Can / could

Present	Past	Future
can	could	---
am/is/are able to	was/were able to	will be able to

Значение	Примеры
Физическая, умственная, объективная возможность совершения действия (mental, physical and circumstantial ability)	I can’t walk much as my leg aches. They can cope with the most difficult situations. Eating fish and raw vegetables can help you to keep slim.
Вероятность совершения действия (probability)	There could be another rise in grippe incidence next month. I’m free today. We could meet somewhere.
Просьба (request)	We could discuss it later, couldn’t we? Can I have my chest X-ray made immediately?
Разрешение (permission)	You can apply this cream for 5 minutes daily. You can borrow the books for a month.
Запрет (prohibition)	You cannot practice medicine without being licensed
Сомнение, удивление, отсутствие возможности или вероятности совершения действия (Doubt, astonishment, lack of probability)	She can’t have made so many mistakes. She is a brilliant student. She couldn’t have so many mistakes. She consulted her tutor.
Нереализованные возможности (lost opportunity)	You could tell me you are not going to attend this course. Eating fish and raw vegetables could prevent you from gaining 20 extra pounds. (Для сравнения см. 1 значение)

Task 1. Extend the statements expressing the possibility of fulfilling the action in the future. Use the given suggestions:

I can’t do it now. (tomorrow) I’ll be able to do it tomorrow.

1. He can’t speak to you now. (in an hour)

2. Tom can’t leave the hospital now. (in a fortnight)

3. They can’t speak English very well now. (after a year or two)

4. The girl cannot adapt to the changes in her lifestyle because of a kidney transplant right now. (in a few months’ time)

5. The car crash victim can’t return to work and her daily activities now. (after a few weeks)

6. I am in some form of debt now and can’t pay it back. (next month)

7. He can’t earn a lot of money now. (in the future)

8. I can’t overcome my depression and low moods now. (soon)

9. The woman can’t pay for the treatment now. (next week)

10. The physician can’t decide which treatment plan to choose right now. (one of these days)

11. I can’t find a social work job at present. (soon)

12. The woman can’t get in touch with the social worker. (in an hour)

Task 2. Change the following sentences (a) into the future, (b) into the past, using the given time expressions:

I can meet you. a) on Sunday b) because I had time I will be able to meet you on Sunday. I could meet you because I had time.

1) We cannot understand it. (a) until you explain it

(b) because he spoke too fast

2) I can’t find it. (a) until tomorrow

(b) when we looked for it

3) My sister can’t help me. (a) until she comes home

(b) as she had no time

4) The social worker can’t

help my child. (a) until I speak to her about the problem

(b) because she hadn’t done the initial assessment

of my child yet.

5) I can’t find your website. (a) until you show me the website address

(b) because I didn’t know the address

6) She can’t convey the

information verbally. (a) when she knows how to do this

(b) because she was frustrated

7) He can control his

emotions. (a) when he gets quite

(b) because he was calm

8) The social worker can

provide an appropriate

support and counseling

to my family. (a) ask the social worker for assistance

(b) because she had been involved into looking

after my family

9) She can talk to her friend on

the phone. (a) tomorrow

(b) when she arrived home from work

10) She can work on a team. (a) if she feels quite comfortable

(b) because she felt quite comfortable with the team

Task 3. Analyze the following sentences. Explain the meaning of “can/could”:

1. The children who require foster care can be any age, from infancy through to those in their mid teens. 2. Mental disorders, learning difficulties, terminal illness and chronic disease can also qualify a person as being disabled. 3. When I was younger, I could run 3 miles without any sign of breathlessness. 4. Can you speak up a bit? I can’t understand a word. 5. For example, a woman pregnant who cannot provide a high quality of life for her child may consider adoption as an option. 6. You can smoke if you like. I don’t mind. 7. When you are expected to do something or be somewhere, can others count on you? 8. Individuals can suffer from different disabilities that affect the body in different ways. 9. They can’t be still waiting. An hour has passed already. 10. There are many different aspects to focus on when considering the social environment. This could be littering, community activities and graffiti concerns. 11. Somebody is coming up to the ward. It could be a doctor. 12. There are a number of good, upstanding citizens within the UK that can provide a loving, caring home to children who cannot stay in their own home.

Task 4. Answer the questions with a suggestion. Use “could”:

1. Will you go anywhere for your holidays or will you stay home? 2. How will you prepare for your classes? 3. What will your mother cook for dinner? 4. What will you do to keep fit? 5. Where will you spend your weekend? 6. What will you do to improve your students’ excellence rating? 7. What can you do to stay healthy? 8. What will you do tonight? 9. How many sweets will you take a day? 10. How much money will you spend on books? 11. Where will you go if you feel 12.

NOTE!

Между can и be able to существует разница в значении. Can обозначает способность выполнить действие вообще, вне зависимости от ситуации. Но если мы имеем в виду способность выполнить действие, справиться с конкретной ситуацией, необходимо использовать be able to. Сравните:

- They could place the child in foster care any time but they were able to do it when the guardian became unable to continue caring for the child.

- He was upset because of his car crash and wasn’t able to concentrate on the point.