Can & Could
I _____ walk when I was less than a year old.
They are used to express
(A) Ability (Present, Past & Future)
(i) She can write English well. (is able to)
(ii) Neeta could play at cards. (was able to)
(iii) She will be able to help me. (future of ‘can’)
(iv) I have been able to do it. (perfect of ‘can’)
(B) Polite Request
(i) Could you please do it for me? (‘would’ is also used for polite request)
(ii) Could you please lend me some money?
In all these sentences the action did not take place
(A) Ability (Present, Past & Future)
(i) She can write English well. (is able to)
(ii) Neeta could play at cards. (was able to)
(iii) She will be able to help me. (future of ‘can’)
(iv) I have been able to do it. (perfect of ‘can’)
(B) Polite Request
(i) Could you please do it for me? (‘would’ is also used for polite request)
(ii) Could you please lend me some money?
(C) Permission/Order
(i) Yes, you can go now.
(ii) You can take my book. (Here ‘can’ is an alternative to ‘may’)
(D) Prohibition/Offer
(i) You cannot enter the room. (Prohibition)
(ii) Can I get you some fruits? (Offer)
(iii) Can I help you? (Offer)
(E) Possibility
(i) Who is she with him?
She could be his wife. (possibly, she is)
(ii) How old is she?
She could be sixteen. (possibly, she is)
(F) Could + Have This form is used for past ability while indicating that the action did not take place. For example
(i) I could have revealed the secret. (but I did not)
(ii) You could have borrowed money. (but you did not)
(iii) The police could have arrested him. (but they did not)
(i) Yes, you can go now.
(ii) You can take my book. (Here ‘can’ is an alternative to ‘may’)
(D) Prohibition/Offer
(i) You cannot enter the room. (Prohibition)
(ii) Can I get you some fruits? (Offer)
(iii) Can I help you? (Offer)
(E) Possibility
(i) Who is she with him?
She could be his wife. (possibly, she is)
(ii) How old is she?
She could be sixteen. (possibly, she is)
(F) Could + Have This form is used for past ability while indicating that the action did not take place. For example
(i) I could have revealed the secret. (but I did not)
(ii) You could have borrowed money. (but you did not)
(iii) The police could have arrested him. (but they did not)
In all these sentences the action did not take place
Directions Complete the sentences with suitable alternatives.
1. Since the keys are with my brother, I ............... you money.
(a) will not lend (b) cannot lend (c) may not lend
2. She told me that she ............... English fluently and was very happy.
(a) could speak (b) could have spoken (c) can speak
3. ............... you please help my son?
(a) Can (b) Was able to (c) Could
4. After we had changed the punctured tyre we ............... continue our journey.
(a) can (b) was able (c) were able to
5. My friend did not help me though he ............... helped.
(a) could (b) could have (c) should
(a) will not lend (b) cannot lend (c) may not lend
2. She told me that she ............... English fluently and was very happy.
(a) could speak (b) could have spoken (c) can speak
3. ............... you please help my son?
(a) Can (b) Was able to (c) Could
4. After we had changed the punctured tyre we ............... continue our journey.
(a) can (b) was able (c) were able to
5. My friend did not help me though he ............... helped.
(a) could (b) could have (c) should
_____ he understand what you were talking about?
My sister _____ play tennis now.