I Kən Car Time Can’t Modal Verb Bre

• i can run fast.
• can you call back tomorrow?
• he couldn't answer the question.
• the stadium can be emptied in four minutes.

can

1. used to say that it is possible for somebody/something to do something, or for something to happen
• I can run fast.
• Can you call back tomorrow?
• He couldn't answer the question.
• The stadium can be emptied in four minutes.
• I can't promise anything, but I'll do what I can.
• Please let us know if you cannot attend the meeting.
2. used to say that somebody knows how to do something
• She can speak Spanish.
• Can he cook?
• I could drive a car before I left school.
3. used with the verbs ‘feel’, ‘hear’, ‘see’, ‘smell’, ‘taste’
• She could feel a lump in her breast.
• I can hear music.
• Can you play the piano?
• I can hear someone calling
• The podcast can be downloaded here.
• Can you/are you able to come on Saturday?
• You’ll be able to get a taxi outside the station.
• I haven’t been able to get much work done today.
• She’d love to be able to play the piano.
• Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old.
• I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library.
• We weren’t able to/didn’t manage to/couldn’t get there in time.
• I could see there was something wrong.
• I could have won the game but decided to let her win.
4. used to show that somebody is allowed to do something
• You can take the car, if you want.
• We can't wear jeans at work.
5. used to ask permission to do something
• Can I read your newspaper?
• Can I take you home?
• Can I borrow your calculator?
• You can come with us if you want to.
• You can’t park your car there.
• May I borrow your newspaper?
• You may come if you wish.
• Visitors may use the swimming pool between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• Students may not use the college car park.
6. used to ask somebody to help you
• Can you help me with this box?
• Can you feed the cat, please?
7. used in the negative for saying that you are sure something is not true
• That can't be Mary—she's in New York.
• He can't have slept through all that noise.
8. used to express doubt or surprise
• What can they be doing?
• Can he be serious?
• Where can she have put it?
9. used to say what somebody/something is often like
• He can be very tactless sometimes.
• It can be quite cold here in winter.
10. used to make suggestions
• We can eat in a restaurant, if you like.
• I can take the car if necessary.
11. used to say that somebody must do something, usually when you are angry
• You can shut up or get out!
• He can speak three languages.
• She will try and visit tomorrow.
• You must find a job.
• You ought to stop smoking.
• I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.
• Can I invite Mary?
• Should I have invited Mary?
12. as happy, etc. as possible
13. used to say that you do not like something and are unwilling to accept it
• I can't be doing with people who complain all the time.
• I can’t be doing with you moaning all the time.
14. used to say that you are not able or willing to do something
• Sorry, no can do. I just don't have the time.

Verb Forms

• cannot
• can’t
• past simple could
• could not
• couldn’t

Word Origin

• Old English cunnan ‘know’ (in Middle English ‘know how to’), related to Dutch kunnen and German können; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin gnoscere ‘know’ and Greek gignōskein ‘know’.