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Uses of Can - Could
2Inglés intermedio [email protected]. Gabriela Reyes González
Can - Could
Can is used to express present or general ability.
She can knit. I can swim.
To express ability
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Can - Could
We can speak English. Can you speak French?
4Inglés intermedio [email protected]. Gabriela Reyes González
Can - Could
Can is also used to asking and giving permission.
Can I go to the park, mom? Can we keep him? Please!
To ask and give permission
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Can & Could
You can go to the party. It’s OK, you can leave now.
6Inglés intermedio [email protected]. Gabriela Reyes González
Can - Could Indirect speech
Could is the past tense form of can in indirect speech.
He said that I could go to the party.
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Can - CouldTalk about past ability
Could is used to talk about ability that existed in the past.
When she was young she could climb mountains.
When she was young Now
* could refers to past time only when the context makes the time clear.
8Inglés intermedio [email protected]. Gabriela Reyes González
Can - CouldTo talk about possibility or uncertainty
Could is used to talk about possibility or uncertainty. It is also common in conditional sentences.
If I won the lottery, I could buy a Ferrari.
9Inglés intermedio [email protected]. Gabriela Reyes González
Can - CouldI could have helped her if she had asked me.
I could have approved the exam if I had studied.
10Inglés intermedio [email protected]. Gabriela Reyes González
Can - CouldPolite requests
Could is often used in questions expressing polite requests.
Could you wait for a minute? Could I have a glass of water, please?
