ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY

ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY

MODALS OF ABILITY

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

For both general and specific ability

CAN /CAN´T

For general ability

For specific ability

An ability someone had in the past, but didn't use

COULD/ COULDN'T

WAS ABLE TO / COULDN'T

COULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

For general ability

For specific

ability

WILL / WON'T BE ABLE TO

CAN / CAN'T

MAY

MIGHT

COULD

We use these modals to describe a possible action.

General ability: This is something that once you have learned you can do any time you want.

Specific ability: This mean something that you can or can't do in one particular situation.

-She can speak English.

-He can't drive – he's too tired.

I could read when I was four.He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.

He called us because he couldn't find the house.

I couldn't open the window.

I could have played the piano well but I didn't practise enough.

-At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.​​

I can help you tomorrow

ABILITY ABD POSSIBILITY

ENGLISH C2 GROUP 06

YOSELIN RETAMA CORNEJO

-I may go traveling next year. (future possibility)

-My keys might be in the car. (present possibility)​​​​​​

-He could finish his project tonight. (possibility)