46 Can and Could: Modals of Ability

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Introduction

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that has no meaning on its own but it modifies the main verb, changes its meaning and gives more details about the action.

Could is the past form of the modal verb can. These are types of modal auxiliary verbs used to express the idea of ability or permission {see Can: Modals of Ability, A1 Level}.

Form

Can/could always have the same form, even for the third person singular. It is used as a modal verb and can be used in the three forms.

Affirmative

Its structure, in the affirmative form, is:
Subject + could + verb + …

Subject could Verb
I/You could work
He/She/It could work
We/You/They could work

Negative

Its structure, in the negative form, is:
Subject + could + not + verb + …

  • Short version of the negative form is: can’t/couldn’t.
Subject could + not Verb
I/You could not work
He/She/It could not work
We/You/They could not work

Interrogative

Its structure, in the interrogative form, is:
Could + subject + verb + …?

Could Subject Verb Question
Mark
Could I/you work …?
Could he/she/it work …?
Could we/you/they work …?

Example

  1. Ability
    • I can cook very well.
    • I could cook very well when I wanted to (not always).
  2. Polite offer
    • Can I make you dinner?
    • Could I make you dinner?
  3. Polite request
    • Can you pass me the milk from the fridge?
    • Could you pass me the milk from the fridge, please?
  4. Possibility
    • She can rent this flat. She has a good job.
    • She could rent this flat if she finds a job.
  5. Disapproval
    • How can you call the owner without telling me?
    • How could you call the owner without telling me?
  6. With verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch…) and mental processes (think, believe, remember, understand…)
    • The house was in a bad state. I can smell the moisture.
    • The house was in a bad state. I could smell the moisture.

Use

Could is the past, less direct and more polite form of can and it has almost the same usage, but it can refer to the past. Also, it is used to express disapproval, and with the verbs of senses and mental processes. We can use could in present to be more polite. Could is used to express:

  1. Abilities;
  2. Polite offers;
  3. Polite requests;
  4. Possibilities;
  5. Disapproval;
  6. With verbs of senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch…) and mental processes (think, believe, remember, understand…).

Summary

The modal verbs can and could express ability, offers, requests and possibility. Could is also used to express disapproval, senses and mental processes, and it is the past form of can.

The structures are:

  • Affirmative: Subject + could + verb + …
  • Negative: Subject + could + not + verb + …
  • Interrogative: Could + subject + verb + …?

For example:
— Affirmative: “Moving could be stressful.“ / “Moving can be stressful.“ = Could is used to express that moving is sometimes stressful and can that it is stressful most of the time.
— Negative: “We couldn’t share a flat!“ / “We can’t share a flat!“ = Could is used to express refusal and can to express impossibility.
— Interrogative: “Could I use the microwave?“ / “Can I use the microwave?“ = Could is used to ask for something in a more polite way.

NOTE: We don’t use could to give or refuse permission.
—  “Could I leave early today?” – “Yes, you can”; “No, you can’t.“ / “Yes, you could“; “No, you couldn’t.“

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

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