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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The modal verb can
Does the verb " can" have a meaning of possibility? or only "could" has this meaning? Thank you in advance!
Top answer
Hi We use 'can' in both ways - when something might or might not be possible; and also just as a modal verb when we're being polite - Can the universe be that big? - Can I have the bill please? Dave
- Hi We use 'can' in both ways - when something might or might not be possible; and also just as a modal verb when we're being polite - Can the universe be that big?
- - Can I have the bill please?
- Dave
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3 Answers
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Hi
We use 'can' in both ways - when something might or might not be possible; and also just as a modal verb when we're being polite
- Can the universe be that big?
- Can I have the bill please?
Dave
We use 'can' in both ways - when something might or might not be possible; and also just as a modal verb when we're being polite
- Can the universe be that big?
- Can I have the bill please?
Dave
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... it's quite ok to do the same with 'could'
- Could the universe be that big?
- Could I have the bill please?
Quite a while ago, there was a rule that said 'can' is right in the first sentence and 'could' in the second. But very few English speakers that you meet nowadays would follow that rule
Dave
- Could the universe be that big?
- Could I have the bill please?
Quite a while ago, there was a rule that said 'can' is right in the first sentence and 'could' in the second. But very few English speakers that you meet nowadays would follow that rule
Dave
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AnonymousDoes the verb " can" have a meaning of possibility?Yes. In certain turns of phrase, usually involving "situational" possibility, "can" has that meaning. It's followed by "always" fairly often when it's used with this meaning.
You can buy nice hammers at Ace Hardware Store. ~ It is possible to buy ...
If Starbuck's is closed, w
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