How to Use Can or Could in a Sentence

How to Use Can or Could in a Sentence 

 

Use of Can and Could

Can and could are modal verbs. They are used with other verbs to express ability, possibility, permission etc. 

Where We Use ‘Can’ 

◇ Expressing Ability:

Can is used to express ability resulting from physical power or capacity or from knowledge.

Example: I can ride a horse.  

He can speak three languages. 

◇ Expressing Request:

Can is used to express polite form of request. 

Example: Can you lend me your book for a day. Can you help me in solving the situation.

◇ Expressing Permission:

Can is used to ask for or give permission.

Example: Can I come in now?

Can I join with you?

◇ Can is used for present. We also use can for the future when we decide we are able to do something. 

Example: We can go swimming tomorrow. You can come to see me tomorrow. 

◇ We do not use Can with infinitive verb.

Example: We can play football today. Incorrect: We can to play football today. 

◇ The negative form of Can is used as cannot (can’t).

Example: I am afraid that I cannot complete the task in time. 

◇ Sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to in place of Can. 

Example: He is over sixty but he is still able to read without glasses. Now she is able to speak English fluently. 

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Where We Use ‘Could’ 

Could is one of the modals. It is the past form of Can and is used to express possibility or ability

. ◇As past form of Can, Could is used to express ability.

Example: John said that he could get the tickets for us. At his top form, he could bowl at 100 miles per hour.

◇ Could is used to show what was possible in the past.

Example: He could cycle when he was four years old. He could buy any luxury car because he had plenty of money. 

◇Could is used in polite form to ask something or ask someone to do something. 

Example: Could you find a better place for me? Could I ask a question? 

◇ We use could for present or in the future. 

Example: It’s a nice day. We could go for a walk. When I shall go to London next week, I could stay with my uncle. 

◇ We use could have to express past possibility.

Example: He could have done  better if he had tried hard. 

◇ We use (be) able to in place of could in the past form.

Example: He was able to finish the work before he left the office. 

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