August 25, 2025

Tag: can

Modals

Could (Modal Verb) – Use of Could

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Could (Modal Verb)

‘Could’ (modal verb) is used to ask questions politely,

Could you help me? Could you suggest me regarding my career?
Could you take me to the principal right now? Could I use your laptop for a while?
Could you help me in solving the sums? Could I see your books which are kept on the table?
Could you go with me there? Could I take your food?
Could you bring my mobile from there? Could you solve this sum for me?

Asking something politely we use also could (Modal verb)

Could I have your laptop? Could I have your bag?
Could I have your comb? Could I have your gold chain?
Could I have your smartphone? Could I have your car’s key?
Could I have your diary? Could I have your watch?

Could (Modal Verb) is used in Indirect speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
She said,’ I can beat him. She said that she could beat him.
He said to me,’ they can help the poor. He told me that they could help the poor.
Rahul said to him,’ you can win the match. Rahul told him that he could win the match.

‘Could’ is used in the past. It is past of can. It is used to express past abilities that existed in past time

In my childhood, I could beat him. Last year, she could lend money.
In my adolescence, I could run fast. She could argue with him yesterday night.
I could read anything on mobile and book without spectacles till last year. He couldn’t attend the meeting today.
I couldn’t make it on time yesterday night. I could not complete my project at night.  
She couldn’t help him when he borrowed money. My brother could solve the Sudoku puzzle at the age of six.

 

Could (Modal verb) express possibility or uncertainty:

Could (possibility) is used to express the unreal situation in the present. Examples

You could come on time if you got up early. You could pass the exams. But you were sick.
Who is he with, Eva? He could be her husband. (Possibly he is) What’s her age?  She could be eighteen. (Possibly she is)
If I had money, I could buy a Ferrari car.   (possibility) If she came to me, I could propose to her.    (Possibility)
If he had time, he could go to his uncle’s home.  (possibility) If you got that job, you could earn a lot there.
If she wanted to go abroad, she could get a loan. If your brother joined Army, he couldn’t disappoint your father.
If Raju joined Delhi Police, he could take the bribe. If he asked for money, he could deposit it into the hospital.

When a person has a desire to do something

I wish I could beat him. I wish I could play the guitar.
I wish I could sing better. I wish I could get selected in government.
I wish I could fly in the sky. I wish I could learn the German language.
I wish I could make you understand. I wish I could be a billionaire

Note: “would” is also used in the place of “could.”

Exercise : 

 Choose suitable auxiliary verbs:

 ……….. you help me in solving the sums? (can/could)

 ………  you go with me there for a while? (can/could)

 ………. I have your ink pen?   (could/can)

 …………. I have his car?   (could/can)

He says that they ……. beat me.   (can/could)

My sister said that he ……… not pass the examination.    (can/could)

 I …….. drive and read properly last year.   (can/could)

I ……… beat him in the seventh standard.   (can/could)

He has got his salary today. He ….. make the payment now.    (can/could)

My grandfather …….. do yoga perfectly at a young age.   (can/could)

She …….. play the piano at the age of eight.   (can/could)

She ……. Speak the truth when I asked her. (can/could)

She……… hide the truth if someone asks.   (can/could)

Who is with this beautiful lady? He …….. be her husband.     (can/could)

He …….. be selected in the interview if he reached on time.    (can/could)

If he had money, he …….. buy a Ferrari car.   (can/could)

If you wanted to meet him, you …… phone him.  (can/could)

I wish, I …….. buy a Ferrari car.     (can/would)

If you had a car, you ……. Reach there before him. (can/could)

She wishes she ……… help the poor.   (can/could)

Could (Modal Verb) – Use of Could Read More
Modals

Use of Can – Modals

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Use of Can

‘Can’ shows ability and cannot( can’t) expresses inability.

Subject + can + verb + object + etc.

  • I can speak two foreign languages.  
  • She can’t solve the puzzle.
  • I can drive a lorry.
  • He can play the guitar.
  • They can win the race
  • I can defeat him in a race.
  • You cannot lend him money.

Use of Can and Could in the present, past, future

  • Can and could (able to) both are used to express ability (present, past, and future):
  • You can play the piano well.  (is able to)
  • I could solve the Sudoku puzzle.  (was able to)
  • He will be able to solve the puzzles.   ( future of can)
  • He has been able to solve the physics numeric. ( perfect of ‘can’).
  • Note: be able to or be capable of is used in the place of ‘can’.

 Examples:

  • She is able to speak French.
  • He was able to fight with them.
  • She will be able to pass the exams.
  • My brother is capable of speaking German.
  • Poonam was capable of speaking in front of the students.
  • Pankaj Som was capable of teaching mathematics.

Sometimes we use ‘can’ in the sense of (may) to give permission. “May” is more formal than “use of Can”

  • She can go now, or she may go now.
  • You can buy vegetables from this shop.
  • Can I go to granny’s home?
  • Can I see your novel?
  • You can choose any jeans, or you may choose any jeans.
  • Can I go, or may I go?
  • Note: these kinds of sentences are used in the sense of be allowed to/be permitted to.

 Examples:

  • She is allowed to enter the class.
  • They are permitted to go now at once.
  • She is permitted to join our group.
  • You are allowed to play with girls.

Can and could  express Possibility or uncertainty:

Can:

  • It can be very hot in summer (=it is sometimes very hot in summer)
  • You are above fifty. You can forget your keys (= old aged people often forget keys.)
  • Don’t go from this road, you can trap in traffic here. (= the road which often is used by vehicles may have traffic there).

Could:

  • you could come on time if you got up early.
  • You could pass the exams. But you were sick.
  • Who is he with Shalu? He could be her husband.      (Possibly he is)
  • What’s her age?  She could be eighteen. (Possibly she is)
  • Note: Can is used to express theoretical possibility:            
  • Everyone can forget.
  • Everyone can make a mistake.
  • Everyone can learn what is required.
  • Prohibition/offer:
  • She cannot play chess with us.      (prohibition)
  • He cannot enter college.                  (prohibition)
  • Can I lend you money?                     (Offer)
  • Can I pay your bill?                            (Offer)
  • Can I bring some novels for you?    (Offer)
  • Can I help you in lifting your grass? (offer)

Exercise – “Use of can”

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate auxiliary verbs:

  1.  ……….  You speak English in assembly?   (can/may/could)
  2.  ……….. he beat you?     (can/may)
  3.  ………. You lend me some money please?   (can/could/may)
  4.  He …….. lift 100 kg. weight now.   (can’t/couldn’t)
  5.  She doesn’t have money. She …….  Help you.   (cannot/could not)
  6.  Everyone ……. Run.    (can’t/couldn’t)
  7.  She says that she ……… solve the puzzle.    (can/could)
  8. My father said that I ……… Pass the IAS interview.   (can’t/couldn’t)
  9. An innocent person …….. cheat you.   (can’t/couldn’t/mayn’t)
  10. ……… I have you pen?   (can/could)
  11. He ……….  speak English.   (is able to /are able to)
  12. They …….. permitted to go now.   (is/are/am/was/were)
  13. ………. She buy a Ferrari car?   (could/can)
  14. He …….. allowed to go then.   (is/are/was)
  15. ……. Your brother capable to learn how to fight now? (is/are/was/were/can)
 
Use of Can – Modals Read More