Modal VerbCan

Modal verb + to Infinitive

• Can play tennis

• Must work hard

• May stay

• Should go

Can Can’t

•Could Couldn’t Past

Polite

Unreal

Present: I can speak English

Past: I could read when I was 5

What could you do when

you were five?

Polite form

• Could you repeat that?

• Could you tell me the way to the station?

• Could you tell me the time?

Unreal form

• If only I could fly!

• I wish I could speak fluent English!

• If I could be free now, I would go to the cinema

Ability

• I can speak French

• He can swim well

• We can’t do that

Possibility

• Could / /

• John is late, he could be stuck in traffic

Request

• Could you speak up, please?

• Can you help me?

• Could you do me a favour?

Offer

• Can I help you?

• Can I get you a drink?

Suggestions

We could go to the cinema

We can stay at home and watch TV

Permission

• You can stay if you like

Asking for Permission

• Can I stay?

• Can I speak to Nick, please?

Prohibition

• You can’t go there

• You can’t drink and drive

Can Be able to

• am was • Is able to able to • are were

• Shall • Will be able to

Could- Was able to

(Ability in the past)

• Could past repeated action

• Was able to past single action

Compare:

• He could run very fast when he was young ( He could do it repeatedly in the past)

• She was able to climb to the top of the mountain (= She managed to climb to the top of the mountain)

Choose the correct answer:

1. Todd was a very talented child.

I know. He….play the piano well

when he was seven.

A couldn’t

B could

C can

Choose the correct answer:

2.How was the test?

Easy. All the children….pass it

A were able to

B could

C can’t

Choose the correct answer:

3. What are you doing this summer?

I hope I’ll….go on holiday with my friends

A couldB be able toC can

Choose the correct answer:

4. I’ve just taken a loaf out of the oven.

Oh , that’s why I …. smell fresh bread when I came home

A could

B was able to C can’t