Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #130581: Focus on CAN: incapacity and impossibility.
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Focus on CAN: incapacity and impossibility. - English lesson

'Modal auxiliaries' ! This is a somewhat nightmarish aspect of English grammar. Modes can

sometimes be expressed very diversely in the different languages. That's why they are so

terrible for non-native speakers... Let's try to help!

CAN is used to express what is possible to do. Yet, it has two meanings:

➡️ 1) CAN may express a PERMISSION, or a CAPACITY ( physical or intellectual) to do something.

- Hurray ! My mom has just given her permission! I can go to the cinema with you! (permission)

This action is possible because the young person has been allowed; in that case, in other tenses, CAN

may be replaced by TO BE ALLOWED TO (in the past, future and conditional.)

- We'll never be allowed to look after my cousins : we're all too young.

➡️ 2) CAN may also express a CAPACITY. The person is able to do the action.

In that case, CAN may be replaced by TO BE ABLE TO.

- He can be the fastest of the team with little effort !

- When she accepted to speak slowly, we were able to understand what she said.

➡️ 3) CAN'T, on the contrary, au contraire, expresses an INTERDICTION or an INCAPACITY.

- 'You can't take knives or scissors through the customs. (INTERDICTION)

- He can't walk just now ; he broke his leg yesterday while skiing. (INCAPACITY) .

➡️ 4) PROBABILITY :

CAN and COULD are used to express a probability:

- 'It can sometimes rain here in summer...once in the whole season!'

- Yet, it could rain soon... Take an umbrella!

➡️ 5) Asking questions: COULD expresses a polite request. expresses a more polite request.

- Can you help him, please?

- Could you help him, please?

What about the PAST?

1) COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: something was possible in the past.

There was a possibility, but it hasn't realised.

- He could have stayed, but he left.

2) COULDN'T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: something was extreme, but

hypothetically impossible;

- I couldn' t have succeeded if you hadn't been here.

could have done	Ability, probability	He could have spoken (but he didn't )
couldn't have done	Impossibility	It couldn't have snowed in June (but it did)

Let's try to keep these notions in mind...

The test should go on clarifying these notions. At least, I hope so! Go for it!

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1. 'Is he strong enough to lift the box? If not, I’ll help him.’ >>
?'If not, I’ll help him.’

2. 'It’s impossible for him to understand you. He doesn’t speak the language.’>> ' … He doesn’t speak the language…’

3. 'Dave tried to start the car, it was impossible. The battery was certainly dead.’ >> ' .The battery was certainly dead.’

4. 'You didn’t lose my keys, that’s impossible. What shall I do without them?’ >> '. What shall I do without them?’

5. 'I forgot my phone at my friend’s. It isn’t far… it will be possible for me to walk there to fetch it…’ >>'I forgot my phone at my friend’s. It isn’t far… to fetch it…’

6. 'He didn’t find the code without your help. Admit you helped him.’ >> , without your help. Admit the truth.’

7. 'It was impossible for him to hear you! The room was too noisy.’>> ' .The room was too noisy.’

8. 'I tried to start the car, but it was impossible. So, I called a taxi.’>> ' . So, I called a taxi.’

9. 'It’s impossible for you to smoke in this room. That’s forbidden.’>> ' in this room. That’s forbidden.’

10. 'It was impossible for Eliot to find the remote control… I had hidden it. >> ' … I had hidden it.'

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