression.

He is my best friend, he cannot have betrayed me. - He is my friend, it can't be that he betrayed me.
Billy doesn't have much money. He can't have bought this car. Billy doesn't have much money. He couldn't this car buy.
Can she have forgotten to pick up the kids from house? - Really she could forget take the kids out of the house?

Turnover could have + Past Participle

Separately, we should consider the turnover could have + (past participle, third form of the verb). It can mean:

1. An action that someone could have done, but did not

She could have married him but she didn't want to. - She could get out for him married but didn't want to.
They could have bought a house here 20 years ago but chose not to. - They are could buy house here 20 years ago but decided not to.

Often there is a hint of reproach.

You could have helped me instead of just sitting there. - You could help me instead of sitting here.
I could have done more to help you. Sorry. - I could do more to help you. I'm sorry.

2. Assumption, conjecture about something that happened in the past

In this case, with a slightly different meaning, one can use may have or might have, cm. " ".

Simon could have told her truth. - Maybe, Simon told her the truth.
They could have overheard what we said. - They could hear what we said.

In negative and question, you can use can have + Past Participle, then you get a turnover like “Really ...?” or “It can’t be…”, discussed above (para. 5 “To express doubt about what happened”)

Can she have forgotten about our meeting? - How could she forget about our meeting?
He can't have seen us. - Can not be so that he us saw.

3. Assuming something that didn't actually happen

This case refers to one of the types of conditional sentences, read more about them in.

I could have done well in my exam if I had worked harder. I could do better in the exam if I prepared better.

Modal verb can and turnover to be able to

Verb can in the meaning of “to be able to do something” can be replaced by a synonymous turnover to be able to+ verb (to be able to do something). But there is a difference between these two ways of expressing possibility.

Can \ to be able to in the future tense

It is usually said that turnover to be able to it is convenient to use when you need to say about the possibility of doing something in the future, because the verb has can there is no future tense form (one cannot say will can).

But here it is important to remember such a nuance.

The verb can itself can refer to the future. For example:

You can rest later. Now we have to work. - You you can(you can) rest later. Now we have to work.
We can read this book tomorrow, let's play videogames. - We we can(we can) read this book tomorrow, let's play video games.

In the future tense, the turnover be able to is used when we talk about an opportunity, ability, skill that does not exist now, but will appear in the future. The verb can can NOT be used to express a possibility, an ability that will only appear in the future.

Right: I will be able to walk properly after the surgery. - I I can walk normally after surgery.
Not right: I can walk properly after the surgery.
Right: will be able to work as a sailor. – When I finish these courses, I I can work as a sailor.
Not right: When I complete this training course, I can work as a sailor.

Both options, can or to be able to, can be used when talking about decisions or agreements related to the future:

The doctor can \ will be able to see you later today. - Doctor will be able take you later today.
I can \ will be able to help you with your homework later. - I I can help you with your homework later.
I can \ will be able to give you a lift home tonight. - I I can drive you home tonight.

Can \ to be able to in the present tense

To be able to sounds more formal, even weird. It's like saying in Russian not “I can play the guitar”, but “I can play the guitar”.

I can play a guitar. - I can to play guitar.
I am able to play a guitar. - I able to play guitar.
Michelle can can bake delicious pies.
Michelle is able to bake delicious cakes. – Michelle capable bake delicious pies.

Variants with can are used much more often.

Can \ to be able to in the past tense

When referring to an ability or opportunity that existed in the past, both options can be used:

When I was younger, I could could remember everything better.
When I was younger, I was able to remember everything so well. - When I was younger, I could remember everything better.

Note that in the past tense could usually means (in affirmative sentences) the ability to do something at all and is not used when talking about some one-time action at a certain moment. Here it makes more sense to be able to.

Right: We were able to visit Mary on Monday, because she wasn't busy. - We could visit Mary on Monday because she was not busy.
Not right: We could visit Mary Monday, because she wasn't busy.

IN negative sentences both couldn't and wasn't\weren't able to can be used for both long-term and one-time actions.

I couldn't / wasn't able to finish all my homework yesterday. - I could not finish homework yesterday.
I couldn't / wasn't able to see the band at all from where I was standing. - I completely was not visible(could not see) the musicians from where I was standing.
I couldn't / wasn't able to drive when I was younger. - I couldn't drive when I was younger.