AFFIRMATIVE + FORMS Modal verbs are placed first in the verb phrase after the subject and are
followed by a verb in the base form. The next verb may be a main verb or an auxiliary verb be, have:
Modal verbs do not change form for tense or person. Modal verbs can be followed by the substitute verb do:
A: We thought he might sell the house B: Yes, he could do.
Modal verbs cannot be used with another modal verb:
Windsurfing can be difficult.
Not: Windsurfing can might be difficult. or Windsurfing might can be difficult.
Modal verbs always go before other verbs in a verb phrase: [in a restaurant after a meal]
I think the bill could be expensive.
Not: I think the bill could expensive.
You can go swimming, go for a long walk or visit the exhibition.
Not: You can swimming, go for a long walk or visit the exhibition. Modal verbs can only be used alone when the main verb is clearly
understood:
A: She could take the bus. B: Yeah, that’s true. She could. She could take the bus.
A: He may be wrong, you know.
B: Yes, he may. Yes, he may be wrong.
NEGATIVE − FORMS Warning:
Negatives are formed by adding ‘not’ after the modal verbs. We don’t use don’tdoesn’tdidn’t with modal verbs:
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Modul Guru Pembelajar Bahasa Inggris Kelompok Kompetensi Profesional B
We can’t hear very well at the back.
Not: We don’t can hear very well … QUESTION ? FORMS
Warning: The subject and the modal verb change position to form questions. We don’t
use dodoesdid:
Could you help me?
Not: Do you could help me?
Will it be a problem?
Not: Does it will be a problem?
Why can’t you come too?
Not: Why don’t you can come too? We use modal verbs in question tags:
You can’t live like that, can you?
It could be any of those things, couldn’t it?
1. CAN: FORMS AFFIRMATIVE + FORM
Can comes first in the verb phrase after the subject and before another verb:
We [verb phrase] can take the train to Birmingham.
Can is never used with another modal verb:
He can hear the music from his room sometimes.
Not: He can might hear the music … or He might can might hear the music …
NEGATIVE − FORM The negative form of can is can’t. We don’t use don’tdoesn’tdidn’t with can:
I can’t believe you said that
Modul Guru Pembelajar Bahasa Inggris Kelompok Kompetensi Profesional B
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Not: I don’t can believe you said that We can use the full form cannot one word in formal contexts or when we
want to emphasise something:
I cannot understand why she behaves like that.
QUESTION ? FORM Warning:
The subject and can change position to form questions. We don’t use dodoesdid:
Can this really be true?
Not: Does this can really be true?
Can’t you ask for another day off work?
We use can and can’t in question tags:
You can’t take photos inside the museum, can you?
Abby can speak Japanese, can’t she?
CAN: USES INFORMAL PERMISSION:
affirmative and negative statements and affirmative questions We often use can to ask for or give permission:
Can I take Daisy for a walk?
Students can use calculators during the exam.
We use can’t to forbid say what you must not do:
You can’t park there. You can’t just take the day off work. You have to have permission in
advance. In a conversation:
A: Can I use your phone, please? B: Yes, you can.
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Modul Guru Pembelajar Bahasa Inggris Kelompok Kompetensi Profesional B
ABILITY: affirmative and negative statements and questions
We often use can to talk about ability to do something in the present or future:
I can sing one song in Polish.
Can you sleep on your back?
We can go swimming after school tomorrow, if you like.
We often use can with verbs of perception such as hear, see, smell, taste, and mental process verbs such as guess, imagine, picture, understand and
follow in the sense of ‘understand’:
I can hear you.
I can see her coming down the road now.
Can you smell something burning?
I can guess why you’re angry. We can’t follow these instructions for installing this new DVD player.
We can’t understand these instructions. GENERAL TRUTHS
We use can to talk about things which we think are usually, but not always, true:
Reducing cholesterol through diet can be difficult.
It’s not always difficult for everyone, but in general it is difficult.
Fireworks can frighten pets.
Swans can be very vicious.
We don’t normally use could to talk about what we believe to be true in the present.
Compare:
Tabel 3 Using Can Could Exercise can help reduce
stress. I believe this is a general truth or fact.
Modul Guru Pembelajar Bahasa Inggris Kelompok Kompetensi Profesional B
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Exercise could
help reduce stress.
I see this only as a possibility. Finding a hotel in August
can be difficult.
I believe this is a general truth or fact based on my experience or knowledge.
Finding a hotel in August
could be difficult.
I see this only as a possibility.
POSSIBILITY: AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS
We use can to express possibility or to question possibilities:
We can go to Rome in June because both of us have a week off
work. It is possible for us to go to Rome because we don’t have to work in
June.
Well, how can you be on a diet if you buy so much chocolate?
I don’t think it’s possible that you are on a diet because you still buy lots of chocolate.
GUESSING AND PREDICTING: CAN’T AS THE NEGATIVE OF MUST When we want to guess or predict something, we use can’t as the negative
form of must. We use can’t have + -ed form as the negative form of must have + -ed. Can’t and can’t have + -ed form express strong possibility:
A: Who owns this blue coat? It must be yours. B: It can’t be mine. It’s too big.
