Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future I

Positive Forms Negative Forms Also

Modal Use
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future use
1. I can speak Chinese.
1. I can't speak Swahili.
can 2. SHIFT TO "COULD"
2. SHIFT TO "COULD" be
general ability I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.
I couldn't speak Swahili. able
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" to
I will be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish
I won't be able to speak Swahili.
my course.
1. With a burst of adrenaline, people can pick up 1. Even with a burst of adrenaline, people
can cars. can't pick up something that heavy.
ability during 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
be
a specific With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he was able to Even the weight lifter wasn't able to lift the
able
event lift the car off the child's leg. car off the child's leg.
to
3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" 3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he will be able Even three men working together won't be
to lift the car. able to lift the car.
Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future II

Positive Forms Negative Forms Also

Modal Use
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future use
1. I have some free time. I can help her now. 1. I don't have any time. I can't help her now.
2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
can be
I had some free time yesterday. I was able to help I didn't have time yesterday. I wasn't able to
opportunity able
her at that time. help her at that time.
to
3. I'll have some free time tomorrow. I can help 3. I won't have any time later. I can't help her
her then. then.
1. I can't drive Susan's car when she is out of
1. I can drive Susan's car when she is out of town.
town.
2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO "
can 2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO "
I was allowed to drive Susan's car while she was
permission I wasn't allowed to drive Susan's car while may
out of town last week.
she was out of town last week.
3. I can drive Susan's car while she is out of town
3. I can't drive Susan's car while she is out of
next week.
town next week.
Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future III

Positive Forms Negative Forms Also

Modal Use
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future use

can Can I have a glass of water? Can't I have a glass of water?

could
request Can you give me a lift to school? Can't you give me a lift to school?
, may
Requests usually refer to the near future. Requests usually refer to the near future.

It can't cost more than a dollar or two.

can Anyone can become rich and famous if they know
You can't be 45! I thought you were about
possibility, the right people.
18 years old. could
impossibility Learning a language can be a real challenge.
This use is usually a generalization or a
This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.
supposition.

the present in general: the simple present I

Im awfully busy. My dad works in Unimicron.
I want a breath of fresh air. I live in ZhouShi near the Changshu border.
I feel heavy. I do. I feel drowsy. He is a good brother. We love him
My stomach hurts. Meanwhile, Taiwan faces another dilemma

can Water freezes at zero degrees.
I can see the fishing boats coming in.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
I can smell it. Cant you?
I see a flat stretch of ground.
I get up early and eat my breakfast listening to the radio.
I hear approaching feet.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.

the present in general: the simple present II

In the film he plays the central character. heartellreporting
verbs
In early chapters, he does keep himself very
much in the background. Tom says you told her to come over here.
There are some guests in meeting room, I hear.
say :
The Bible says love of money is root of all evil.

performative verbs
This, I admit, was my favorite activity.
Neymar takes the ball upfield again, passes to
I enclose a small check which you may come in
Messi on the edge of the box. He turns, shoots handy.
and a fine save from Buffon
I leave it with confidence in your hand.
Notes on the simple present, third person singular

In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:

he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.

Negative and question forms use DOES (= the third person of the auxiliary 'DO') + the infinitive of the verb.
He wants ice cream. Does he want strawberry? He does not want vanilla.

Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:

fly --> flies, cry --> cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
play --> plays, pray --> prays

Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch, zz, o:

he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes, buzzes, goes

6
Collective nouns

Suppose the subject of a noun refers to a group of people. Depending on the

meaning of the sentence, you may use either a singular or a plural verb.
The audience was enjoying the play.
The audience have all gone home.
The class has thirty students. NOTES
The class are handing in their papers. Words that refer to groups of people
or animals are called collective
The band is performing until midnight. nouns. Here are some more
The band were arguing among themselves. examples:
crowd committee herd
crew litter flock

7

Accent on the present : the present continuous

Were having a meeting. Come and join in. Only one hospital, in Kunshan, is functioning.
What am I doing? Im looking out of the We are trying to create a more democratic
window. society.
My head is aching. She is spending the summer in Europe.
to be continued
His handwriting is improving.
World energy demand is increasing at a rate of
about 3% per year.
 Verbs that are not usually used in the continuous form
The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form because they refer to states, rather than actions or processes.
Senses / Perception Opinion Mental states Emotions / desires Measurement
to feel* to assume to forget to envy to contain
to hear to believe to imagine to fear to cost
to see* to consider to know to dislike to hold
to smell to doubt to mean to hate to measure
to taste to feel (= to think) to notice to hope to weigh
to find (= to consider) to recognise to like Others
to suppose to remember to love to look (=resemble)
to think* to understand to mind to seem
to prefer to be (in most cases)
to regret to have(when it means "to possess")*
to want
to wish

Exceptions
Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: : I can see... These verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning
This coat feels nice and warm. (your perception of the coat's qualities)
John's feeling much better now (his health is improving)
She has three dogs and a cat. (possession)
She's having supper. (She's eating)
I can see Anthony in the garden (perception)
I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet) 9

Emphasizing time in the present : using adjuncts

( adjuncts of frequency
We are safe now.
It seldom rains here.
We are working with James just at this moment
recording an autumn series. I visit her about once every six months.
Whats the matter with you today, Marine? We meet weekly.

You are always looking for faults.
The camping craze is currently sweeping Its always raining.
America.
She is always talking to him on the telephone.
I shared a tax with Andy, who was formerly a
singer and is presently an actor.
Nowadays fitness is becoming a generally Water normally freezes at zero degrees.
accepted principle of life. Traditionally, the Communist Party does well in
local elections.

Stating a definite time in the past : the simple past
The Israeli Prime Minister flew into New York to
start his visit to the US.
Our regular window cleaner wen off to Canada
last year.
He lived in Paris during his last year.
Throughout 1954 He assiduously studied
peerage law.
Nowadays fitness is becoming a generally
accepted principle of life.
All the streets in this part of Watford looked
alike.
About fifty miles from the university there was
one of Indias most famous and ancient Hindu
temples.
We walked a great deal in my boyhood.
Each week we trekked to the big house.