Modal Verb Can

The modal verb can is used in a variety of ways. Below are brief explanations of usage along with an exercise for you to check your understanding. Generally, we should know that can is used to express ability or absence of ability. I can lift the chair = I am able to lift the chair. (I have the ability) I can't lift the table = I am unable to lift the table. (I don't have the ability) Can is also used to express permission. Can I come in? she asked, as she knocked on the door. The modal verb can is used to make suggestions too. What do you want to do tonight? I know, we can go to the movies. Can is also used to make a logical conclusion. (usually negative) He can't be rich. Look at his shabby clothes. It is used to ask for help as well. Can you help me move the bookcase please? Now, unlike other languages that use the third person when speaking to an individual to show politeness or respect, in English we don't use that form. Often times, we use modal verbs and the tone of our voice to show respect to unknown people or to people older than we are.

The Modal Verb Can

Can has only the simple present or the simple past tense (could) of the verb. All other tense forms are made with "to be able to" as shown below.

Infinitive Present Past

to be able to can / is able to could / was able to

Future Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect Present Conditional Past Conditional

will be able to / can have been able to had been able to will have been able to would be able to would have been able to

Modal Verb Can Exercise

Fill in the blanks with can or can't and then check your answers below.
1. The boy ____ run because his leg is broken. 2. She ____ go to the store after lunch. Let's eat. 3. ____ you get the door for me please? My hands are full. 4. They ____ be happily married because they are always fighting. 5. That boy ____ have written this essay. He doesn't have the skills. 6. We ____ go to the movies tomorrow night. Let's stay in tonight. 7. Mom, ___ I watch the football match on TV? 8. Can I go to Steve's tonight after

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

dinner? No, you ____. 9. He's a smart boy. He ____ do multiplication tables and he's only 5. 10. You ____ be serious. There's no way we will finish by then!

???

???

???

Modal Verb Exercises

and usage of this particular grammar item. Good modal verb exercises can help you improve your understanding

You can use this page as an introduction, of sorts, to the modal exercises that exist in this site.

Modal Verbs List

can could dare may might ought shall should will would

Modal Verb Exercises

Rewrite the sentences with the choices given and then check your answers below. Example: Perhaps she fell.

A. may have B. could have A.

She may ha

B.

She could h

1. Perhaps they said that. I can't remember now. A. might have B. could have A. B.

2. Perhaps she saw us. A. could have B. might have A. B.

3. I think we took the wrong road, we're lost. A. must have

A. 4. I wish you had seen it. It was spectacular! A. should have

A. 5. Perhaps when I'm 60 I won't remember her. A. will have forgotten

A. 6. You sould have listened to her from the beginning. A. ought to have

A. 7. It was possible for me to go but I didn't. A. could have

A. 8. I ought to have known that you would be late. A. should have

A. 9. It is possible to have happened but not likely. A. could have

A. 10. They wondered out loud as to what to do next. A. shall

A.

Modal Verbs of Ability

The modal verbs of ability show just that -- ability. Ability can be expressed in the past, present, or future. It can be an ability that was used over and over again, or something that was done just once, on a special, or rare, occasion. The modal verbs of ability are can,could, and be able to. Can is used to talk about ability in the present or future. He can read well. Could is used to talk about ability in the past.

He could read well when he was younger. Be able to is used to talk about a certain, or particular, ability. He was able to read when he was 4 years old.

** While could might be used in the last example, be able to emphasizes the early age at
which he could read. Could have, followed by a past participle indicates an ability NOT used and often shows disapproval. He could have called me! (He didn't) Could not have followed by a past participle indicates that an ability didn't exist in the past. I couldn't have phoned you yesterday, because I lost my phone last week. Be able to is used with other modals or when forming the 'ing' or 'to' infinitive forms. You will have the satisfaction of being able to read my report. Nobody will be able to read what you have written. We use can or could with the senses verbs; see, hear, smell, etc., to say that someone is aware of something through their senses. I can smell gas downstairs. I could see a few stars in the sky last night. I couldn't hear what she said because of the noise.

Modal Verbs of Ability Exercise

1. The boy ____ been hit by the car, if it hadn't stopped in time. 2. She ____ say her abc's when she was only 3 years old. 3. I ____ go with you tomorrow, I have an appointment.

???

???

???

4. They ____ sell their car for more than what they paid for it.
???

5. You will ____ read it when I'm through.

???

6. I ____ stay out late when I was young.

???

7. She ___ remember the name of the tavern we went to last week. 8. "I ____ drive until I was 21," she said.

???

???

9. You have the good fortune to ____ sing well.

???

10. "Get your coat." "I ____ take you to school this morning."

???

Modal Verbs of Necessity

The modal verbs of necessity show obligations in the past, present, or

future. It can be a necessary action that was required over and over again, or something that occurred just once. The modal verbs of necessity arehave to, have got to, and must. Have to,must, and mustn't, are used to talk about a necessity in the present or future. He has to attend the meeting tomorrow. He must attend the meeting tomorrow. He mustn't be late for the meeting. Had to refers to a necessity in the past. He had to attend the meeting yesterday. There IS a difference between must and have to when expressing necessity for yourself or others. I must be careful not to upset him. They have to be in Charlotte before Thursday. ** NOTE ** We normally use have to for things that happen repeatedly with adverbs of frequency like always, often, and regularly. I always have to do the shopping on Saturdays. You often have to wait in line at the grocery store. Must not, or mustn't, shows that it is important for something NOT to happen or take place. You mustn't talk during church service. Must not and don't have to mean different things. Must not means that it is important that you don't do something. Don't have to means that it isn't necessary to do, but you can. You mustn't give me flowers because I'm allergic. You don't have to give me flowers but you can if you like. ** NOTE ** Must is only used in the present or future... NEVER for necessities in the past. Also, we use the auxilary verb 'do' for questions with the 'have to' modal. How often do you have to buy milk for your children? Must is never used with other modals, the 'ing' form, the full infinitive 'to' form, or a past participle. These all require the have to form. They may have to be sent out of the classroom. I would have had to go through Leeds to reach Manchester. He doesn't like to have to do his homework after football practice.

Modal Verbs of Necessity Exercise

1. You ____ turn in your homework by Thursday. 2. Did she ____ go to school last week? 3. I ____ go with you tomorrow. I have no choice. 4. They ____ sell their car for less than what they paid for it. 5. You may ____ read it after all.
???

???

???

???

???

6. You ____ be late for school tomorrow, we are having a test. 7. She ___ give the names of the people she was with last night. 8. "I ____ drive until I'm 18," he said.

???

???

???

9. You do ____ come with us if you don't want to come.

???

10. Mari will ____ take the bus in the morning. I'm leaving early.

???

Modal Verbs of Permission

Use the modal verbs of permission, 'can,' or 'could,' to indicate whether someone has permission to do

something or not.

Use 'can' to say that someone IS allowed to do something and 'cannot' or, 'can't,' to say that they do NOT have permission (are not allowed) to do something. Example: Students can register for fall classes beginning next week. Children under ten cannot use the pool without adult supervision. We can also use 'could' to say that someone was allowed to do something in the past. We use 'could not' or, 'couldn't,' to say that they were NOT allowed to do it. Example: We could go to any shop in the mall we wanted to. Both staff and students could use the ice rink. We couldn't study in the library after 6 pm. We use 'be allowed to' when talking about permission but not in the sense that you are asking for it or granting it. For instance, we would say "I was allowed backstage after my third attempt." Or, "you are not allowed to use your calculator on your math's exam." We mostly use 'may' for more formal situations and 'may not' is used to say that someone is not allowed to do something. Example: "Mr. Smith, may I go to the restroom?" "You may go as soon as you have finished your exam." Retailers may not sell items below the manufacturer's price.

However, we use the modal verbs of permission 'can' when we are giving permission to others. Example: "You can borrow my book if you want, Diane." "You can go leave work now, I've got it covered." "Tom can go with you."

When refusing permission to someone, we use negative forms of the modals of permission; cannot = can't, or will not = won't, or shall not = shan't. Example: Can I leave early?- No, you can't! Ill go out on Saturday. - You will not! You shan't get any money until the work is satisfactorily finished.

Modal Verbs of Permission = politeness, respect In many languages, the third person is used even when talking to an individual as a sign of respect and formality. In the English, however, we don't have such a luxury and resort to voice inflection and modal verbs to show politeness or respect to someone unknown to us or someone older than ourselves. 'Can' is less formal and more direct than 'could.' When asking in a simple or direct way we use 'can.' Can I ask a question? Can we have something to drink? We are thirsty. When being polite, or wanting to show respect, 'could' is a better choice than can as it is a more polite form than 'can.' Could I ask you a question, please? Could I try this coat on? 'May' and 'Might' can also be used when asking permission but are much more formal. May I use your restroom, please? Might I ask what your name is? 'Might' is rarely used in this way as it's considered old fashioned usage, however,

educated and polite people still use modals to indicate politeness and show respect and I, for one, am in favor of this kind of usage.

Modal Verbs of Permission Exercise

1. "I'm sorry, you are not ____ go backstage without a pass." 2. "Mom ____ I go with Jill to the school play?
???

???

3. _____ you lend me your pencil please? I left mine at home. 4. Hello, ____ I speak with Mr. Smith please?

???

???

5. He ____ go to school tomorrow. He has a fever.

???

6. Waiter, ____ I trouble you for a glass of water please? 7. "How long must we wait for our food?" "It ____ be long, sir."

???

???

8. Are we ____ smoke in here?

???

9. You ____ go to the beach dressed like that young lady! 10. _____ you give me hand with this zipper? I can't quite get it.

???

???

Modal Verbs of Probability

Modal verbs of probability are often tricky for non native speakers of the English Language for a number of reasons. First, there is the notion that these words somehow express a percentage, or degree, of probability. I've seen a number of grammar books over the years explain these modals using a 'percentage of certainty' -- saying that if you are 30% sure something is true then use should, 60% ought to, 90% and above, use must. (for example) A quick illustration demonstrates that this line of thinking is erroneous, although for some practical purposes in teaching this subject, I can understand the thinking behind it. After all, teachers are trying to get their students to use the language according to rules. While rules are good and necessary, a feel for the language needs to be developed at the advanced level. For instance, there is no percentage of certainty that something is, or isn't, given the use of a certain modal verb. If we say "It must be him," "it ought to be him," and "it should be him," - depending on the situation - we are, in fact, saying theexact same thing. To the mind of the native speaker, we are certain that it IS him. The modal verbs of probability are cannot, (can't,) must, ought, should, and

will. Must, ought, should, will, are used to express certainty. Should or ought express less certainty. Should is followed by the base form of a verb, or bare infinitive, while ought is followed by the full infinitive (to). We should arrive by noon. We ought to arrive by noon. We will arrive by noon. When you say that you are fairly certain that something has happened, we useshould have or ought to have followed by a past participle. He should have heard from them by now, it's been a week. They ought to have arrived by now, their plane landed two hours ago. We use should have or ought to have to say that you expected something to happen -- but it didn't. Yesterday should have been the start of the basketball season. She ought to have been made manager by now. We use must to show that we are fairly certain about something. Hello, you must be John's wife. We do NOT use mustn't in the same way, we use can't, or cannot. Hello, you can't be John's wife. NOT MUSTN'T

Modal Verbs of Probability Exercise

1. They ____ have been here by now. What's the time? 2. She ____ be at work. Today's her day off. 3. That ____ be kole at the door, he said he'd stop by. 4. You haven't eaten today? You ____ be starving! 5. The weather forecast for

???

???

???

???

tomorrow is excellent. Yes, it ____ be lovely. 6. Your son got a scholarship? You ____ be very proud. 7. She ___ have failed the exam, she knew all the answers. 8. He opened a business in the new mall. I know it ____ do well. 9. He ____ be home by now. He just left.
???

???

???

???

???

10. "My coat isn't where I left it." "Someone ____ have taken it."

???