The modal verb has a specific meaning but cannot stand alone as a predicate. It does not change with person or number and is followed by the base form of a verb, meaning that the modal verb and the base verb together form the predicate.
Common modal verbs include: can (could), may (might), must, will (would), etc. Next, let’s learn about the usage of the modal verb “can”.
Specific Usage of the Modal Verb Can
1) Indicates “ability”, referring to mental or physical capability.
I can speak English. I can speak English.
Jim can swim but I can’t. Jim can swim, but I cannot.
2) Indicates “possibility”, often used in negative sentences or interrogative sentences, referring to a certain possibility.
Han Mei can’t be in the classroom. Han Mei cannot be in the classroom.
Can he come here today, please? Can he come here today, please?
3) Indicates “permission”, often used in spoken language, referring to permission or request to do something.
Can I have a cup of tea, please? Can I have a cup of tea, please?
You can go out. You can go out.
Additional Notes:
① In spoken language, can can replace may, indicating permission or ability.
② Can’t can replace mustn’t in spoken language, indicating prohibition or disallowance.
You can’t play football in the street. You are not allowed to play football on the street.
③ The past tense of the modal verb can is could, used in the present tense, can make the tone more polite.
Could you help me with my English? Could you help me with my English?
Basic Sentence Structures of the Modal Verb Can
1) The affirmative sentence structure is:
Subject + can + base verb + others.
They can play basketball. They can play basketball.
She can dance. She can dance.
You can go to watch TV. You can go to watch TV.
2) The negative sentence structure is:
Subject + can not (can’t/cannot) + base verb + others.
Indicates “someone cannot (is unable to) do…”. Here, can’t is a contraction of can not, often written as cannot in British English.
You cannot pass the ball like this. You cannot pass the ball like this.
I can’t ride a motorbike. I cannot ride a motorbike.
3) The interrogative sentence structure includes: general questions and special questions two types.
1. The general question structure is:
Can + subject + base verb + others.
Indicates “can someone do…?” Used in spoken language, often indicates a request or permission.
The affirmative answer is “Yes, subject + can.”; The negative answer is “No, subject + can’t.”.
Note: The pronoun used as the subject in the answer should change according to the subject in the question. The rule is: if the first person asks, the second person answers; if the second person asks, the first person answers; if the third person asks, the third person answers.
①-Can you sing an English song for us? -Yes. (Note that after Yes, I can is often omitted.)
②-Can I skate? -Yes, you can.
③-Can she climb hills? -No, she can’t.
2. The special question structure is:
a. Who + can + base verb + others.
This structure treats who as the subject.
-Who can sing in English in your class? -Lily can.
b. Special question word (as an attribute) + noun + can + subject + base verb + others.
The special question words often used are how many, how much, etc.
-How many boats can you see in the river? -Only one boat.
c. Special question word + can + subject + base verb + others.
The special question words often used are what, where, when, etc., generally answered with affirmative statements.
-What can you see in the picture? -I can see some birds and two big trees in it.
Emphasizing Key Points
“Can” must always be followed by the base form of a verb.
“Can” does not change with person or number.
Practice Exercises
1. Multiple Choice.
( )1. —______ you swim?
—______, I can.
A. Can；No B. Do；Not C. Can；Yes
( )2. —Can Amy ______?
A. swim B. to swim C. swims
( )3. —______she play the pipa?
—No, she ______.
A. Can；can’t B. Does；can C. Can；can
2. Sentence Transformation.
1. Tom can play volleyball. (Ask about the underlined part)
______ ______ Tom ______?
2. The boys can play soccer. (Change to a general question)
______ the boys ______ soccer?
3. My sister can sing English songs. (Ask about the underlined part)
______ ______ sing English songs?
4. The girl plays the guitar well. (Rewrite the sentence using can)
The girl ______ ______ the guitar well.
5. He can’t stay at home. I think. (Combine into one sentence)
I ______ think he ______ stay at home.
6. She can’t ride a bike. (Change to an affirmative sentence)
__________________________________________
7. Can he play tennis? (Give a negative answer)
______, he ______.
8. She can paint. (Change to a negative sentence)
She ______ paint.
9. He can sing a Japanese song. (Ask about the underlined part)
______ ______ he ______?
10. My elder sister looks after me well. (Rewrite the sentence using can)
My elder sister ______ look after me.
3. Form sentences from the following groups of words.
1.________________________. (an, aeroplane, hear, Lucy, can)
2. ____________________________. (not, he, dance, can)
3.____________________________? (you, can, see, what)
4.____________________________. (can, see, not, we, you)
5._____________________________. (I, can, help, you)
6._____________________________? (I, can, do, what)
7._____________________________? (you, can, hear, me)
8._____________________________? (you, can, dance)
Answers:
1. Multiple Choice.
1.C 2.A 3.A
2. Sentence Transformation.
1. What can；do 2. Can；play 3. Who can
4. can play 5. don’t；can 6. She can ride a bike.
7. No；can’t 8. can’t 9. What can；sing 10. can
3. Form sentences from the following groups of words.
1. Lucy can hear an aeroplane.
2. He can not / can’t dance.
3. What can you see?
4. We can not / can’t see you.
5. I can help you.
6. What can I do?
7. Can you hear me?
8. Can you dance?
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