Q&AModals (can) - (For Spanish and English learners)

Modals (can) - (For Spanish and English learners)

votes

Do you know how to use Modals in English? Then you'll be able to do so in Spanish.

Can has the following forms:

Present: can and cannot (can't).

As you can see, can has only one form for the present; for the tenses which can lacks of, the verb to be able to (ser capaz, poder), which has a full conjugation set, can be used.

They won't be able to come. - No podrán venir. (poder)
They haven't been able to do it. - No han podido hacerlo. (poder).

Main usages of can:
1. Be able to do something. Poder hacer algo.

I can't lift this table. - No puedo levantar esta mesa.
My mother is over eighty but she can still read without glasses. - Mi madre tiene más de ochenta años, pero todavía puede leer sin gafas.
Eagles can fly at 80 kph. - Las águilas pueden volar a 80 km por hora.
I can't bear the pain. - No puedo soportar el dolor.

2. Have the ability to do something Saber hacer algo.

I can swim. - Sé nadar.
They can't dance. - No saben bailar.
She can't speak Spanish. - No sabe hablar español.
Can you add up?. - ¿Sabes sumar?

Can means saber only in the meaning of doing something you learned; in the meaning of to have a knowledge or to be aware of something the verb to know is used.

I know they aren't married. - Sé que no están casados.

3. Making requests Peticiones. (verbo poder).

Can you do me a favour? - ¿Puedes hacerme un favor?.
Can you come a bit earlier tomorrow? - ¿Puedes venir un poco más temprano mañana?.

4. 'Perception' verbs like to see (ver), to hear (oír), etc. written with can + infinitive.
- I can hear it, but I can't see it. - Lo oigo, pero no lo veo. See number 1 (to be able to) for the usage of poder when necessary.

Other usages of can:
1. Permission (more colloquial than may) in interrogative and affirmative sentences, and prohibition in negatives ones.

Can I go? - ¿Puedo ir?.
Yes, you can go. - Sí, puedes ir.
No, you can't go yet. - No, no puedes irte todavía.

2. Possibility (and probability).

Anyone can make a mistake. - Cualquiera puede equivocarse.
If it rains, the match can be postponed. - Si llueve, el partido puede aplazarse.
Even expert drivers can have accidents. - Incluso los conductores expertos pueden tener accidentes.

note (a): In some affirmative sentences, there is a contrast between may showing the possibility of something to happen, and can the possibility of doing something.

We can try to do it - Podemos intentar hacerlo.
We may try to do it - Puede que intentemos hacerlo.

note (b): In respective negative sentences, there is contrast between impossibility (can't) and doubt (may not).

It may not be difficult - Puede que no sea difícil.
It can't be difficult - No puede ser difícil.

3. Negative deduction (inference).

He can't have arrived yet. - No puede haber llegado todavía.

But must has to be used for affirmative deductions.

He must have arrived already. - Debe de haber llegado ya.

4. Natural capacity, or the way someone/something is.

He can be very rude. - Puede llegar a ser muy grosero.
It can be very cold here. - Aquí puede llegar a hacer mucho frío.

I thought this could be useful for both English and Spanish learners.
- If you want, post a sentence in English using the modal can and its Spanish translation identifying the usage (ability, permission, possibility,...).
- Enclose a picture to reinforce the meaning (or just for fun) if you want.

2729 views

updated Oct 9, 2013

edited by RelaxingCup

posted by RelaxingCup

At the top under, "past/present" "They" won't be able to come. - rac1, Sep 19, 2013

Very good lesson. Thanks for posting. :) - rac1, Sep 19, 2013

3 Answers

votes

Hello "stranger"

I am an expert on Modals.

I never call them verbs though.

The reason being is that they are not verbs.

They cannot be conjugated so how can they be verbs?

The problen is that almost the first thing a Spanish speaker learns in English is

"I can" = "puedo"

but puedo comes from the verb Poder - as you know.

then the student wants to know the past tense of "can" and can't find it.

This causes all sorts of problems.

Of course the correct English for Poder is "to be able to".

End of rant. ha ha

I posted this a while ago to help with Modals

PS "could" is not the past of "can"

I could do it now "present possibility"

I could do it yesterday "past ability"

I could do it tomorrow" "future possibilty"

updated Sep 19, 2013

edited by ian-hill

posted by ian-hill

Thanks for your corrections. What do you suggest as alternative? How should I title this post? PS: I am drawing this from a book intended for Spanish speakers. It might be full of inaccuracies. - RelaxingCup, Sep 19, 2013

I'll go for just "Modals" - RelaxingCup, Sep 19, 2013

That is what I do amigo. - ian-hill, Sep 19, 2013

vote

Request:
Can any native English speaker do me a favour and check my post for mistakes? Thank you.
¿Puede algún nativo inglés hacerme un favor y comprobar si mi 'post' tiene errores? Gracias.

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