Usage of CAN

 

Usage of CAN

1. Used to say that it is possible for somebody/something to do something, or for something to happen.

M I can run fast.

M Can you call back tomorrow?

M He couldn’t answer the question.

M The stadium can be emptied in four minutes.

M I can’t promise anything, but I’ll do what I can.

M Please let us know if you cannot attend the meeting.

2. Used to say that sb knows how to do something.

M She can speak Spanish.

M Can he cook?

M I could drive a car before I left school.

3. Used with the verbs ‘feel’, ‘hear’, ‘see’, ‘smell’, ‘taste’.

M She could feel a lump in her breast.

M I can hear music.

4. Used to show that sb is allowed to do something.

M You can take the car, if you want.

M We can’t wear jeans at work.

5. Used to ask permission to do something.

M Can I read your newspaper?

M Can I take you home?

6. Used to ask sb to help you.

M Can you help me with this box?

M Can you feed the cat, please?

7. Used in the negative for saying that you are sure something is not true.

M That can’t be Mary—she’s in New York.

M He can’t have slept through all that noise.

8. Used to express doubt or surprise.

M What can they be doing?

M Can he be serious?

M Where can she have put it?

9. Used to say what sb/something is often like.

M He can be very tactless sometimes.

M It can be quite cold here in winter.

10. Used to make suggestions.

M We can eat in a restaurant, if you like.

M I can take the car if necessary.

11. Used to say that sb must do something, usually when you are angry.

M You can shut up or get out 

12. In idioms: can’t be doing with something - used to say that you do not like something and are unwilling to accept it.

M I can’t be doing with people who complain all the time.

13. Can and cannot (or can’t) are the most common words used for asking for, giving or refusing permission.

M Can I borrow your calculator?

M You can come with us if you want to.

M You can’t park your car there.

14. But May (negative may not) is used as a polite and fairly formal way to ask for or give permission.

M May I borrow your newspaper?

M You may come if you wish.

M Visitors may use the swimming pool between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

M Students may not use the college car park.

 15. Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something.

M Can you play the piano?

M I can hear someone calling.

M The DVD can be rented from your local store.

16. Can or be able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something.

M Can you come on Saturday?

M Are you able to come on Saturday?

17. be able to is used to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive.

M You’ll be able to get a taxi outside the station.

M I haven’t been able to get much work done today.

M She’d love to be able to play the piano.

18. Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past.

M Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old.

19. We use was / were able to or manage (but not could) when we are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past.

M I was able to / managed to find some useful books in the library.

           (I could find some useful books in the library. This sentence is wrong)

20. Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try.

M I could have won the game but decided to let her win.

 

*****