Modal Verbs

1. Modal Verbs

Can

2. Try to translate:

1. We can communicate with each
other very well.
2. Can you really read each other’s
thoughts?
3. How can they say the same thing at
the same time?

3. What does “can” describe in these sentences?

a)obligation?
b)ability?
c)possibility?

4. Can=be able to

“Can” has no infinitive, -ing forms or
participles.
So, when necessary, we use “to be
able to”.

5. Can you translate?

1. I’d like to be able to swim.
2. In the future, people will be able to build
cities under water.
3. She enjoys being able to drive.
4. He has been able to speak French since
he was 5.

6. We use “could” or “was/were able to” to talk about general ability to do something in the past.

I could / was able to
speak French when I was 7.

7. A particular situation

• We must use “was/were able to”
when we speak about a particular
situation.
• We can also use
“managed to” (+ infinitive) or
“succeeded in” (+ -ing form), especially
when the action was difficult to do.

8. Mike was not at school yesterday but we were able to speak to him over the telephone. We managed to speak to him over the

telephone.
Not: We could speak to him…

9. In negative sentences we can use could not for both general ability and particular situations.

• When I was 7, I couldn’t speak German.
• Mike was not at school yesterday, and we
couldn’t speak to him.

10. Chose the correct answer.

• 1. Mary was a very talented girl. She ….. read
when she was only four.
• a) can
• b) could
• c) couldn’t

11. Chose the correct answer.

• 2. Where are you going on holiday? – I hope
I’ll …… visit my grandparents on Lake
Baikal.
• a) can
• b) could
• c) be able to

12. Chose the correct answer.

• 3. Have you found any information for your
history report? – You know, it’s been really
difficult, but I …… finally find an interesting
article in a newer magazine. Now I know what
to write about.
• a) couldn’t
• b) was able to
• c) could

13. Chose the correct answer.

• 4. Mary missed a lot of classes and …… pass
the test yesterday. But the teacher has allowed
her to retake it next week.
• a) couldn’t
• b) could
• c) can’t

14. Chose the correct answer.

• 5. My younger brother learned to skate when
he was three. Now he’s seven and he …….
skate more quickly than anybody else in the
family.
• a) could
• b) can’t
• c) can

15. The answers:

1. could
2. be able to
3. was able to
4. couldn’t
5. can