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< Understanding and Using Modal Verbs

Understanding and Using Modal Verbs: Understanding and Using Modal Verbs (#9)

Dennis Oliver
Modal Verbs #9:
Individual Modal Verbs

The English modal verbs are often challenging for learners
of English. This happens for many reasons, including both
grammar and meaning.

In this Hint, we'll look at some basic information on of the
most common modal auxiliaries, can.

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Can #1:
Ability

The modal auxiliary can is used in two main ways. One way
is in showing ability.

Examples:

Larry can play piano well.

(Larry knows how to play piano well. /
Larry has the ability to play piano well.)


Joan can solve that problem.

(Joan is able to solve that problem. /
Joan knows how to solve that problem.)


Most of Fouad's friends can speak both Arabic and French.

(Most of Fouad's friends are able to speak both Arabic
and French. / Most of Fouad's friends know how to speak
both Arabic and French.)

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The negative of can is cannot (one word), but cannot
is generally contracted to can't in speaking.

Examples:

I'm sorry, but I can't (cannot) understand you.

Judy can't (cannot) swim very well.

João can't (cannot) speak Spanish, but he can understand it.


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Special Notes:

1.

Because can and can't (cannot) are auxiliary
verbs, they are used with verbs in simple form:

not this:

or this:

or this:

but this:

*He can't to understand you.

*He can't understanding you.

*He can't understands you.

He can't understand you.

2. The pronunciation of can and can't is often
confusing in everyday American English speech.
Can sounds something like "kun" or "kin," and
can't sounds something like "kã" (the "ã" is
similar to the sound of "a" in cat, but with
very nasal pronunciation). For this reason, can't
sometimes sounds very much like can.
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