subject + can + base verbUse can for ability now. The verb after can is always the base form.
Can — Ability
A1Use can for ability now and could for general ability in the past. After both, use the base verb without to.
What you'll learn
- Say what someone can do now.
- Say what someone could do in the past.
- Build negative sentences with can't and couldn't.
- Ask yes/no questions with Can and Could.
- Match time markers to can or could.
Structure
subject + could + base verbUse could for general ability in the past. The verb after could stays in the base form.
subject + can't/couldn't + base verbPut not after the modal. Do not use do/does, and do not change the main verb.
Can/Could + subject + base verb + ?Start the question with the modal. Do not add do or does.
Yes, subject + can/could. / No, subject + can't/couldn't.Repeat the modal from the question. No main verb is needed in the short answer.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Shecanswim
She can swim now.
After can, do not add -s: she can swim.
When to use
Present ability
Talk about skills or ability now. Maria can cook. Leo can swim.
Past ability
Talk about general ability in the past. Tom could read at five. Anna could drive at eighteen.
Inability
Say that someone is not able to do something now or was not able to do it before. He can't swim. She couldn't ski then.
Markers
nowtodayat the momentwhen I was tenlast yearin high school
Common mistakes
Wrong
Maria can to swim.
Correct
Maria can swim.
After can, use the base verb without to.
Wrong
He can plays chess.
Correct
He can play chess.
After can, the verb stays in the base form, even with he or she.
Wrong
Anna could swam when she was five.
Correct
Anna could swim when she was five.
After could, use the base verb, not a past form.
Wrong
She doesn't can swim.
Correct
She can't swim.
Can makes its own negative with not. Do not use does with can.
Wrong
Does she can swim?
Correct
Can she swim?
Questions with can start with can. Do not add does.
Common misconceptions
❝ I need to after every modal verb. ❞
After can and could, the next verb is bare: can swim, could drive.
❝ All negatives and questions need do or does. ❞
Can and could make negatives and questions by themselves: can't, couldn't, Can she...?, Could he...?
Skills in this rule (7)
CAN_FOR_PRESENT_ABILITYw5Use can for ability now
Use can to say that a person knows how to do something or is able to do it in the present. Put the main verb in the base form after can.
COULD_FOR_PAST_ABILITYw5Use could for ability in the past
Use could to talk about general ability in the past. The main verb stays in the base form after could.
NEGATIVE_CANT_COULDNTw5Build negatives with can't and couldn't
Use can't for present inability and couldn't for past inability. Keep the main verb in the base form after the modal.
QUESTION_CAN_COULDw5Ask questions with Can or Could
Start the question with Can or Could, then add the subject and the base verb. Use Can for present ability and Could for past ability.
SHORT_ANSWERS_WITH_MODALw3Give short answers with can, can't, could, and couldn't
Answer yes/no questions by repeating the modal: Yes, she can. No, he couldn't. Do not add the main verb in the short answer.
USE_FOR_SKILLS_AND_GENERAL_ABILITYw4Use can and could for skills and general ability
Use can for abilities people have now and could for abilities they had in the past. Common examples are swim, drive, cook, and speak a language.
TIME_MARKERS_FOR_PRESENT_OR_PASTw3Recognize markers that point to now or the past
Words like now and today fit with can. Phrases like when I was ten or in high school fit with could.