|
A: Mike, can you speak Spanish? B: No, I can't, James. Can you? A: No, I can't, but I want to learn. B: Yeah, me too. |
Can / Could + Base Verb
- She can speak Spanish.
- Zach couldn't fix the engine.
- I can help her.
Positive Sentences
| I You He She It We They |
can could |
drive cars well. |
Negative Sentences
| I You He She It We They |
cannot / can't could not / couldn't |
drive cars well. |
Yes / No Questions
|
Can Could |
I you he she it we they |
drive cars well? |
Short Answers
|
Yes, I can. Yes, I could. |
|
No, I cannot / can't. No, I could not / couldn't. |
Wh Questions
| What sports |
can could |
I | play? |
| you | |||
| he | |||
| she | |||
| it | |||
| we | |||
| they |
Use
In Unit 10, we studied will. Will is a modal verb. Can and could are also modal verbs:
| Positives | Negatives | Questions | Short Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| She will drive the car. | She will not / won't drive the car. |
Will she drive the car? |
Yes, she will. No, she will not / won't. |
| She can drive the car. | She cannot / can't drive the car. |
Can she drive the car? |
Yes, she can. No, she cannot / can't. |
| She could drive the car. | She could not / couldn't drive the car. |
Could she drive the car? |
Yes, she could. No, she could not / couldn't. |
We use can to talk about our abilities:
Peter is from China. He can speak Chinese. He can't speak French.
I am having a party tomorrow night. Jim can come but Lola can't.
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