Unit 30 · Modals, imperative etc.

can and could

Study

He can play the piano.

	can + infinitive (can do / can play / can come etc.)
	positive	negative	question
I/we/you/they	can	can't (cannot)	do?
he/she/it	do	play	see	come etc.	can	I/we/you/they	play?
			he/she/it	see?
				come? etc.

I can do something = I know how to do it, or it is possible for me to do it:

›

I can play the piano. My brother can play the piano too.

›

Sarah can speak Italian, but she can't speak Spanish.

›

A: Can you swim?

›

B: Yes, but I'm not a very good swimmer.

›

A: Can you change twenty pounds?

›

B: I'm sorry, I can't.

›

I'm having a party next week, but Paul and Rachel can't come.

For the past (yesterday / last week etc.), we use could/couldn't:

›

When I was young, I could run very fast.

›

Before Maria came to Britain, she couldn't understand much English. Now she can understand everything.

›

I was tired last night, but I couldn't sleep.

›

I had a party last week, but Paul and Rachel couldn't come.

Can you ... ? Could you ... ? Can I ... ? Could I ... ?

We use Can you ... ? or Could you ... ? when we ask people to do things:

›

Can you open the door, please? or Could you open the door, please?

›

Can you wait a moment, please? or Could you wait ... ?

We use Can I have ... ? or Can I get ... ? to ask for something:

›

Can I have a glass of water, please? or Can I get ... ?

Can I ... ? or Could I ... ? = is it OK to do something?:

›

Can I sit here?

›

Tom, could I borrow your umbrella?

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked

—

30.1

Ask Steve if he can do these things:

1
Can you swim? example
2
3
4
5
6
7
Can you do these things? Write sentences about yourself. Use I can or I can't.
I
8
I
9
I
10
I
11
I
12
I

30.2

Complete these sentences. Use can or can't + one of these verbs:

comefindhearseespeak

1
I'm sorry, but we to your party next Saturday.example
2
I like this hotel room. You the mountains from the window.
3
You are speaking very quietly. I you.
4
Have you seen my bag? I it.
5
Catherine got the job because she five languages.

30.3

Complete these sentences. Use can't or couldn't + one of these verbs:

decideeatfindgogosleep

1
I was tired, but I .example
2
I wasn't hungry yesterday. I my dinner.
3
Kate doesn't know what to do. She .
4
I wanted to speak to Mark yesterday, but I him.
5
James to the concert next Saturday. He has to work.
6
Paula to the meeting last week. She was ill.

30.4

What do you say in these situations? Use can or could.

1
example
2
3
4
5
6