6.2: Modals of Ability
- Page ID
- 256022
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Modals of Ability- Present and Future
We use can, be able to and could to show that someone has (or doesn’t have) an ability to do something. Look at these examples:
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Present/Future |
Negative |
Past Ability |
Negative |
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Alan can swim well. |
Jackie cannot play the piano. |
Paul could speak Chinese when he was a child. |
Mary couldn’t finish her homework last night. |
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I can meet you after school. |
We can’t visit Dallas this weekend. |
Jill could walk two weeks after the surgery. |
I couldn’t find the website this morning. |
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I am able to speak two languages. |
I am not able to speak Arabic. |
After three weeks in Houston, I was able to find my way to work easily. |
I wasn’t able to finish my test yesterday. |
Questions
How can we make questions about ability? It’s easy!
- Modal auxiliary + subject + main verb + ... ?
Can she play guitar?
Could you speak English when you were a child? - BE + subject + able to + main verb + ... ?
Are you able to understand the homework?
Was he able to pass the exam?
Note: We do not need the verbs “do/does/did” when we make questions!
The modal verb “be able to” includes the word “to”; the “to” is not an infinitive.
Exercise 2.1:Ability in the Present and Future
Complete these sentences about present and future ability using the words in the box. You will use some words more than once.
can be able not able able to can't
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1. She _________ speak four foreign languages. |
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2. The candidate should ________ to speak fluent English. |
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3. They _________ do it before next Thursday. |
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4. He's ___________ run 100 meters in 10 seconds. |
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5. He will _______________ to see you tomorrow afternoon. |
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6. I ______________ do it tomorrow afternoon, if you like. |
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7. We might not _________________ to do that. |
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8. She ________________make it to the wedding. |
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9. She won't ________________ to do it until next week. |
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10. I'm afraid we are_________________ to fulfill your request. |
Exercise 2.2:Present and Future Ability Chart
Look at the sentences in Exercise 2.1 and decide which words or expressions you can use to express the functions above. Put a check in the boxes that apply. There may be more than one answer to each usage
Present and Future Ability |
can |
can't |
able to |
not able to |
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1. present positive ability |
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2. present negative ability |
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3. ability after a modal (+ and -) |
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4. ability with a future tense (+ and -) |
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5. a decision about the future made now (+ and -) |
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Summary of the Rules for Ability in the Present and Future
- We use can / can't (cannot) to speak about ability or possibility in the present.
She can speak four foreign languages.
She can't make it to the wedding.
- We can also use be able to / not be able to, but usually prefer can
He's able to run 100 meters in 10 seconds. (He can run ...)
I'm afraid we are not able to fulfill your request. (We can't ...)
- But with future tenses we have to use be able to and not can.
They will be able to come to the meeting this Tuesday.
You will not be able to enroll for the class this semester.
She won't be able to do it until next week.
- We use can (or be able to) when we decide now about something in the future.
I can do it tomorrow afternoon, if you can't do it. (I'll be able to do it ...)
They can't do it before next Thursday. (They won't be able to do it ...)
Page adapted from : Modals of Ability: Excerpt from Modals of Ability Possibility and Permission by Wikiwijs
Content can be found here: https://maken.wikiwijs.nl/92202/Modals_of_ability__possibility_and_permission?template=simple
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The content can be found here: https://random-idea-english.blogspot.com/2011/02/modals-plus-talking-about-ability-can.html