Modal Verbs of ability.pptx

A modal verb is an auxiliar verb that acts in a specific tense and doesn’t have full sense by itself

1. Modal Verbs Of Ability Professor: Econ. William Figueroa, MBA.

2. Modal verbs A modal verb is an auxiliar verb that acts in a specific tense and doesn’t have full sense by itself. There are 3 characteristic that ALL modal verbs follow: They must be followed by a main verb in its base form. They don’t conjugate with any subject in 3 rd person. They don’t need any auxiliar to create a negative or interrogative form. Remember they are auxiliars by themselves.

3. Modal Verbs of Ability There are two modal verbs that can express ability: Can Could “Be able to”** Let’s check them one by one.

4. Can Can in affirmative. Cannot in negative (can’t). We use can or can’t to talk about someone’s general abilities or skil l . He can speak English. I can breathe. They can’t dance. We use can and can’t to talk about the ability to do something at a specific time in the present or future. I can see you. Help! I can’t breathe.

5. Could Could is used when we talk about a skill or general ability in the past . He could speak English. I couldn’t see you. Could have express that someone had the ability or opportunity to do something but did not do it . She could have stayed. (but she didn’t).

6. Be Able To Be able to is NOT a modal auxiliary verb; but it is included here for convenience, because it is often used like “can” and “could”, which are modal auxiliary verbs. We use  be able to   to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power, skill or means to do something. I am able to swim  I can swim. Be able to  is possible in all tenses (because it is NOT a modal verb) - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. I  have been able to  swim since I was five. (present perfect) You  will be able to  speak perfect English very soon. (future simple) I would like  to be able to  fly an airplane. (infinitive)