They say that a strange family is darkness. But the same expression can be applied to foreign languages. They really are dark. In any of them there are so many complex and incomprehensible things that sometimes it is almost impossible to learn someone else's speech. But in connection with European integration, as well as the desire to visit America, many people learn English. It is this speech that is taught in schools and kindergartens, universities and academies. This is an international language, which is very, very unprofitable not to know today. It has many different difficulties and incomprehensible moments that are not in the Russian language. For example, can is a modal verb that denotes a person's physical skill.
Purpose of modal verbs
In English grammar, can is a verb that belongs to a separate group of modal verbs. These words lack all the basic forms that are characteristic of other verbs, and therefore they are sometimes called insufficient, or Defective Verbs. Modal verbs are under no circumstances used on their own, but only in combination with the infinitive.some other verb.
The modal verb can in English, like other words of this group, without the infinitive of another verb is used only when it is clear from the context. For example, I wanted to open the door but I couldn't. (I wanted to open the door, but I couldn't.)
The verb can and its use in different forms
Can is the most commonly used verb in English. It is often used when it is necessary to indicate a physical possibility, to perform some action, for example, he can hear, I can do it, you can, and so on. In the past tense, this word changes to could.
The verb could, like other modal verbs, is not used in accordance with the general rules. So, the affirmative and negative forms do not imply the use of the particle to between the verb and the given modal word. Thus, the construction He can to read (He can read) is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is: He can read.
It is forbidden to use the auxiliary verb will to form the future tense of the modal verb. That is, saying I will can write you tomorrow (I can write to you tomorrow) is prohibited.
The verb can does not change in any way in the third person singular. If the construction He swims, She reads or It sings is considered accepted, then with the modal verb in question, these expressions will look like this: He can swim or She can read.
Can for negation is changed and can be used in two ways: cannot (could not) or can’t (couldn’t). The shortened form is the most acceptable and commonly used in the spoken language. In the British and American versions, the form can't is pronounced in different ways. In British English, it sounds like [kɑːnt], and in American English it sounds like [kænt].
When constructing a question, the modal verb comes first, for example: Can you dance? – Can you dance?
Cases of using the modal verb can
The modal verb can, could, the rules of which we will consider below, is used with an infinitive indefinite form without the to element. The form could also has a similar meaning, but in the past tense. So, the word is used to define:
- Abilities (opportunities) of a mental or physical nature to do something. For example, Could he swim when he was younger?
- Requests. Both forms of the modal verb are used in the interrogative form. A request using could is more preferable, and it is used in those sentences that are addressed to another person. Example: Could you tell me where the cinema is? (Can you tell me where the cinema is?).
Prohibition. The form can’t is often used if it is necessary for someone to forbid something: you can’t or you can’t. You can't eat this. You have an allergy. (You can't eat this. You're allergic.)
Another caseuse
The English language also uses the modal verb can, could to express incredulity, suspicion and stun. Context plays a role here, so there are many nuances. Hesitation with a note of doubt is often used in negative sentences with a verb in an indefinite form. Oleg can't swim across Lake Svitjaz. - Yes, Oleg cannot swim across Lake Svityaz. (Bewilderment, distrust).
Can and to be able to
Can - a verb that has an almost equivalent analogue - to be able to. This phrase can replace can only if the modal verb is used in the meaning of being able to do something.
Often, the synonymous turn to be able to is written or said when it is necessary to say that something needs to be done in the future tense, because there is no future tense option for the modal verb can. True, it is important to take into account a certain nuance here: the modal verb itself is capable of belonging to the future tense.
The expression be able to in the future tense is relevant when it comes to a probability, opportunity or skill that does not exist at the moment, but will arise in the future. At the same time, it is forbidden to use the verb can to denote an opportunity or ability that will arise only in the future.
The use of the phrase to be able to in the present tense sounds very strange. In such sentences, the modal verb can is considered the most acceptable.
Could have and Past Participle
The verb can (we consider the rules for using the verb in this material) is often used in such a variant as could have plus Past Participle (the third form of the verb, participle in the past tense). Such a turn of phrase can denote an action that a person could have performed, but never did. For example, He could have married her but he didn't want to. – He could have married her, but he didn't want to.
Also, using this construction, you can express a guess or assumption about something that happened in the past. For example, Linda could have told him the truth. Maybe Linda told him the truth. Through the speech turnover could have plus Past Participle express a hypothesis about what did not happen in reality.
