Could can you

Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb. It is simply the verb be plus an adjective able followed by the infinitive. We look at be able to here because we sometimes use it instead of can and could. We use be able to to express ability. If we say "I am able to swim", it is like saying "I can swim". We sometimes use be able to instead of "can" or "could" for ability.

Be able to is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive form.

So we use be able to when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Could you give me your pen? She cannot come to the party, as she is in Jaipur. I wish I could travel the world. It is used with the first form or the base form of the verb. Basically, it determines the ability or capability of someone or something. It has several uses as discussed below:. It is also used when someone is permitted to do something.

If you send me with any new you have and alot if examples for all previous subjects thanks in advance. If or when? If or whether? Ill or sick? Imply or infer? In the way or on the way? Late or lately? Lay or lie? Lend or borrow? Less or fewer? Look at , see or watch? Low or short? Man , mankind or people? Maybe or may be? Maybe or perhaps? Nearest or next? Never or not … ever?

Nice or sympathetic? No doubt or without doubt? No or not? Nowadays , these days or today? Open or opened? Opportunity or possibility? Opposite or in front of? Other , others , the other or another? Out or out of? Permit or permission? Person , persons or people? Pick or pick up? Play or game? Politics , political , politician or policy? Price or prize? Principal or principle?

Quiet or quite? Raise or rise? Remember or remind? Right or rightly? Rob or steal? Say or tell? So that or in order that?

Sometimes or sometime? Sound or noise? Speak or talk? Such or so? Towards or toward? Wait or wait for? Wake , wake up or awaken? Worth or worthwhile? Noun phrases: dependent words Noun phrases: order Noun phrases: uses Noun phrases: noun phrases and verbs Noun phrases: two noun phrases together.

Pronouns: possessive my , mine , your , yours , etc. Pronouns: reflexive myself , themselves , etc. Pronouns: indefinite - body , - one , - thing , - where Pronouns: one , you , we , they Relative pronouns Questions: interrogative pronouns what , who Someone , somebody , something , somewhere That. Dates Measurements Number Time. Geographical places Names and titles: addressing people Nationalities, languages, countries and regions Place names.

Can has many uses as a modal verb, but there are three uses that can be confusing to an English learner. These are: when can is used to describe ability "I can change the oil in my car without help. Can is also used to suggest something might happen in the future "If you finish your homework, we can go to the movies.

Can , like could and would , is used to ask a polite question, but can is only used to ask permission to do or say something "Can I borrow your car? Could is the past tense of can , but it also has uses apart from that--and that is where the confusion lies. When could is used as the past tense of can , it refers to an ability that a person generally had in the past or to something that was generally possible in the past "When I was younger, I could run for miles," or "It used to be you could buy lunch for a dollar.

Like can , could can be used of possibility as well, but the connotation is slightly different. By contrast, when could is used in this way, it refers to something that you believe is likely to be true or to happen. Could is also used to refer to something that you wish to have or do but that is not possible "If only we could be free of this tyrant! Could can also express annoyance or another strong emotion "He could have asked me if I needed help!