All about the modal verb CAN

There are many modal verbs in English, but one of them will be used most often, and that is the modal verb “can”. We use it when we want to talk about our abilities or skills, both physical and mental. We can also use it to ask for a favor or give permission. It can also be used to suggest the likelihood of an event happening or the impossibility of it happening. To use “can” correctly, you need to learn a few rules of the English language. We'll talk about them below and show you how to quickly learn all the rules at once.

Features of using the modal verb “can” in English

First of all, it is important for beginners who have started learning English to memorize the forms. So, in the past tense, “can” will change to “could”, and “can't” to “couldn't”. But it is impossible to use it in the future tense – you should use the construction “to be able to”. 

It is also important to remember the peculiarities of using “can”. Most often, it is used to indicate:

• Physical ability. If you want to say that you can ride a bicycle or do a headstand with ease, this verb will help you.
• A fact or circumstance. The use of “can” helps us talk about the rules or facts that surround us, as long as we add a simple infinitive to it. For example, this verb will come in handy when you are telling children that they can only cross the road when the traffic light is green. 
• Requests, permissions and prohibitions. You can tell what a guest can or cannot do in your home. And if you put a modal verb at the beginning of a sentence, you can ask for something. If you want to make your request more polite, you can even use could in the present tense.
• Dissatisfaction and irritation. To express reproach to your interlocutor, use “can” together with the main subject verb in the form of a simple infinitive if the action takes place in the present or future tense. For the past tense, use the perfect infinitive.
• Doubt. Sometimes it can express doubt that someone can do something or that an event has happened or is likely to happen. In this case, it is again used with the simple or perfect infinitive, depending on the time in question.
• Fixed expressions. For example, “can't help” or “can't but”.

How to learn all forms of the modal verb “can” with a Booyya course

In fact, there are many more situations of using can than the ones listed above. In order to learn them all and memorize the rules, it is important to take a thorough approach to learning this topic in English. And this short specialized Booyya course will help you with that:

• easy-to-understand explanations of English grammar;
• all the ways to use the verb, as well as possible variants of its translation into Ukrainian;
• an interesting story to help you better understand the grammar rules;
• exercises that will help you to easily consolidate your knowledge.