Uses of Can and Could

Can To express ability Can is used to express present or general ability. I can swim. She can knit. We can speak English. Can you speak French? She can draw beautiful pictures. To give permission Can is sometimes used in the sense of may to give permission. Note that many people consider this usage incorrect and prefer using may. You can take one of those books. (More correct: You may take one of those books.) She can do whatever she wants. (More correct: She may do whatever she wants.) You can go now. (More correct: You may go now.) Now-a-days can is also being increasingly used to ask permission. While this practice is common grammarians still insist on using may for asking and giving permission. Can I come in, Sir? (More correct: May I come in, Sir?) Can I go to the pictures, Mom? (More correct: May I go to the pictures, Mom?) Could In indirect speech Could is the past tense form of can in indirect speech. Direct speech: She said, I cant climb up the hill. Indirect speech: She said that she couldnt climb up the hill. He said, I can solve the problem. He said that he could solve the problem. To talk about past ability Could is used to talk about ability that existed in the past. In my younger days I could run miles at a stretch. I could swim across that river when I was young. She could read when she was three. Why couldnt you finish the work in time? Note that could refers to past time only when the context makes the time clear.

To talk about possibility or uncertainty Could is used to talk about possibility or uncertainty. It is also common in conditional sentences. You could win, if you worked hard. (Possibility) She could pass if she studied hard. (Possibility) I could have helped him if he had asked me. If I had the money I could buy a car. In polite requests Could is often used in questions expressing polite requests. Could you wait for a minute? Could I lend your bicycle for a day? Could you, please, take me to the manager? Could I have a cup of coffee?

Could
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can." Examples:

Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion Could I use your computer to email my boss? request We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional

Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts. Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. John could be the one who stole the money. could possibility 2. John could have been the one who stole the money. 3. John could go to jail for stealing the money. 1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world. could conditional of can 2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world. 3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world. 1. NO PRESENT FORM could suggestion 2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. 3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii. NO NEGATIVE FORMS Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money. 2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money. 3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime. 1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world. 2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world. 3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world. might, may You can also use:

Modal Use

I could run ten miles in my twenties. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. could past ability "Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct

I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties. I couldn't speak Swahili. "Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct Couldn't he come with us? Couldn't you help me with this for just a second? Requests usually refer to the near future. can, may, might be able to

Could I have something to drink? could polite request Could I borrow your stapler? Requests usually refer to the near future.

REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not" "Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens. Examples:

Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key. Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.

could: Past Possibility or Ability

We use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to do:

I could swim when I was 5 years old. My grandmother could speak seven languages. When we arrived home, we could not open the door. (...couldn't open the door.) Could you understand what he was saying?

We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative) for general ability in the past. But when we talk about one special occasion in the past, we use be able to (positive) and couldn't (negative). Look at these examples: Past General + My grandmother could speak Spanish. Specific Occasion A man fell into the river yesterday. The police were able to save him.

My grandmother couldn't speak Spanish.

A man fell into the river yesterday. The police couldn't save him.

Be able to
Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb. It is simply the verb be plus an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive. We look at be able to here because we sometimes use it instead of can and could. We use be able to:

to talk about ability

Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:

I was able to drive... I will be able to drive... I have been able to drive...

Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:

I would like to be able to speak Chinese.

Use of Be able to
be able to: ability
We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power, skill or means to do something. If we say "I am able to swim", it is like saying "I can swim". We sometimes use "be able to" instead of "can" or "could" for ability. "Be able to" is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive form. So we use "be able to" when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Look at these examples:

I have been able to swim since I was five. (present perfect) You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future simple) I would like to be able to fly an airplane. (infinitive)

Another option: Managed to/succeed in We dont use could when we speak about something we did only once managed to or succeeded in.

It wasnt easy, but I could buy a ticket for the Eminem concert. managed to succeeded in buying

Choose could, couldnt or managed to 1. I play the piano when I was four. 2. They to get to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, but it took them six days. 3. Eventually Luis convince me that theres no future in teaching English. 4. Mark wanted to see the final of the European Cup, but he get tickets. 5. Henry was so advanced for his age that he burn music CDs when he was 8 months old. 6. Val and John were amazed that they to drive over the Pyrenees in such an old car. 7. I spoke to her for more than an hour, bought her a drink, and finally get her phone number. 8. Carlos speak English when he was six years old. His parents are from Liverpool. 9. Cathy grew up near the beach in South Africa. She swim, sail and dive when she was very young. 10. Danny lost his job at the clock factory because he get up on time in the mornings.

Choose can/cant/could/couldnt/was-were able to 1) - For a long time, Alec and Iris ___________ play tennis together. Alex loves it. Iris has just started taking lessons, but she still _____________ play well. 2) - I heard there was a fire in your building yesterday. Was anyone hurt ? - No, the firefighters ____________ get everyone out of the building . 3) - My uncle was very clever. He __________ speak 4 languages. 4) - My father wasn't at home when I phoned , but I ______________ contact him later. 5) - A little boy fell into the river but some men ________________ rescue him. 6) - He had forgotten to bring his camera so he ____________ take any photos of the wedding.