Can/could/be able to

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

can, could + (be) able to

Can:

- ability/possibility

- permission

- request

Can you speak French?

Can you help me with my maths homework?

'I haven't got a pen.' - 'You can use mine.'

negative of can is can't or cannot

We use can + infinitive 

can see

can speak

can play 

can read

can come

With 'able to' use the correct form of 'be'

I am able to see

You are able to speak

He/she/it is able to play

We are able to read

They are able to come

Can you phone me this afternoon? I would like to know how you are.

Are you able to phone me this afternoon? Or are you busy?

Could is de verleden tijd van can

We can see the lake from our  hotel window. (You are on holiday now.)

We could see the lake from our hotel window. (About a holiday in the past)

could wordt ook gebruikt voor iets wat je vroeger kon (en nu niet meer)

My grandmother could speak four languages.

She could ride a bike when she was three years old.

Als het gaat om een specifieke situatie in het verleden gebruik je was/were  + able to:

The fire spread through the country, but fortunately everybody was able to escape.

(Not: everybody could escape.)

Could gebruik je ook als je beleefd wil zijn 

Could I have some sugar please?

Peter was an excellent tennis player when he was younger. He could beat anyone.

James and Peter played tennis yesterday. Peter played well, but Peter could play better if he wanted to

We use could + infinitive 

could see

could speak

could play 

could read

could come

With 'able to' use the correct form of 'be'

I was able to see

You were able to speak

He/she/it was able to play

We were able to read

They were able to come

The patient can / could able to walk again in a few days.

1. can
2. could

I ___ swim very well when I was younger.

1. can
2. could

Wat gebruik je om aan te geven dat je wel of niet in staat bent iets te doen?

1. can
2. could

It is little Sue's birthday tomorrow, she is so nervous ......... sleep

1. Cannot
2. couldn't
3. can't

When Donald Trump was only 4, he ............count to 20 in Japanese!

1. could
2. can

John ....................... participate tomorrow, he has broken his leg!

1. cannot
2. couldn't