Transcript the topic - Albert

Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
CAN, CANNOT,
COULD & COULDN’T
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
Example: I can play football.
Example: I could play football when I was in school
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
Contractions of cannot and could not are Can’t and Couldn’t
For Example:
1) Marc can’t play the music now as he forgot the tune. He could
play it so well before.
2) Lucy couldn’t go to her aunt’s house as it was raining.
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
We use can to say that something is possible and somebody has the
ability to do something.
We use can + direct verb. (can see/ can do etc)
1) We can see the river from our living room.
2) Can you speak English fluently?
The question starts with can followed by the subject and then a verb
3) She can come and meet you tomorrow if you want.
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
I am afraid I can’t come for shopping now.
( Be) able to ……………. Is used instead of can sometimes, but can is
more usual.
Ex: - Are you able to play football?.
Can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it
is necessary to use ( be) able to.
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
I can’t sleep
but
I haven’t been able to sleep recently. (can has no perfect tense)
Don can come tomorrow
but
Don might be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)
Note: to see, to come are infinitive forms of Verbs
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
We use could especially with:
see/ hear/ smell/ taste/ feel/ remember/ understand
1) When we entered into the safari, we could see many lions.
2) She spoke English in French accent but I could understand what she said.
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
 Could - to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do
something.
 Could + verb’s first form
Examples:
1) My grandfather could play tennis. -- ( ability)
2) We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. -- (we were allowed to
do...) ( permission)
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
But
If we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use was/were
able to..... .. (Not could)
Examples:
1) The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape or
everybody managed to escape. (not 'could escape')
2) They didn't want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them or we
were able to persuade them. (not ‘could persuade')
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
Alex was an excellent soccer player. He could beat anybody.
(he had the general ability to beat anybody)
But
Alex and Jack had a game of tennis yesterday. Alex played very well but
in the end Jack managed to beat him or ...was able to beat him.
(he was able to beat him in this particular game)
Note: can or could are used for general ability but something which was unusual
there to be able to or manage to is used.
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
Put the correct form of either "can" or "be able to" for each sentence.
Only use "be able to" if absolutely necessary!
1. I haven't _____________ concentrate recently at work. don't know what it is.
2. My brother __________ cook very well. He is a chef in a French restaurant.
3. When he was only 2, my friend Lee __________ speak quite well.
4. I have to go to a business dinner tomorrow night so I ___________ (not) come to the
party. I'm very sorry.
5. Kevin lived in Italy for six years, so he must ________ speak Italian quite well. He will
help you with your homework.
6. This telephone is terrible. I __________ (not) hear you at all.
7. When the car drove into the lake, one of the passengers __________ (not) open the
door and had to be rescued.
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Can, Cannot, Could And Couldn’t
8. Despite the arrival of the storm, they ________ finish the football match.
9. The house was totally empty all day yesterday and I ________ finish that book I was
reading.
10. My mother tells me that her grandfather was one of the best musicians of his time in
the city and ________ play the piano like a professional.
11. I hope to __________ speak English very well after this course finishes.
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