Some verbs in English have just one meaning, while others are more complex and can be used to express many different things. The verb âcanâ belongs to the second group. This verb is one of the most used in the English language, and it has a variety of uses so wide that sometimes is hard to keep up!
Usually, âcanâ is considered one of the most strange verbs in English. This verb is part of the so-called âmodal verbsâ, which are a group of verbs that behave in a particular way, and which have very particular uses as well. Modal verbs are used to express necessity, obligation, or the possibility of doing something, and, more importantly, they need another verb to function. The verb âcanâ adopts many of the particularities that modal verbs share, and its many uses make it an important study point for any English learning.
Meaning of the verb âcanâ
The meaning of the verb âcanâ in English is very varied. It means to be able to do something, or that some action will be done in the future. Also, itâs used to talk about things that are allowed, and to make requests and even to talk about the possibility of doing something.
Conjugation of the verb âcanâ
Present simple: can
I can
you can
he/she/it can
we can
you can
they can
This the present form of the verb âcanâ and itâs used to make affirmative sentences, yes or no questions, and their answers. It is used with all pronouns in English and, unlike other verbs, it remains the same for the third person singular, and for the plural forms.
Negative of the verb âcanâ in present simple: canât or cannot
I canât / cannot
you canât / cannot
he/she/it canât / cannot
we canât / cannot
you canât / cannot
they canât / cannot
The negative of the verb âcanâ is the word âcanâtâ, which is a contraction of the word âcannotâ. This word can also be written as dos separate words as âcan notâ, and even though the meaning is the same, the first spelling (canât) for speech and informal writing, while the second (cannot) is more common for formal writing or very formal speech.
Examples with the verb âcanâ in the present:
Rick can play with the ball.
Billy can clean the kitchen tonight.
Cowy and Baby Bot can go to the beach later.
Bobby canât go to the theater today.
Can you help me with the homework?
Lisa and I cannot go to the park, weâre going to the cinema.
Can we call you later? Yes, you can!
Can Baby Bot go with you to the market? Yes, he can. I leave at 3 p.m.
Past simple: could
I could
you could
he/she/it could
we could
you could
they could
The past form of the verb âcanâ is âcouldâ, this is just used for the past simple of the verb. Just as the present form, it doesnât change for any of the pronouns.
Negative of the verb âcanâ in past simple: could not or couldn´t
I couldnât
you couldnât
he/she/it couldnât
we couldnât
you couldnât
they couldnât
The negative of âcouldâ is âcouldnâtâ, which is the contraction for the words âcould notâ. Like the affirmative, itâs the same for all the different pronouns.
Examples of the verb âcanâ in the past simple:
Could you go to the market? Yes, I went yesterday.
I couldnât call you earlier, I was busy.
Elliot couldnât ride a bike when he was six, now he can.
Billy could sing very well, but Sandy couldnât.
He couldnât go to the concert, he was late.
Daniel is studying right now. He couldnât study earlier.
Yes or no questions with the verb âcanâ
Can I�
Can you�
Can he/she/it�
Can we�
Can you�
Can they�
To answer these questions, there are two possible ways: affirmative and negative. Affirmative answers are formed by the word âyesâ followed by a comma, the subject, and the verb âcanâ. (Yes, I canâŚ), while the negative is formed by the word ânoâ followed by a comma, the subject, and the word âcanâtâ (No, I canâtâŚ)
Future: Be able to
I am able to
you are able to
he/she/it is able to
we are able to
you are able to
they are able to
One of the peculiarities of the verb âcanâ is that it doesnât have a future form. If a person wants to express any of the uses of this verb in the future, then that person has to use the verb âbe able toâ. This verb maintains the meaning, but it makes possible for the speaker to talk in future form or to make some more complex tenses since it can be combined with the future form âwillâ, and since it contains the verb âto beâ which can be conjugated in all its forms.
Examples with âbe able toâ:
We will be able to go to the movies with Lingokids, weâve finished our homework!.
Are you able to help me later? Yes, I will be able to do it!.
Billy is working this week, he wonât be able to attend the meeting tomorrow.
Uses of the verb âcanâ
The verb âcanâ has several different uses since itâs a modal verb. These are some of them:
1. To talk about abilities
This use is valid for both the present and past form of the verb, and it means that the person was able to do something, both physically and referring to the fact of knowing how to do something.
Examples:
Dolphins can swim!.
Cowy couldnât swim when she was little.
Billy can speak English and Chinese.
Lisa can run very fast.
Baby Bot canât play the flute, but he can play the guitar.
2. To talk about permission in the present and future
The verb âcanâ in its present form is perfect to ask for permission or to give permission to someone. Also, its negative form, canât, can be used to refuse permission. Its past form, could, can be used to ask for permission in a more polite way.
Examples:
Can I ask you a couple of questions?
Could Lisa come to the movies with me, please?
You can borrow my book! Iâve finished it already.
All students can go to their classroom now.
3. To talk about possibility and impossibility
This verb can be also used to talk about something that is possible (when using the affirmative form) or to discuss impossibility (when using the negative form).
Examples:
This summer can be really warm.
You can pass your exam tomorrow.
It could be very dark at night in the forest.
This book canât be here. Iâll bring it to the library.
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