Can is a modal verb.
Can is used to express ability or to say that something is possible.
Can is the same for all subjects. We don't add an 'S' in the third person (like other verbs)
The verb that comes after Can is in the infinitive without to:
I can speak Spanish. (= it is possible for me to speak Spanish = I have the ability to speak Spanish)
He can swim well.
We can see our neighbour in the garden.
They can play the guitar.
Can - Could
Negative
To form the negative we add "not" after can to form one word: cannot.
We can also contract the negative to form can't. (can't = cannot)
I cannot play the piano.
We can't go to the cinema tonight.
She cannot speak French very well.
He can't drive a car.
Questions
To from the question we change the position of the subject and the auxiliary verb.
The main verb is still in the infinitive without to.
Where can I buy an ice-cream?
Can I go to the party, please?
Can you speak Japanese?
What can we do on Saturday?
Remember that you can use short answers:
Can I sit here please? Yes, you can.
Can you speak Chinese? No, I can't.
Impersonal Can
Sometimes you can and Can you…? Are impersonal and refer to people in general.
You can see many stars at night from here. (= people in general can see many stars)
It doesn't necessarily refer to you but people in general.
You can't run naked in the middle of the street.
Not necessarily saying YOU can't run naked in the middle of the street but in general it is not possible for anyone.
Can - Could
Both Can and could are Modal Verbs. In general could is considered more polite (or formal) that Can.
CAN VS COULD
Do vs. Does
To make a
question in English we normally use Do or Does.
It is normally put at the beginning of the question (before the subject).
Affirmative: You
speak Spanish.
Question: Do you speak Spanish?
Question: Do you speak Spanish?
You will see
that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative
sentence to make it a question. We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.
Affirmative: He
speaks Spanish.
Question: Does he speak Spanish?
Question: Does he speak Spanish?
When the subject
is he, she or it,
we add DOES at the beginning to make the
affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the
affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the
question. We will see the reason why below.
We DON'T use Do or does in question that have the verb To Be or Modal
Verbs (can, must, might,
should etc.)
Word Order of Questions with Do and Does
The
following is the word order to construct a basic question in English
using Do or Does.
*Verb:
The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = the infinitive
without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive to have it
is just the have part.
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before
it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO. For example: to
have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.
Don't vs. Doesn't
To
make a negative sentence in English we normally use don't or doesn't with
all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (Can,
might, should etc.).
Affirmative:
You speak Spanish.
Negative: You don't speak Spanish.
Negative: You don't speak Spanish.
You
will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb.
We use Don't when the subject is I, you, we or
they.
Affirmative:
He speaks Spanish.
Negative: He doesn't speak Spanish.
Negative: He doesn't speak Spanish.
When the subject is he, she or it,
we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a
negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the
verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in
the negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.
Contractions
Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not
Doesn't = Does not
I don't like
fish = I do not like fish.
There
is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken
English.
Word Order of Negative Sentences
The following is the word order to construct a
basic negative sentence in English in the Present Tense using don't or
Doesn't.
*Verb:
The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive
without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it
is just the have part.
Remember
that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins
with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak
etc.
Examples
of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:
- You don't speak
Russian.
- John doesn't speak
French.
- We don't have
time for a quick drink.
- It doesn't rain
much in summer.
- They don't want
to come with us.
- She doesn't like meat.
