Modal Verb Can
Table of Contents
Exercises
Explanation
Modal Verb: Can
Can is a modal verb. We use can to talk about:
-
ability (what someone is able to do)
-
permission (when something is allowed)
-
possibility (when something is possible)
-
requests (when we ask politely)
Forms
Tense |
Form |
Example |
Present |
can |
I can swim. |
Past |
could |
I could swim when I was five. |
Future |
will be able to |
I will be able to swim next summer. |
Ability
Use can or could to talk about skills or things you know how to do.
I can speak English.
She can play the guitar.
When I was a child, I could run very fast.
Permission
Use can or could to ask or give permission.
Examples:
Can I go out now?
Could I use your phone, please? (more polite)
You can take my book.
You can’t park here.
Possibility
Use can to talk about what is possible.
Examples:
It can be cold in winter.
People can get sick if they don’t sleep well.
That story can’t be true! (negative = not possible)
Requests
Use can or could to ask someone to do something.
Examples:
Can you help me, please?
Could you close the window? (more polite)
Negative Forms
Form |
Contraction |
Example |
cannot |
can’t |
I can’t drive a car. |
could not |
couldn’t |
I couldn’t swim last year. |
Special Phrases
I can’t help laughing! → I can’t stop laughing.
I can’t but agree. → I must agree.
I can’t possibly do it. → It’s impossible for me to do it.
Be able to
We use be able to instead of can when we need to speak about the future or a specific situation.
Examples:
I’m able to meet you today.
I was able to finish my project yesterday.
I will be able to travel next year.