WebMar 27, 2009 · The ironic thing is that I don't really go along with that meaning of can in Curious' example. The reason is that the modal represents ability in my way of thinking: Smoking has the ability to cause cancer. I think that sentence was a poor example of using can to mean hypothetical possibility. Now here's an example that works for this meaning: WebJul 16, 2024 · Examples: Usage: He can play tennis well. She is able to speak five languages. They can come on Friday. Jack will be able to come next week. Use 'can' or …
Advanced Grammar for IELTS: Modal Verbs (1) : Can, Could, May, …
WebJun 21, 2024 · Could as a past tense of Can. The verb could is, primarily, the past tense form of the word can. But it’s not just the past tense of can: it has other functions that the word can does not have, for example, in type 2 conditional sentences. She can speak Italian very well. I could swim, but I couldn’t ride a bike when I was nine years old. WebHow to use possibility in a sentence. the condition or fact of being possible; one's utmost power, capacity, or ability; something that is possible… See the full definition how many cm in a newton
Can for ability, possibility, requests. Positive and negative ...
WebCan, could Ability. We use can/could to describe ability, and we use can’t/couldn’t to describe absence of ability.. She could play the piano very well.; Children can’t concentrate for long periods of time.; I can speak Chinese.; Possibility. We also use can to talk about possibility. Anyone can win this competition. All the participants are very good. I can’t … We use 'can' for possibility when the meaning is general. For example: "Dogs can be dangerous." If we are talking about a particular dog (a specific reference) then we use one of the other modals: "Watch out for that dog - it might/could/may be dangerous." I hope that clarifies it for you. Peter. The LearnEnglish … See more We use may, might and could to say that something is possible, but not certain: We use can to make general statementsabout what is possible: … See more Level: beginner We use must to show we are sure something is true and we have reasonsfor our belief: We use should to suggest something is true and we have reasonsfor our suggestion: Level: intermediate We use … See more Level: beginner We use can't or cannot to say that something is impossible: Level: intermediate We use can't have or couldn't have to say that a … See more WebSep 16, 2024 · Grammar Explanation: Modal verbs (1): Can, Could, May, Might, Be able to. Modal verbs can be confusing for learners because individual modal forms can be used to express a number of different meanings. This unit looks at the modals we use to describe ability and possibility, to make deductions, arrangements, suggestions, and offers, and … how many cm in a light year