In English there is a separate group of verbs - the modal verbs - modal verbs. Their list is headed by the modal verb can and its past tense form could. This verb is included in the school study of the basics of the English language from the first years of its training. Modal verbs are fundamentally different from other verbs in that they can be used independently and do not indicate any specific action or condition.
The use of a modal verb
The verb can in English means "to be able, able, to be able", respectively, "could, knew how, was able" in the past tense. This modal verb can could expresses the ability of the person - subject in the sentence - to perform the action indicated by the infinitive, with which the modal verb is used:
In this case, the subject (I) can perform the action (ski), indicated by the main verb after the modal. Just like in other sentences:
- We can read - We can read.
- You can write - You can write.
- She could do it - She could do it (can in the past tense)
- We could build this house - We could build this house (can in the past tense)
This verb can be expressed:
- general opportunity or ability: I can attend this lesson today - I can attend this lesson today. Or: She can go hiking in spring - She can go hiking in the spring;
- permit or ban form: She can go to the shop - She can go to the store. Or: You cannot take this thing - You cannot take this thing;
- a polite request for something: Can you help me? - You can help me? Or: Can we help this woman? “Can we help this woman?”
The specified modal verb, like its brethren, does not have plural forms and endings in the formation of sentences in the composition with nouns or pronouns of the third person singular:
- Nick can - Nick can (knows how)
- Jane can - Jane can
- children can - children can
- we could - we could (were able) (can in the past tense)
- they could - they could (were able) (can in the past tense)
To compose a question-related sentence, the modal verb (both in the present and in the past tense) does not require additional auxiliary verbs, it performs its entire function:
- Can you repeat this word? “Can you repeat that word?”
- Could she make a bowl? “Could she make this bowl?”
The modal verb "to be able, able, to be able to" does not have the form of participle, gerimony and infinitive. But if the proposal construction requires this form, synonyms are used in the meaning of ability or permission to perform any action: to be allowed, to be able to.
I'll be able to come to your place in a week - I can come to you in a week.
That is, "I am capable and I am allowed to enter you in a week." Verbs with a similar modal verb translation are used here.
If after the modal in the sentence another verb follows, between them the use of the particle to is not required. This rule applies to all verbs of the modal type:
- I can hide my daybook - I can hide my diary.
- We can walk to the park - We can walk to the park.
Expression of surprise with a modal verb
With the help of this modal verb, one can express surprise, distrust or doubt that the person - the subject of the proposal - actually performed the action indicated by the infinitive form with which the modal verb or its past tense could form is combined.
In this version, the modal verb is used only in interrogative or negative sentences:
- Can (could) she speak Spain so well already? “Does she already speak Spanish so well?”
- Can (could) you finish this big report already? “Have you really finished this big report?”
- Can (could) she repair this car already? “Can she already fix this car?”
In the sentence, after the modal verb, the infinitive occurs in different forms. If the action expressed by the infinitive refers to the present, the non-perfect infinitive (simple or continued) is used.
In the event that the indicated action refers to the past, the perfect infinitive (simple or continued form) is used:
- Could they have prepared their lessons so quickly? “Was she able to prepare the lessons so quickly?”
In this form, the modal verb can, could not express the duration of the action, it is shown by the infinitive following the modal verb.
In these examples, it has the form of indicative mood, which expresses a lesser degree of doubt. Could, on the contrary, be a subjunctive form and expresses a great degree of doubt in the sentence:
- I have a felling I know this woman. Could it be Mary Cary? “It seems to me that I know this woman.” Is it really Mary Carey?
Modal Verb Forms
The modal verbs can, could are two forms of the same word: the first form is the present, the second is the past simple tense. The forms of the verb can in the present tense: in the affirmative form can, in the negative form cannot (for short, can't). The abbreviated form is mainly used for colloquial speech.
The past tense is in the affirmative value could, in the negative it could not (abbreviated couldn't).
This verb has no future tense form. Synonyms are used for it:
- In summer we'll be able to swim on other side of river - In summer, we can swim to the other side of the river.
- Our son will be able to read this lecture - Our son will be able to read this lecture.
- I'll be able to come to your room in an hour - I can come to your room in an hour.
- I'll be allowed to visit this museum - I am allowed (I can) visit this museum.
- You will be allowed to go another country for the weekend - You are allowed (you can) go to another country for the weekend.
But using the modal verb, you can make a sentence in the future tense:
- We can read this poem after this lecture - We can read this poem after this lecture.
- We can visit our grandmother after tomorrow - We can visit our grandmother the day after tomorrow.
Interrogative sentences are constructed very simply - the modal verb is put first in the sentence and you get a question instead of a statement, to which you can give a short or detailed answer:
You can speak English very well - Can you speak English very well? - No, I cannot speak English very well.
You can speak English very well - Can you speak English very well? - No, I cannot speak English very well.
Note that the translation of the statement and the question does not change, only the semantic load changes and the intonation of the question is added.
You can play the piano - Can you play the piano? - Yes, I can play the piano
You can play the piano - Can you play the piano? - Yes I can.
We could order a favorite meat in the restaurant - Could we order a favorite meal in the restaurant? - No, we couldn't
We could order our favorite food in a restaurant - Could we order our favorite food in a restaurant? - No, we could not.
Repeat examples
Try to give answers to the questions and figure out how to make a statement out of the question using the modal verb in the past or present tense:
Can your sister play tennis? - Does your sister know how to play tennis?
Can you swim well? - Can you swim well?
Could you walk around the city alone? “Could you walk around the city alone?”
Could your granny drive a car? “Did your granny drive?”
Could you write your book without helping friends? “Could you write your book without the help of friends?”
Could you go to the theater yesterday? “Could you go to the theater yesterday?”
The answers to such questions will be short options using the appropriate form of the modal verb:
Yes, I can (Yes, I can) or No, I can't (No, I can not);
Yes, I could (Yes, I could) or No, I couldn't (No, I could not).
Tenses of the verb can in the past tense
In the first lessons of language teaching at school, many words are introduced. This list includes past tense verbs in English. The table in which they are entered is taught by children and adults by heart. But there is no modal verb under study in this table. This is another case of exception that you just need to memorize.
The past tense could could be used to express a polite request:
Could I have this pen, please? - May I take this pen?
Could I open the window? - Can I open the window?
Could you close the door? - Can you close the door?
Could he have a cup of tea? - Can he have a cup of tea?
Verbs of the past tense in English
The verb can in English can form the form of the past indefinite tense - The Past Simple Tense. Modal past tense verbs in English in the table:
I could | I could) |
you could | you could |
he (she, it) could | he could |
we could | they could |
you could | you could |
they could | they could |