Gramática › Modal Verbs "can/could"
Can y could: frases afirmativas
610 ejercicios de huecos, 61 tests de diez
Una sola forma para todos los sujetos, y después el verbo simple. Could es el pasado de can, y también su forma cortés.
Practica esta forma
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La estructura
Sujeto, modal, verbo simple. Nada concuerda y nada cambia:
I can go. She can go. They can go.
Distinguir los tres significados
El contexto hace todo el trabajo, y normalmente una lectura es claramente la correcta:
- I can lift it. — capacidad
- You can smoke outside. — permiso
- It can rain for weeks here. — posibilidad general
be able to rellena los huecos
Can no tiene infinitivo ni forma perfecta, así que be able to entra donde un modal no puede ir:
- futuro: I will be able to help on Friday.
- perfecto: She has been able to walk since the operation.
- detrás de otro verbo: I’d like to be able to ski.
En el presente simple, can es mucho más natural que am able to.
could como una opción entre varias
Cuando enumeras opciones, could es la forma habitual:
We could drive, or we could take the train.
Eso no es pasado ni cortesía: es tanteo.
Dónde se tuerce para un hispanohablante
«Ayer pude terminar el informe» es I managed to finish it, no I could finish it. Esta es la distinción que más cuesta, porque el español usa «pude» para las dos cosas.
«Podré», «he podido», «poder». Ninguna de las tres existe con can: son will be able to, have been able to, to be able to.
Y «podríamos ir en coche o podríamos coger el tren» se traduce con could las dos veces, igual que el condicional español.
Todas las formas
| Significado | Presente | Pasado |
|---|---|---|
| capacidad | can swim | could swim |
| permiso | can park here | was allowed to park |
| posibilidad | can be cold | could be cold |
| un logro pasado concreto | — | was able to / managed to |
Ejemplos
Tomados de las 610 frases de este ejercicio. La respuesta va resaltada.
- He plays in a band every Friday, and he can play the guitar really well.
- When I was younger, I could swim for hours.
- My dog is wonderfully quick, and he can catch a Frisbee in mid-air.
- In his school years, he could solve any math problem given to him.
- She teaches languages, so she can speak three of them fluently.
- They could help us with the project last week.
- My mom bakes every Sunday, and she can make delicious cakes.
- I miss my childhood when I could run and play without a care in the world.
- Dogs can hear sounds that humans cannot.
- By the end of the course, the children could swim in the deep end without help.
- Sarah can play the guitar very well now that she takes lessons.
- We could finish our project ahead of schedule if we put in extra effort.
Errores que evitar
Incorrecto: Yesterday I could finish the report. correcto: Yesterday I managed to finish the report.
Una acción terminada en una ocasión concreta lleva was able to o managed to, no could.
Incorrecto: They cans come tomorrow. correcto: They can come tomorrow.
Los modales no llevan nunca -s.