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

It can be used to express

ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. Examples: I can ride a horse. ABILITY We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. OPPORTUNITY he cannot stay out after !" P#. PERMISSION Can you hand me the stapler$ REQUEST %ny child can grow up to be president. POSSIBILITY Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future #ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. #odal &se Positive 'orms !. ( Present ). ( Past *. ( 'uture +egative 'orms !. ( Present ). ( Past *. ( 'uture ,ou can also use: be able to

can
GENERAL ABILITY

!. I can spea- .hinese. ). /I'0 01 2.1&342 I could spea- .hinese when I was a -id. *. /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 I will be able to spea- .hinese by the time I finish my course. !. With a burst of adrenaline, people can pic- up cars. ). /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he was able to lift the car off the child6s leg. *. /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he will be able to lift the car. !. I have some free time. I can help her now. ). /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 I had some free time yesterday. I was able to help her at that time. *. I6ll have some free time tomorrow. I can help her then. !. I can drive usan6s car when she is out of town. ). /I'0 01 25E %331WE4 01 2 I was allowed to drive usan6s car while she was out of town last wee-. *. I can drive usan6s car while she is out of town next wee-. .an I have a glass of water$

!. I can6t spea- wahili. ). /I'0 01 2.1&342 I couldn6t spea- wahili. *. /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 I won6t be able to spea- wahili.

can
ABILITY DURING SPECIFIC EVENT A

!. Even with a burst of adrenaline, people can6t pic- up something that heavy. ). /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 Even the weight lifter, couldn6t lift the car off the child6s leg. *. /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 Even three men wor-ing together won6t be able to lift the car. !. I don6t have any time. I can6t help her now. ). /I'0 01 25E %53E 012 I didn6t have time yesterday. I wasn6t able to help her at that time. *. I won6t have any time later. I can6t help her then. !. I can6t drive usan6s car when she is out of town. ). /I'0 01 25E %331WE4 01 2 I wasn6t allowed to drive usan6s car while she was out of town last wee-. *. I can6t drive usan6s car while she is out of town next wee-. .an6t I have a glass of water$

be able to

can
OPPORTUNITY

be able to

can
PERMISSION

may

can

could,

REQUEST

.an you give me a lift to school$ REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE FUTURE.

NEAR

.an6t you give me a lift to school$ REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE. It can6t cost more than a dollar or two. ,ou can6t be 789 I thought you were about !: years old. THIS USE IS USUALLY A GENERALIZATION OR A SUPPOSITION.

may

can
POSSIBILITY, IMPOSSIBILITY

%nyone can become rich and famous if they -now the right people. 3earning a language can be a real challenge. THIS USE IS USUALLY A GENERALIZATION OR A SUPPOSITION.

could