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Showing posts from July, 2014

English modal verbs can could

Modal verbs can could In English grammar , the modal verbs ( can, could, may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, ought to, need ) are auxiliary verbs used to describe ability , possibility or necessity . Use an English modal verb + infinitive form of the verb without to . Do not change their form: She could speak German and Spanish .(NOT She could to speak...) Could you speak German before you went to live in Germany? (NOT Did you could speak German...) 1. Ability Use the following English modal verbs to express ability: Present tense : can, can’t, be able to, manage to I can’t drive. I manage to concentrate, but it’s difficult sometimes. I’m able to speak three languages. Past tense : could, couldn’t, be able to, manage to They weren’t able to find the address of the shop. Perfect tenses : be able to, manage to Have you managed to complete the assignment yet? Future tense : be able to, manage to He won’t be able to come to the meeting this afternoon. Use