Modal Ability
Modal Verbs Use:
We use Modal verbs to express: Abilities, Requests, Advice, Offers, Deductions, Commands, and Probabilities. The same modal verb can have different meanings: i.e.
Can I borrow your CD? Request
I can speak Spanish well! Ability
These verbs are often called modal auxiliary verbs, because they don’t need an auxiliary to form a negative or interrogative phrase.
ex: I can’t speak Spanish well. not I do not can speak Spanish well.
Modal verbs can be can be formed in the past, present or future: the forms may change accordingly:
ex: I can ski very well (Present)
I could ski very well (Past)
I am able to ski very well (Future)
Note Important! Modal verbs never go with to and no s in the third person.
In this section we are going to look at the modal verbs that are used to give advice:
Form: Subject + Modal +Verb
Can
Could
Be able to
Affirmative form
| Long forms | Contracted forms |
|---|---|
| You can play the piano well. | not possible |
| He could swim very fast. | |
| They will be able to cook very well. |
Negative form
| Long forms | Contracted forms |
|---|---|
I can not play football. | I can’t play football. |
| You could not play rugby. | You couldn’t play rugby. |
| He/she/it will not be able to speak Italian. | He/she/it won’t be able to speak Italian. |
Interrogative form
| Long forms | Contracted forms |
|---|---|
| Can you play rugby? | not possible |
| Could they play cards when they were younger? | |
| Is he/she/it able to speak Italian? |