25 Modals of Ability - Can

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that has no meaning on its own but it modifies the main verb, changes its meaning and gives more details about the action.

The verb can is a modal verb used to express the idea of ability or opportunity, to talk about the possibility or impossibility of an event or action to happen and to ask or give permission.

The modal verb can is used as an auxiliary verb and has three forms:

Affirmative

The affirmative form of the verb can has this structure:
Subject + can + verb.

Negative

The negative form of the verb can has this structure:
Subject + can + not + verb.

• Short form of the negative form is can’t;
• an is an exception in forming the negative form and it is written together with not: cannot (can not is incorrect).

Interrogative

The interrogative form of the verb can has this structure:
Can + subject + verb + …?

1. Ability
   • She can play the piano.
   • She cannot play the piano.
   • Can she play the piano?
2. General truth
   • Parks can be dangerous.
3. Offer
   • Can we help you and your husband?
4. Opportunity
   • We can stay at his place for a week!
5. Permission
   • My children can stay at the party.
   • My children cannot stay at the party.
6. Possibility
   • My wife can go to Milano this summer.
7. Reproach
   • Can’t you just tell him your marital status?
8. Request
   • Can you open the window, please?

We use can when we talk about:

1. Abilities: to be able to do something;
2. General truths: to talk about things that are usually true;
3. Offers: Tt make offers.
4. Opportunities: to express the chance to do something;
5. Permissions: to ask or give permission;
6. Possibilities: to talk about possible situations;
7. Reproaches: to tell someone what we want him to do;
8. Requests: to demand something;

We use the modal verb can to express the idea of ability or permission. We can use can in all three forms (affirmative, negative, interrogative).

• Affirmative: Subject + can + verb;
• Negative: Subject + can + not + verb;
• Interrogative: Can + subject + verb + …?

For example:
— Affirmative: “She can play the piano.”
— Negative: “She can’t play the piano.”
— Interrogative: “Can she play the piano?”

NOTE: The form is always the same, even for the third person.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.