Essential Grammar in Use(Third Edition)--Modals, imperative etc. Unit30

can and could

---

A 

can + infinitive (can do / can play / can come etc.):

I/we/you/they he/she/it

can can't (can not)

do play see come etc.

can

I/we/you/they he/she/it

do? play? see? come? etc.

B

I can do something = I know how to do it, or it is possible for me to do it:

• I can play the piano. My brother can play the piano too.
• Sarah can speak Italian, but she can't speak Spanish.
• Can you swim?    Yes, but I'm not a very good swimmer.
• Can you change twenty pounds?    I'm sorry, I can't.
• I'm having a party next week, but Paul and Rachel can't come.

C

For the past (yesterday / last week etc.), we use could /couldn't:

• When I was young, I could run very fast.
• Before Maria came to Britain, she couldn't understand much English. Now she can understand everything.
• I was tired last night, but I couldn't sleep.
• I had a party last week, but Paul and Rachel couldn't come.

D

Can you ...? Could you ...? Can I ...? Could I ...?

We use Can you ...? or Could you ...? when we ask people to do things:

• Can you open the door, please? or Could you open the door, please?
• Can you wait a moment, please? or Could you wait a moment, please?

We use Can I have ...? or  Could I have ...? to ask for something:

• (in a shop) Can I have these postcards, please? or   Could I have ...?

Can I ...? or  Could I ...? = is it OK to do something?:

• Tom, can I borrow your umbrella? or Tom, could I borrow your umbrella?
• (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Gary, please? or  ... could I  speak ...?