MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY

Modal Verbs of Ability

We can use can (for present) and (could) for past to talk about abilities. The form of the modal verbs are very simple. All the verbs go with the same modal verb plus the infinitive without “to”.

Example:

Maria can play the piano very well. (Maria has the ability of playing the piano)

They can play soccer.

I can speak English.

** Can y Could se utiliza para describir acciones referentes a habilidades. La forma es muy simple ya que va con una sola conjugación para todoas las personas. Can es para describir habilidades en el tiempo presente y Could para habilidades en el pasado.

Positive and Negative form (Modal Verb Can/could)

Figura 1

Modal Verb	Subject	Infinitivo without to
| | | CAN / COULD | | |	I you he she it we you they	| | VERB – Simple form (DANCE) | |

Ejemplos:

1) Can you play the guitar?

2) Can your sister speak French?

3) Can they dance salsa?

**BONUS

En el básico solo quiero que se enfoquen en usar can y could para describir habilidades pero can y could tambien pueden ser usados para pedir favores. En este caso Can = Could

Ejemplo:

1) Can / Could you open the door please?

2) Can /Could they bring more beers?

When we talk about ability, we mean two things.

First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do any time you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language, for example.

The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do in one particular situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find somewhere you are looking for.

Present:

 

can / can’t (for both general and specific ability)

• I can play the piano.
• She can speak English.
• He can’t drive – he’s too tired.
• We can’t come now.

Past:

could / couldn’t (for general ability)

• I could read when I was four.
• She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.
• He couldn’t dance at all until he took lessons.
• My grandfather couldn’t swim.

was able to / couldn’t (for specific ability)

• When the computer crashed yesterday, I was able to fix it.(not ‘I could fix it’)
• She was able to pass the exam, even though she hadn’t studied much.(not ‘she could pass’)
• He called us because he couldn’t find the house.
• I couldn’t open the window.

could + have + past participle (an ability someone had in the past, but didn’t use)

• I could have played the piano well but I didn’t practise enough.
• We could have come earlier.
• She could have studied law, but she preferred to become a secretary.

Future:

will / won’t be able to (general ability)

• At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.
• He won’t be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take months.

can / can't (specific ability)

• I can help you tomorrow
• I can't come to the party

MODAL VERB OF POSSIBILITY

 

There are several modal verbs used to show possibility.  They
are Might, May, Could, and Must.  All of these are different
ways to say maybe.STRUCTUREModal Verb                            +         Base VerbMay/Might/Could/Must      +         Base Verb
Examples:
I may eat dinner at 7:00pm.
She might work late tonight.
They must be tired.May

• May shows possibility in the present or the future.
  

Present:        Where are my keys?  They may be in the car.Future:          I may go to the party tonight.

• May is formal and is often found in writing.
  

Side effects of this medication may include upset stomach   
and fever.Might

• Might shows possibility in the present or future.
  

Where are my keys?  They might be in the car.
I might go to the party tonight.

• Might is less formal than may, and is more common in conversation
  

Could

• Could shows that something is possible in the present or future.
  

Present:        Where are my keys?  They could be in the car.Future:          We could go to the party tonight.

• Could shows options, or possibility
  

Must

• Must shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the speaker.
  

Certain:     Everyone is wearing a jacket.  It must be cold.    Belief of certainty:       He was running for 2 hours.  He must be tired.(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner is
tired.

 Have to

• Have to shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the speaker.
  

Certain:  Everyone is wearing a jacket.  It has to be cold.    
Belief of certainty:    He was running for 2 hours.  He has to be tired.(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner is
tired.)

• Have to is much less formal than must, and is common in conversation.
  

Past PossibilityMay, Might, and Could are all used to show possibility in the
past.Modal Verb + Have + Past ParticipleHe might have brought the cake.
She may have gone home early.
They could have worked late.Must can be used in the same way to show certainty in the
past.He must have won the game.Might Not vs. Could NotAlthough Might and Could express possibility in a similar way,
the negative forms of Might and Could are different.

• Might not shows that something probably is not true.
  

These books might not be the teachers.

• Might not shows that something probably will not happen in the future.
  

I might not go to the party tonight.

• Could not shows that something is impossible.
  

This could not be the only book available.
She could not know who my friend is.  They have
never met.