During this article we will discuss the questions like:-
● what is verb can?
● What are the types and different forms of verb can ?
● How to use verb can in sentences?
● How to Practice with exercises?
At the end we will submit exercises by checking your understanding so to know more about this essential verb stay with till the end.
What is verb can?
Definition:-verb can is refers having abilities or capacities to do something.
Verb have has different forms it can be present ,past and future depending on the time the sentence is speaking. Verb can has many uses such as:- possibilities ,permissions, abilities and impossibilities.
Can mostly used for permission for example:-The children can go outside, also can is used for ability example:-I can run, can is used for possibility example:-we stay in the house Sunday because we did our job(meaning it is possible to stay in house since we don’t have a job) however can has many others uses but these the most important ones.
Forms of verb can
Verb cab has three main types depending on time
- Present ——> Can
- Past ——> Could
- Future——> will/shall be bale
Verb can present(can)
Can mostly followed by infinitive with out “to”: he can learn Somali. Some times can is used with out infinitive:He can go if he can.
Verb can present examples
Affirmative:-They can go to America.
Negative:-They can not go to America.
Question:-Can they go to America?
Question with Negative:-Can’t they to America?
NOTE:-dont and didn’t is not used with can.
Another example
Affirmative:-She can stay with us.
Negative:-She can’t stay with us.
Question:-Can she stay with us?
Question with Negative:-Can’t she stay with us?
Verb can past(could)
Could is used as the past form of “can” meaning that the person had an ability to do that:He could do the exercise meaning he had an ability to do the exercise.
Some you can use was able and were able as the past form of “can” for example: I was able to learn some thing but they were not able to come Hamar.
Verb can past examples
Affirmative:-Ahmed could speak French
Negative:-Ahmed could not speak French.
Question:-Could Ahmed speak French?
Question with Negative:-Couldn’t Ahmed speak French?
Onother example:-
Affirmative:-Students could read th lesson.
Negative:-Students could not read the lesson.
Question:-Could the students read the lesson?
Question with Negative:-Couldn’t the students read the lesson?
Verb can in future(Will be able and shall be able)
Verb “can” doesn’t have a future form it has present form “can” and past form “could” but when we want to speak about what a person will have the ability to do it or whatever wich cab be possible in future we will use will be able and shall be able:He will be able to learn Arabic.
Verb can future examples
Affirmative:-I shall be able to marry next year.
Negative:-I shall not be able to marry next year.
Question:-Shall I be able to marry next year.
Question with Negative:-Shan’t I be able to marry next year?
Another example
Affirmative:-Anab will be able to cook the food
Negative:-Anab will not be able to cook the food
Question:-Will Anab be able to cook the food?
Question with Negative:-Won’t Anab be able to cook the food?
Note:-can doesn’t have perfect tense so we can use have been able to or has been able to:she has been able to call her sister.
Use of verb can
Verb can be used in different ways:
- Ability – I can play football.
- Possibility – It can rain today.
- Permission – The children can go outside.
- Impossibility – You can be at two places at once.
Useful sentences with can
- I could learn English but I couldn’t .
- I can’t watch the flim now but I shall be able to watch.
- Can you memorize the Holy Kuran in one year?
- Every person can be successful one .
- I can play football well now but one year a go I couldn’t.
FAQS OF VERB CAN
IS Can be used both singular and plural?
Yes “can” be used both in singular and plural:a students can go as well as we can say: students can go
What is the meaning of verb “can”?
It means to have an ability to do something: I can swim meaning ( i have an ability to swim).
What are the types of verb can?
It has three different forms: verb can present, past and future example:-the bird can fly(present), they could go (past) and I shall be able to learn something (future).
Verb can exercise
Exercise one:- Change the following into present form of can
1) I could swim in cold water.
2) I could run faster.
3) Could he plant trees in the farm?
4) They shall not be able to participate the competition.
5) Will he able to go there with out car.
Exercise two:- change these into past form of could
1) She can work in the hospital.
2) I can’t run.
3) can you learn English?
4) Shall we be able to end the exam?
5) The teacher will be able to explain the lesson.
Exercise three:- change the following into Future form can
1) Can she sleep alone?
2) Ali can read the book.
3) could the lion kill the tiger?
4) It can fly.
5) It can rain.Exercise four:-
Exercise four:- fill the blank with “can” or “can’t”
1) Aisha is feeling sickness so he _____ eat more food.
2) The lion is not like the bird so it ______fly
3) Today there are many clouds in the sky so it _____rain.
4) Today I have a chance so I _____ go outside.
5) Hamda finished all the work so she ______ watch flim.
Exercise five:- fill the blank space using “can” or “could”
6) The plane _____ fly today.
7) I _____travel to kenya last year.
8) He_____learn Arabic this year.
9) I ______ post a picture in Facebook profile.
10) the bird _____ fly today.
Exercise six:- Fill the blank space using will be able or shall be able
Note:-I and we go with shall be able. He, she, they, you and it go with will be able.
11) I ______ not____ ____ to learn something.
12) Students ____ _____ ____ to go.
13) The leopard _____ not ____ ____ to run after the zebra
14) The buffalo _____ not____ ____ to fight with tiger.
15) he ____ _____ ____ to go.
Exercise four, five, and six answers
1) Aisha is feeling sickness so he can’t eat more food.
2) The lion is not like the bird so it can’t fly
3) Today there are many clouds in the sky so it can rain.
4) Today I have a chance so I can go outside.
5) Hamda finished all the work so she can watch flim.
6) The plane can fly today.
7) I could travel to kenya last year.
8) He can learn Arabic this year.
9) I could post a picture in Facebook profile last hour.
10) the bird can fly today.
11) I shall not be able to learn something.
12) Students will be able to go.
13) The leopard will not be able to run after the zebra
14) The buffalo will not be able to fight with tiger.
15) he will be able to go.
Conclusion
Can is the one of the most useful model verbs in English. It helps express abilities, possibilities, permissions, and impossibilities in the present past and future. Mastering verb can will make your English more natural and fluent. Also read master the 12 English tenses and also model verbs .