Slides and excersices about the use of the modal verbs can and could to express ability and inability.

1. Modal verbs.
Verbos modales.
ITI Martín Olaf Rangel Alvarado
Centro de Bachillerato Tecnológico Industrial y de Servicios no. 94 “Emiliano Zapata”
Materia: Inglés III

2. What is a modal verb?
¿Qué es un verbo modal?
A modal is a verb that expresses ability, inability,
permission or prohibition.
Un modal es un verbo que expresa habilidad,
incapacidad, permiso o prohibición.

3. What is a modal verb?
¿Qué es un verbo modal?
A modal can express more than one modality.
Un modal puede expresar mas de una
modalidad.

4. Modals of ability:
can and could.

5. Present ability
Maria can sing.
María puede cantar.

6. Future ability
Maria could sing, if she practices.
María podrá cantar, si practica.

7. Past ability
Maria could sing last week.
María pudo cantar la semana pasada.

8. Present inability
Maria cannot sing.
María can’t sing.
María no puede cantar.

9. Future inability
Maria could not sing, if she doesn’t
practice.
María no podrá cantar, si no practica.
Maria couldn’t sing, if she doesn’t
practice.

10. Past inability
Maria couldn’t sing last week.
María no pudo cantar la semana
pasada.

11. Let’s practice!

13. Correct
answers:

15. Questions using
can and could.

16. Questions using can and could:
You can speak in english.
You can speak in english?

17. Questions using can and could:
You could run when you were 3.
Could you run when you were 3?

18. Questions using can and could:
You can speak in english.
Can you speak in english?

19. Questions using can and could:
You could finish the homework tomorrow.
Could you finish the homework tomorrow?

20. Ability and inability using
be able to.

21. (be) able to…
(ser) capaz de…

22. Maria can sing.
Maria is able to sing.

23. Past ability
Maria was able to sing yesterday.
María era capaz de cantar ayer.

24. Present ability
Maria is able to sing.
María es capaz cantar.

25. Future ability
Maria will be able to sing tomorrow.
María será capaz de cantar mañana.

26. Past inability
Maria wasn’t able to sing last week.
María no era capaz de cantar la semana
pasada.

27. Present inability
Maria isn’t able to sing.
María no es capaz de cantar.

28. Future inability
Maria won’t be able to sing tomorrow.
María no será capaz de cantar mañana.

29. Requests using
can and could.

30. Polite vs informal
Use can in informal or casual context.
I.e. With your friends.
Can I have a Burger?

31. Informal/casual
Can you hug me?

32. Informal/casual
Can you bring pizza?

33. Polite vs informal
Use could in formal context, or to be polite.
I.e. With your teachers.
Could you help me?
Please.

34. Formal/Polite
Could you bring me a
salad, please?

35. Formal/Polite
Could I take the seat,
please?

36. Let’s practice!