10 grade
Canis an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary
verb. We use can to:
talk about possibility and ability
make requests
ask for or give permission
subject auxiliary main
verb verb
+I can play tennis.
- He Cannot/can´t play tennis.
? Can you play tennis.
Weuse can to talk about what is possible,
what we are able or free to do:
She can drive a car.
John can speak Spanish.
I cannot hear you. (I can't hear you.)
Can you hear me?
Normally, we use can for the present. But it
is possible to use can when we make present
decisions about future ability.
Canyou help me with my homework?
(present)
Sorry.
I'm busy today. But I can help you
tomorrow. (future)
Weoften use can in a question to ask
somebody to do something.
Can you make a cup of coffee, please.
Can you put the TV on.
Can you come here a minute.
Can you be quiet!
We sometimes use can to ask or give
permission for something:
Can I smoke in this room?
You can't smoke here, but you can smoke in
the garden.
Note: We also use could, may, might for permission. The use
of can for permission is informal.
Couldis an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary
verb. We use could to:
talk
about past possibility or ability
make requests
Structure of Could
subject + could + main verb
subject auxiliary main
verb verb
+ My grandmother could swim.
- She could not/ walk.
couldn't
? Could your swim?
grandmother
We use could to talk about what was
possible in the past, what we were able or
free to do:
I could swim when I was 5 years old.
My grandmother could speak seven
languages.
When we arrived home, we could not open
the door. (...couldn't open the door.)
Could you understand what he was saying?
We often use could in a question to ask
somebody to do something. The use of could
in this way is fairly polite (formal):
Could you tell me where the bank is, please?
Could you send me a catalogue, please?
Be able to is not a modal verb. It is simply
the verb be plus an adjective (able) followed
by the infinitive. We look at be able to here
because we sometimes use it instead of can
and could. We use be able to:
to talk about ability
subject + be + able + infinitive
Subje Be main able Infinitive
ct verb adjective
+ I am able to drive.
- She is not / isn able to drive.
´t
? Are you able to drive?
I was able to drive...
I will be able to drive...
I have been able to drive...
We use be able to to express ability.
"Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power,
skill or means to do something.
Ifwe say "I am able to swim", it is like saying
"I can swim".
We sometimes use "be able to" instead of "can" or
"could" for ability.
Note: "Be able to" is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only
in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability.
Ihave been able to swim since I was five.
(present perfect)
Youwill be able to speak perfect English
very soon. (future simple)
I would like to be able to fly an airplane.
(infinitive)
EXERCISES 1: Choose the correct modal.
1. _____ he understand what you were talking
about? (can, could, be able)
2 My sister ______ play tennis now.
(can, could, be able)
3 I ______ walk when I was less than a year old.
(can, could, be able)
4 (Polite) ______ you tell me what time it is, please?
(can, could, be able)
5 My grandfather _______ walk without any help last
night. (can, could, be able)
EXERCISES 1: Choose the correct modal.
6 I would like to ______ play the piano.
(can, could, be able)
7 How long have you _______ drive?
(can, could, be able)
8 I'll _______ help you later.
(can, could, be able)
9 Can you help me? I ______ never understand this.
(can, could, be able)
10 Will Man ______ live forever one day?
(can, could, be able)
HOMEWORK
1) Last week we ________ go swimming, this week we
can't. (can/could/ be able)
2) Maybe the Smiths ______ build a new house next
year. (can/could/be able)
3) If you try hard, you ______ pass your
examinations. (can/coould/be able)
4) When I was five, I _______ swim. (not/can/be
able)
5) Dennis _____ play the trumpet after four months.
(can/could/be able)
HOMEWORK:
6) Luke has passed his driving test, now he _____
drive car. (can/could/be able)
7) For three weeks I ______ speak to him on the
phone. (not/can/could/be able)
8) Alex ______ do his homework when his desk is in
such a mess. (not/can/could/be able)
9) They were so busy, they_____ write me a text
message. (not/can/could/ be able)
10) Lisa her dress. She ____ clean wear it again.
(can/could/be able)
