Lesson 17: Master Modal Verbs for Powerful Persuasion

Learn the Versatility of "Can" and "Could"

June 05, 2023

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Ability, Permission, and Possibility with Modal Verbs

💯 Learn about two crucial modal auxiliary verbs: "can" and "could.”

Learn the significance of "can" and "could" - two indispensable modal auxiliary verbs. From conveying abilities and permissions to exploring possibilities, this invaluable lesson equips you with the necessary tools to articulate with finesse and precision.

Let's start with could

"Could" is mainly used as the past tense form of "can." However, it also has other functions that "can" does not have. For example, it's used in type 2 conditional sentences.

👉 "Could" as the past tense form of "can":

Yesterday, I could lift 50 pounds, but today I feel weaker.

👉 "Could" in type 2 conditional sentences:

If I won the lottery, I could buy my dream house.

If I had more time, I could travel around the world.

So what’s the difference?

"She can speak Italian very well”

→ This indicates that she possesses the current ability to speak Italian.

"I could swim, but I couldn't ride a bike when I was nine years old,"

→ This means that the person had the ability to swim in the past, but not necessarily now.

🤔 What other uses they have?

  • "Can" and "could" can also express verbs of perception like see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, and remember.

"Can you see the light over there?"

"When I entered the room, I could hear something scratching."

  • If we want to express general ability in the past tense or indirect speech, we use "could" as a past tense form of "can."

"He said he could get that ticket for me"

👉 This means that he had the ability to get the ticket in the past.

  • When we want to command or request something, it's considered more polite to use "could" than "can."

"Do you think you could help me with this case?"

"Could you pass me the salt, please?"

  • If we ask for permission, it's better to use "can" because "could" is not used to give or deny consent.

- "Can I trust you?

- "Of course, you can"

"Can I borrow your book?

🚀 The Final Take

In a nutshell, "can" and "could" are vital modal verbs in English. "Could" is the past tense of "can," but it also serves additional functions like in conditional sentences.

They express ability, permission, and possibility. "Could" is more polite for commands and requests, while "can" is used to ask for permission.

"Could" also expresses past abilities and indirect speech.

And that wraps up our lesson for today. You now understand "could" and "can" in English. Thank you for joining us, and we trust that you found this lesson valuable and await your presence next week!

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