Understanding and Using Modal Verbs: Understanding and Using Modal Verbs (#11)

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 could.

The modal auxiliary could is used in several very different
ways. One happens when sentences with can are used in
indirect (reported) speech and the main verb is past.

Examples:

Bill said, "Can you help me, Carol?" ----->
Bill asked Carol if she could help him.

Carol replied, "I can't now, but I can later." ----->
Carol replied that she couldn't help Bill then
but added that she could help him later.

Lucy said, "Can you speak Thai, Dave?" ----->
Lucy asked Dave if he could speak Thai.

Dave replied, "I can understand it better than
I can speak it. ----->

Dave answered that he could understand Thai
better than he could speak it.

Bobby: "Can I have some dessert, Mom?" ----->
Bobby asked his mother if he could have
some dessert.

Bobby's mother said, "No, you can't, Bobby,
because you haven't finished your vegetables. ----->

Bobby's mother told him that he couldn't have
any dessert because he hadn't finished his vegetables.

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Special Notes: