Modal verbs: can and could

to ask for and give permission:
- Could I borrow your bike?
- You can finish it tomorrow.

to make offers and requests:
- I can give you a lift if you like.
- Could you send me the document by e-mail?

and to talk about ability:
- I can swim.
- Sheila can't (can not) speak Italian.
- Bobby could talk before he could walk!
- My Grandad couldn't (could not) read or write.

Sometimes could is the past of can.

We use could when we express that someone had the general ability to do something.

If we want to say that someone did something in a specific situation, we use was/were able to or managed to:
- I locked myself out but I was able to squeeze through an open window.
- George forgot his bike lock but he was able to borrow a friend's.

In the two examples above it is not possible to use could.

Now try the exercise on the next page.

Dagmar Taylor