Can you use chopsticks? I can't.

Modal Verbs

In Unit 7, we studied the use of will, may, and might to talk about the future. Will, may, and might are modal auxiliary verbs. English has other modal verbs:

  • can
  • could
  • may
  • might
  • shall
  • should
  • will
  • would
  • must

Modal verbs add special meanings to an infinitive verb:

  • It will rains rain. (future)
  • I may/might going go to the party tonight. (possibility)

We do not add an "s" to modal verbs for he, she, it:

  • He cans can play the guitar well.
  • She mights might make dinner for us.

There is no “do,” “did,” or “does” in questions. Instead, use the modal verb before the subject:

  • What time will class start?
  • Can Jane speak French?
  • Could I sit here?

To make a negative, simply add "not" after the modal verb:

  • I will not (won't) like that kind of movie.
  • It may not be so cold outside.
  • We could not (couldn't) find the hotel.

Cannot is special. It is one word.

Ability

Use can to say that you know how to do something, or that something is possible:

Our teacher can speak English really well.

Can you play the piano?

Can you come to the party?

We cannot understand.

We use could as the past form of can:

I couldn't use a computer very well when I started university.

Could you understand the English in the movie very well?

Requests

We say Can you... or Could you... to ask people to do something for us. In this usage, could does not have a past meaning.

This is similar to Will you... as we studied in Grammar 7-2. We can also make polite requests using Would you...:

(Can, Will, Could, Would) you give me a hand?

(Can, Will, Could, Would) you call me later?

(Can, Will, Could, Would) you lend me $5?

Can you... and Will you... are casual polite requests. Could you... and Would you... are the most polite:

Can you tell me the answer for number two?

Will you open a window?

Could you pass me the salt?

Would you give me a hand?

Requests & Permission

To ask for permission or request to do something, English speakers use Can I..., Could I..., and May I....
Can is casual, could is polite, and may is very polite:

Can I borrow this?

Could I take a break?

May I sit here?

To answer these requests for permission, use the following:

  • Yes, you can/could/may.
  • Sure. Go ahead!
  • Of course!

Exercise

Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.

Exercise

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