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Can/Could

The document explains the usage of 'can' and 'could' for expressing abilities in the present and past, as well as for making requests, with 'could' being more polite. It outlines the grammatical forms, including negative constructions and question formation, and highlights common mistakes in question formation. Additionally, it emphasizes that 'can' and 'could' are used with verbs in their infinitive form.

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17 views2 pages

Can/Could

The document explains the usage of 'can' and 'could' for expressing abilities in the present and past, as well as for making requests, with 'could' being more polite. It outlines the grammatical forms, including negative constructions and question formation, and highlights common mistakes in question formation. Additionally, it emphasizes that 'can' and 'could' are used with verbs in their infinitive form.

Uploaded by

lanluu.88241020210
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Can / Could

Use: ​
1) Use can / can’t to talk about your abilities now.​
I can speak English. I can’t speak German.
Use could / couldn’t to talk about abilities in the past.​
I could speak French when I was a child, but I can't now.​
I couldn’t speak English when I was a child, but I can now.

2) Use can and could to make requests. ’Could’ is more polite.​


Can/Could you cook this evening, please? ​
Could you pass me the salt, please?
Use ‘can’ to reply to requests.​
Can I sit here? => Yes, you can. Sorry, you can’t.​ Sorry,
this seat is taken.​
Can you cook this evening please? => Yes, I can. Sorry, I can’t.
DON’T use could in replies.​
Could you lend me some money?​
Yes, I could. => Yes, sure! Sorry, I can’t.

Form:​
1) Can and could are the same for all persons.​
I can/could speak English​
you can/could speak English​
he / she / it can/could speak English ​
we can/could speak English ​
they can/could speak English.​
​
2) The negative form of can is cannot, or can’t. The negative form
of could is couldn’t.

3) There is always a verb after can and could, and the verb is always in
the infinitive form(without to).​
Sally can help you. NOT Sally can helps you. / Sally can to help you.
4) Make questions by inverting can and the subject.​
I can see you this afternoon. => Can I see you this afternoon? ​
You could help me. => Could you help me? ​
​
5) Use can/can’t and could/couldn’t in short answers.​
Can your brother swim? => Yes, he can. No, he can’t. ​
Could you do the test? => Yes, I could. No, I couldn’t.

Common mistakes:​
1) Some students make questions incorrectly.​
You can speak English? => Can you speak English?​
I could sit here? => Could I sit here?

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