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English Language Skills: Can vs. Could

Modals

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
4 views19 pages

English Language Skills: Can vs. Could

Modals

Uploaded by

Mandy A
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

UNIT 6

What can you do that


nobody else knows?

3

Hello!
I am Jayden Smith
I am here because I love to give presentations.
You can find me at @username
4

Listening
time!
Let’s listen to a song and do an activity
about it.
5

▪ Can you “Thank you” in four languages?


▪ Can you name the capital city of 5 countries?
▪ Can you name 10 animals in English?
CHALLENGE ▪ Can you say 5 words in English that start with the letter
R?
▪ Can you name 5 jobs?
● EXAMPLES: 6
7

CAN COULD

It can be dangerous to cycle It could be dangerous to


POSSIBILITIES in the city. cycle in the city.

▪ This expresses what ▪ This does not express


the speaker believes is a general truth. The
a general truth or speaker is only
known fact, or a strong expressing a weak
possibility. possibility.

SUBJ + CAN + VERB B.F + SUBJ + CAN + VERB B.F +


COMPLEMENT COMPLEMENT
8

CAN COULD

I can travel in July because my I could travel in July because


exams will definitely be my exams will probably be
POSSIBILITIES finished at the beginning of finished at the beginning of
that month. that month.

(Strong possibility) (Weak possibility)


9

BE CAREFUL!

● We use could, not can, to express future possibility. Can


POSSIBILITIES expresses that we are certain of something:

Working in London next summer could be a great experience.

John could be the next president of this company.


10
1. You are calling your friend at home, but
there is no answer.

2. You find a wallet under your desk, but it


isn’t yours.

POSSIBILITIES 3. Your neighbor’s baby is crying.


(could)
4. Your best friend is late for school.
11

CAN COULD

Can you call me back later? Could you call me back


POLITE later?

REQUESTS ▪ We can you can or


could to make ▪ Could is more
request. formal than can.

“Can + I/You…?” “Could + I/You… ?”


12
1. You want to go out but you don’t have a
car. You want to borrow your dad’s car.
What do you say?

2. You are at a coffee shop and you want a


glass of water. What do you say to the
waiter?
POLITE 3. Your room is a mess and you need help
REQUESTS cleaning it. What do you say to your
sister?
(Could)
4. You are late for school and you want your
mom to drive you there. What do you say
to her?
13

COULD

● “Could” can also be used to give a suggestion:


SUGGESTION
(could) You could do your MBA in Australia.

You could travel next year with your friends.


14

CAN COULD

I can ride a horse and also a I could ride a bike when I


PAST ABILITY bike. was younger.
I can see you! I could see you, you were
I can’t talk to you right now. hiding behind the tree.
I couldn’t talk to you
▪ We use can and can't to yesterday
talk about the ability to
do something at a
specific time in the ▪ We use could and
present or future: couldn't to talk about
the past
a) I was able to drive
some years ago.

b) I could drive some


years ago.

a) I am able to swim WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES


b) I can swim. BETWEEN...

a) I can drive in the


future.
b) I will be able to
drive in the future.
16
BE ABLE TO

“Be able to” is also used to talk about a past ability, it has the
same meaning of “can” and “could”.
"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 ability.

I am able to drive.
Cats are able to see in the dark.
They were able to cook.

I was able to swim some years ago.


So far I know, they were able to ride a horse last year.
17

BE ABLE TO

The difference between “be able to” and “can/could” is because “be
able to” can be used with all tenses while “can” is just for the
present and “could” for the past or future.
ABILITY
I am able to drive.

So far I know, they were able to ride a horse last year.

She will be able to speak French in the future.


18
FUTURE

PAST PRESENT
AFF - SUBJ + WILL BE
ABLE TO + MAIN VERB
AFF - SUBJ + WAS/WERE AFF - SUBJ + AM/IS/ARE + COMPLEMENT.
ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + I will be able to finish my
COMPLEMENT. COMPLEMENT. homework tomorrow.
We were able to cook Chinese She is able to speak Spanish.

BE ABLE TO food.
NEG - SUBJ + ARE/AM/IS
NEG - SUBJ + WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO +
NOT ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + MAIN VERB +
NEG - SUBJ + WAS/WERE COMPLEMENT COMPLEMENT.
NOT ABLE TO + MAIN VERB +
They aren’t able to speak They won’t be able to get
COMPLEMENT
Japanese the tickets tomorrow.

I wasn’t able to drive some


years ago. INT - AM/IS/ARE + SUBJ + INT - WILL + SUBJ + BE
ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + ABLE TO + MAIN VERB
COMPLEMENT? + COMPLEMENT?
INT - WAS/WERE + SUBJ +
ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + Will you be able to speak
COMPLEMENT? Portuguese in the
Is he able to finish his job?
future?

Were you able to dance when


you were younger?
19

▪ Write a paragraph talking about the person who you have


been talking to during this semester.
▪ What did you two talked about?
▪ What was the most interesting topic that you talked? Why?
▪ Don’t forget to introduce the person, tell a little about
FINAL PAPER him/her and your first impression about him/her.

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