Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

modal verbs - Coggle Diagram

- - - - I am able to drive.
      - She is not/isn't able to drive.
      - Are you able to drive?
  - - - to express ability
        
        I have been able to swim since I was five.
        
        You will be able to speak
        perfect English very soon.
        
        I would like to be able to fly an airplane.
- - - - I can play tennis.
      - He cannot/can't play tennis.
      - Can you play tennis?
  - - - we use can to talk about what is possible, what we are able or free to do
        
        She can drive a car.
        
        John can speak Spanish.
        
        I cannot hear you.
        
        Can you hear me?
    - - we often use can in a question to ask somebody to do something; we do not really want to know if the person is able to do something, we want them to do it
        
        Can you make a cup of coffee, please?
        
        Can you put the TV on?
        
        Can you come here for a minute?
        
        Can you be quiet?
    - - we sometimes use can to ask or give permission for something
        
        A:Can I smoke in this room?
        
        B: You can't smoke here, but you can smoke in the garden.
- - - - My grandmother could swim.
      - She could not / couldn't walk.
      - Could your grandmother swim?
  - - - we use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to do
        
        I could swim when I was 5 years old.
        
        My grandmother could speak seven languages.
        
        Could you understand what he was saying?
    - - we often use could in a question to ask somebody to do something; the use of could in this way is fairly polite (formal)
        
        Could you tell me where the bank is, please?
        
        Could you send me a catalogue, please?