Modal verbs 1

·         Can

11.       Alguien tiene la capacidad de hacer algo (puede traducirse como saber).

I can sing very well

22.       Cuando algo es posible

Cycling can be dangerous

33.       Pedir permiso, pedir a la gente que haga algo o dar permiso (=Could)

Can you wait for a momento, please?

·         Could

11.       Alguien tenía la habilidad de hacer algo.

My grandpa could walk four hours

22.       El pasado de Can, sobre todo con: FEEL, SMEEL, HEAR, SEE, TASTE, REMEMBER y UNDERSTAND.

I could heard the noise from my room

33.       Sugerencias sobre el futuro

We could go to the cinema this afternoon

44.       Cuando no lo dices en serio

I’m so angry with him! I could kill him!

55.       Pedir permiso, pedir a la gente que haga algo o dar permiso (=Can)

Could you open the door, please?

·         Be able to

11.       Alguién consiguió hacer algo en una situación particular

He was able to climb Everest mount = el fué capaz de scalar el monte Everest.

Practice:

Complet with can, could, be able to:

11)      Excuse me, __________ I leave the class early today?

22)      He says he __________ come to the party on Saturday because he’s too bussy.

33)      When I was child I ___________ swim much faster than I __________ now.

44)      It was a very difficult exam, but I ___________ finish it.

55)      It’s a very long journey _____________ we take the plane?

66)      I’m no good at languages. I ___________ speak French when I left the School, and I Still ____________ now!

77)      He was speaking so loud that even me ____________ heard him!

Answer:

1. can/could
2. can't (es imposible que ocurra)
3. could - can
4. was able to
5. can/could
6. couldn't - can't
8. could


Artículos relacionados:


Modal verbs-1: Can, could, be able to
Modal verbs-2: Must, have to, needn't
Modal verbs-3: May/might, should/ought to


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