Modal Verb Can

Modal verb + to Infinitive Can play tennis Must work hard May stay Should go

Can play tennis

Must work hard

May stay

Should go

Can Can’t Could Couldn’t Past Polite Unreal

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?

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?

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

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

I can speak French

He can swim well

We can’t do that

Possibility Could / / John is late, he could be stuck in traffic May Might

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?

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? Would you like a drink? Shall I open the window?

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 What shall we do tonight?

We could go to the cinema

We can stay at home and watch TV

Permission You can stay if you like You may come in

You can stay if you like

Asking for Permission Can I stay? Can I speak to Nick, please? May I see Nick , please?

Can I stay?

Can I speak to Nick, please?

Prohibition You can’t go there You can’t drink and drive

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

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

(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)

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: Todd was a very talented child. I know. He….play the piano well when he was seven. A couldn’t B could C can

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

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 could B be able to C can

3. What are you doing this summer?

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

A could

B be able to

C 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

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