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1 Can

Can is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English.

Canis an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use canto:

talk about possibility or impossibility

express ability or opportunity

make requests

ask for or give permission

Examples:

I canride a horse.ability We canstay with my brother when we are in Paris.opportunity

She cannotstay out after 10 PM.permission

Canyou hand me the stapler?request

Any child canrow up to be president.possibility

Structure of Can

subject can main verb

!he main verb is al"ays the bare infinitive #infinitive "ithout $to$%.

subject auxiliary verb main verb

& can play tennis.

' (ecannot

play tennis.can't

) Can you play tennis)

*otice that:

Canis invariable. !here is only one form of can.

!he main verb is alwaysthe bare infinitive.

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!he main verb is al"ays the bare infinitive #infinitive "ithout $to$%. We cannot say:

Use of Can

can: Possibility and Ability

We use canto talk about "hat is possible, "hat "e are able or free to do:

She candri!e a car.

"ohn canspea# Spanish.

I cannothear you. $I can'thear you.%

Canyou hear me?

*ormally, "e use canfor the present. +ut it is possible to use can"hen "e make present

decisions about future ability.

. Canyou help me with my homewor#?#present%+. Sorry. I&m busy today. 'ut I canhelp you tomorrow. #future%

can: Requests and rders

We often use canin a question to ask somebody to do something. !his is not a real

question ' "e do not really "ant to kno" if the person is able to do something, "e "ant

them to do it- !he use of canin this "ay is informal #mainly bet"een friends and family%:

Canyou ma#e a cup of coffee( please. Canyou put the )* on.

Canyou come here a minute.

Canyou be quiet+

can: Permission

We sometimes use canto ask or give permission for something:

A. CanI smo#e in this room?

'. ,ou can'tsmo#e here( but you cansmo#e in the arden.

#*ote that "e also use could, may, might for permission. !he use of canfor permission is

informal.%

Usin! "Can" in Present# Past# and $uture

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ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. /tudy the chart

belo" to learn ho" $can$ behaves in different contexts.

odal 0se

1ositive 2orms

3. 4 1resent 5. 4 1ast

6. 4 2uture

*egative 2orms

3. 4 1resent 5. 4

1ast 6. 4 2uture

7ou can also use:

can

eneral ability

3. & can speak Chinese.

5. /(&2! !8$C809$

& could speak Chinese

"hen & "as a kid.

6. /(&2! !8 $+E

+9E !8$& "ill be able to speak

Chinese by the time &finish my course.

3. & can;t speak

/"ahili.

5. /(&2! !8

$C809$

& couldn;t speak

/"ahili.

6. /(&2! !8 $+E+9E !8$

& "on;t be able to speak/"ahili.

be able to

canability durin

a specific

e!ent

3. With a burst ofadrenaline, people can

pick up cars.

5. /(&2! !8 $+E

+9E !8$

With a sudden burst ofadrenaline, he "as able

to lift the car off the

child;s leg.

6. /(&2! !8 $+E

+9E !8$

With a sudden burst ofadrenaline, he "ill be

able to lift the car.

3. Even "ith a burst ofadrenaline, people can;t

pick up something that

heavy.

5. /(&2! !8 $+E

+9E !8$Even the "eight lifter,

couldn;t lift the car off

the child;s leg.

6. /(&2! !8 $+E

+9E !8$

Even three men"orking together "on;t

be able to lift the car.

be able to

canopportunity

3. & have some freetime. & can help her

no".

5. /(&2! !8 $+E+9E !8$

& had some free time

3. & don;t have anytime. & can;t help her

no".

5. /(&2! !8 $+E+9E !8$

& didn;t have time

be able to

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yesterday. & "as able tohelp her at that time.

6. &;ll have some free

time tomorro". & can

help her then.

yesterday. & "asn;t ableto help her at that time.

6. & "on;t have any

time later. & can;t help

her then.

can

permission

3. & can drive /usan;s

car "hen she is out ofto"n.

5. /(&2! !8 $+E

998WE !8 $

& "as allo"ed to drive

/usan;s car "hile she"as out of to"n last

"eek.

6. & can drive /usan;scar "hile she is out of

to"n next "eek.

3. & can;t drive /usan;s

car "hen she is out ofto"n.

5. /(&2! !8 $+E

998WE !8 $

& "asn;t allo"ed to

drive /usan;s car "hileshe "as out of to"n

last "eek.

6. & can;t drive /usan;scar "hile she is out of

to"n next "eek.

may

canrequest

Can & have a glass of

"ater)

Can you give me a liftto school)

-equests usually referto the near future.

Can;t & have a glass of

"ater)

Can;t you give me a liftto school)

-equests usually referto the near future.

could, may

can

possibility(impossibility

nyone can becomerich and famous if they

kno" the right people.

9earning a language

can be a real challenge.

)his use is usually a

eneraliation or a

supposition.

&t can;t cost more thana dollar or t"o.

7ou can;t be