Can you express ability?

We use the modal verbs can, could and be able to + verb infinitive to talk about ability. We use can when we speak about general ability in the present. We use could when we speak about general ability in the past.

Can be sentences?

The modal auxiliary can is not grammatically possible in other tenses, too. Here are some more examples: Present Perfect → I have been able to play football….1. Affirmative sentences.

Tense Modal Form
Simple Present I can play football. I am able to play football.
I am allowed to play football.

Could have and would have examples?

I could have stayed up late, but I decided to go to bed early. They could have won the race, but they didn’t try hard enough. Julie could have bought the book, but she borrowed it from the library instead. He could have studied harder, but he was too lazy and that’s why he failed the exam.

Can or could you please?

If taken literally, “Can you” is equivalent to asking the person if they’re capable of doing something. “Could you”, on the other hand, implies that the action can be completed under some circumstances by the person. The usage of can you is idiomatic, and hence, is more popular used phrase of the two.

Can related sentences?

Here are some more examples:

  • People could do so much more for their community.
  • I couldn’t have said it better myself.
  • We could have left the party earlier.
  • The girl was crying because she couldn’t find her parents.
  • You could have stopped by the grocery store. We need some milk.
  • I couldn’t have done it without you.

Can sentences be ability examples?

could / couldn’t (for general ability) I could read when I was four. She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it. He couldn’t dance at all until he took lessons. My grandfather couldn’t swim.

Can you send me or could you send me?

Could you please send me your mobile number. I would regard could as more polite than can in this context. There is probably no proper way. All are grammatically correct.

What is the meaning of would have?

We use would have as the past tense form of will have: We also use would have in conditionals to talk about something that did not happen in the past: If it had been a little warmer, we would have gone for a swim. (but it was cold so we didn’t go for a swim) He would have been very angry if he had seen you.

Can permission sentences?

Permission

asking for permission formal/polite? giving permission
Can I ask you a question? informal Yes, you can. Yes, you may. Yes, you could.
Could I use your phone? more formal/polite
May I use your phone? even more formal/polite

Can Have could have?

One often hears primarily people from the UK using the phrase can have in certain past tenses. I used to believe that can turns to could in past tense, but from what I understand there is actually a case where can have is correct usage and has a slightly different meaning from could have. …

Would have had examples?

Conditional Perfect Examples with Would Have Had: “He would’ve had a difficult time with this test if he hadn’t studied so hard.” “I would’ve had a chance to talk to her if I hadn’t left the party early.” “They would have had a house by now if they had saved more money.”

Is would a present tense?

Technically, would is the past tense of will, but it is an auxiliary verb that has many uses, some of which even express the present tense.

Can and could grammar?

Be able to is possible in all tenses – but “can” is possible only in the present and “could” is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, “can” and “could” have no infinitive form. So we use be able to when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive.

Will would use in English?

And English learners often get these two confused because they’re used in very similar situations. But they’re not the same. The main difference between will and would is that will is used for real possibilities while would is used for imagined situations in the future.

Can past ability examples?

General ability We usually use could or couldn’t to talk about general abilities in the past. She could paint before she started school. I couldn’t cook until I went to university. When I lived next to the pool, I could go swimming every day.

Would have and would have been?

What is the difference between “would have” and “would have been”? Answer: “Would have” is used together with a main verb. When you see “would have” in a sentence it means that the action didn’t actually happen, because something else didn’t happen first.

Where is could used?

“Could” is a modal verb used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. “Could” is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of “can.” Examples: Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city.

How can I use would in a sentence?

Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:

  1. She said that she would buy some eggs. (“I will buy some eggs.”)
  2. The candidate said that he wouldn’t increase taxes. (“I won’t increase taxes.”)
  3. Why didn’t you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! (“It’s going to rain.”)