WHAT IS A MODAL VERB Talking about abilities

WHAT IS A MODAL VERB? Talking about abilities and possibilities. www. englishevolutionlearning. com

TODAY’S LESSON: How do we use the modal verbs can, can’t (cannot), could and couldn’t? How do we talk about ability and possibility? Where do we place modal verbs in a sentence?

WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO Modal verbs change - or modify – verbs. The modal verbs can and could tell us if something is possible. They also tell us if somebody or something has the ability to do something, for example: A bird can fly, but it cannot* speak. Dolphins can swim, but they can’t* walk. Can a pig fly? Can pigs walk? Can pigs speak English? AFFIRMATIVES QUESTIONS & NEGATIVES Affirmative: The modal verb is before the verb. Question: The modal verb is before the subject and the verb. Negatives* The word can’t is the contraction of cannot. No, it can’t*. Yes, they can. No, they can’t*.

TALKING ABOUT ABILITY 1. We use can for present ability: “I can play the piano. ” (now) 2. We use could for past ability: “I could play the piano when I was a child. ” 3. We use could + not or couldn’t for negative past ability: “I could not / couldn’t swim when I was a child. ”

TALKING ABOUT POSSIBILITY 1. We use can or could for present possibility (affirmative): § “I can meet you at 6. 00 o’clock. ” or “I could meet you at 6. 00 o’clock. ” In this example can and could have the same meaning, so could is not the past tense of can. We use can’t for negatives. 2. We use could and if for questions about possibility: § “Could I learn your language if I study hard? ” 3. We use can or could to make a polite request or ask someone something: § “Can you help me please? ” or “Could you post a letter for me? ” In this example can and could have the same meaning. Also, could is not the past tense of can.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AND WHAT CAN’T YOU DO? Can you drive a bus? Can you cook? Can you swim? Can you dance? Can you ride a horse? Can you play the guitar?

What is wrong with these sentences? Correct the mistakes 1. I do do can swim very well. 2. 1. My son couldn’ttototalktotobeforehehewas wasthree. 3. 2. Can he. Can walks accident? Could hebefore walks the before the accident? 4. 3. Where Ican can. I buy nice for a for wedding? can abuy a dress nice dress a wedding? 5. 4. I’m couldwearthissuitfor forthe thewedding. 6. 5. She can coming later, but I don’t can be could be coming later, but know. I don’t know.

What is wrong with these sentences? Correct the mistakes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. I do can swim very well. My son couldn’t to talk to before he was three. Could Can he walks before the accident? Where can I can buy a nice dress for a wedding? I’m could wear this suit for the wedding. She can could be coming later, but I don’t know. The modal verb comes before the main verb because it modifies that verb; for example: ‘I can do the washing up. ’ The main verb after the modal verb is always an infinitive, ; for example: ‘He can take the car’ not ‘He can takes the car. ’

Review Where do you place the modal verb, before or after the main verb? Can and could are used to talk about possibility and ability. True or False? In polite questions, ‘can’ and ‘could’ have the same meaning. Ask me a questions using can or could.