CECAVA English

UNIT VI
CAN /CANT
Can (1): introduction

(+) CAN (-) CANT

1.- Grammar
Can is modal auxiliary verbs
a) There is no -s in the third person singular.

She can swim very well. (NOT She cans ... )

b) Questions and negatives are made without do.

Can you swim? (NOT Do you can swim?)

c) After can , we use the infinitive of other verbs, without to.

I can speak a little Arabic. (NOT I can to speak ... )

Do you think she can still be working? It's very late.

d) Can has no infinitives or participles (to can, canning, I have could do not exist).
When necessary, we use other words, for example forms of be able or be allowed.

I'd like to be able to stay here. (NOT ... to can stay... )

You'll be able to walk soon. (NOT You'll can ... )

e) Can has two pronunciations: a strong form /kn/ and a weak form /kn/.
f) Contracted negative forms are can't (pronounced /k:nt/ in standard British English and /knt/ in standard
American English)
2.- Meanings
Could is the past of Can both are used to talk about ability, to ask for and give permission. and to make
requests and offers.

Can you speak French? (ability)

You can stop work early today. (permission)
Could I have some more tea? (request)
Can I help you? (offer)

Could is also used to talk about the chances that something will happen, or is happening. Can is not
used in this way.

It could rain this afternoon. (NOT It can rain this afternoon.)

Can't is not only used to talk about ability or permission; it can also express negative certainty.

It can't be true. (= It is not possible that it is true.)

With see, hear and some other verbs, can is used to give a kind of present progressive meaning.

I can hear the sea. (NOT I am hearing the sea.)

May and might are often used in similar ways to can and could.
can (2): ability1 knowledge, skill, strength etc: I can read Italian
We use can to say what people and things are able (or unable) to do because of their knowledge, skill,
strength, nature, design etc.

I can read Italian, but I can't speak it. These roses can grow anywhere.
Dogs can't climb trees. Can gases freeze?
Henry can lift 100 kilos. My car can do 180 kph.

Be able to is used with similar meanings, especially when we are talking about people's ability.

Henry is able to lift 100 kilos.

3.- Common or typical

We often use can to say what is common or typical.

Scotland can be very warm in September.

Ann can really get on your nerves sometimes.

4.- Possible in the situation: We can go to Paris

We also use can to say what we are able (or unable) to do because of the circumstances that we are
in - what is possible in the situation.

We can go to Paris this weekend, because I don't have to work.

I can't come out this evening: I have to see my brother.

There are three possibilities: we can go to the police, we can talk to a lawyer, or we can
forget all about it.

What shall we do? ~ We can try asking Lucy for help.

Anybody who wants to can join the club.

5.- Chances: Will it happen? / Is it happening? Can not used

We do not use can to talk about the chances (probability) that something will actually happen, or is actually
happening. Instead, we use may .

We may go camping this summer. (NOT We can go ... )

There may be a strike next week. (NOT There can be ... )
Where's Sarah? ~ She may be with Joe. (NOT She can be ... )
Some of these desserts may contain alcohol. (NOT ... can contain ... )

However, could is possible in this sense.

It could rain later this evening, perhaps. (BUT NOT It can rain later ... )
I could possibly have a new job soon. (BUT NOT I can possibly have ... )

For can't used to express certainty (e.g. It can't be true), can (3): ability (advanced points)
6.- Future: can or will be able
We use can to talk about future actions which we will be able to do because of present ability,
present circumstances, present decisions etc.

She can win the race tomorrow if she really tries.

I've bought the tent, so we can go camping next weekend if we want to.
I haven't got time today, but I can see you tomorrow.
Can you come to a party on Saturday?

In other cases we prefer other structures, for example will be able to.

I'll be able to speak French at the end of this course. (NOT I can speak French ... )
One day people will be able to go to the moon on holiday. (OR it will be possible to go ... )

7.- Could in the past of can

Could is not normally used to say that somebody did something on one occasion in the past

I managed to buy a really nice coat yesterday. (NOT I could buy a really nice coat yesterday.)

However, could can refer to one occasion with certain verbs: see, hear, taste, feel, smell, understand,
remember and guess .

I could smell something burning. I could understand everything she said.

And we can use to talk about one occasion with words like hardly or only, that have a negative sense.

She could hardly believe her eyes. I could only get six eggs.

Could can also sometimes refer to one occasion in subordinate clauses.

I'm so glad that you could come.

8.- Languages and instruments: She speaks Greek

We often leave out can when we are talking about the ability to speak languages or to play
instruments.

She speaks Greek. / She can speak Greek.

Do/Can you play the piano?

9.- Asking for and giving permission: Can I ... ?

We use can to ask for and give permission.

Can I ask you something? ~ Yes, of course you can.

You can go now if you want to.

Can't is used to refuse permission (often with other words to soften the refusal.)
Can I have some more cake?~ No, I'm afraid you can't.
10.- Talking about permission:

Can everybody park here?

Can and could are also used to talk about permission that has already been given or refused, and
about things that are (not) allowed by rules and laws.
Can everybody park here? (NOT May everybody park here?)
11.- Offers
We often use can when we offer to do things for people.

Can I carry your bag? ( = Would you like me to ... ) ~ Oh, thank you.
I can baby-sit for you this evening if you like. ~ No, it's all right, thanks.

12.- Requests, orders and suggestions

We can use can and could to ask or tell people to do things. Could is more polite, more formal or less
definite, and is often used for making suggestions.

Can you put the children to bed?

Could you lend me five pounds until tomorrow?
Do you think you could help me for a few minutes?
When you've finished the washing-up you can clean the kitchen. Then you could iron the clothes, if
you like.
If you haven't got anything to do you could sort out your photos.

13.- Indirect speech

Could is used in past indirect speech, when can was used in direct speech.

Can you give me a hand? ~ What? ~ I asked if you could give me a hand.

14.- Can and could: with see, hear, etc

1 see, hear, feel, smell, taste
When these verbs refer to perception (receiving information through the eyes, ears etc), we do not normally
use progressive forms. To talk about seeing, hearing etc at a particular moment, we often use can see, can
hear etc (especially in British English).

I can see Susan coming. (NOT I'm seeing ... )

Can you hear somebody coming up the stairs?
What did you put in the stew? I can taste something funny.
Suddenly she realised she could smell something burning.

In American English, I see/hear etc are common in this sense.