THE PAST TENSE OF CAN (modals part-1)

INTRODUCTION

This blog is all about the PAST TENSE OF CAN. Furthermore, we generally use CAN and COULD in our daily conversations, offices, and other official places, but we generally not able to find their exact use. Similarly CAN and COULD are parts of MODALS that show POSSIBILITY, ABILITY, CAPABILITY, and PERMISSION.

Moreover, today we will learn the exact USE OF CAN and COULD in this part-1.

THE PAST TENSE OF CAN

CAN

CAN always talk about your ABILITY, POSSIBILITY, PERMISSION, AND REQUEST. It only uses in present and The word CAN always use with a similar age group or position. Moreover, CAN will use with both the subjects (SINGULAR and PLURAL).

FOR EXAMPLE:-

POSITIVE SENTENCES

1. I CAN LIFT 20 KG A SACK. (ABILITY)

2. SHE CAN WATCH HORROR MOVIES ALONE AT NIGHT. (ABILITY)

3. MY MOTHER CAN BUY ALL THE GROCERIES FROM THE MARKET ALONE. (ABILITY)

4. THEY CAN COMPLETE THEIR WORK BEFORE THE DEADLINE. (ABILITY)

5. SHE CAN SLAP HER BOYFRIEND (ABILITY)

6. CLASS CAN CONTINUE 30 MINUTES MORE (POSSIBILITY)

7. MATHS TEST CAN BE TOUGH. (POSSIBILITY)

8. INSTANT NOODLES CAN BE COOK WITHIN 5 MINUTES. (POSSIBILITY)

9. SHE CAN BE DIED BY ELECTRIC SHOCK. (POSSIBILITY)

10. MEENA CAN COME TO THE PARTY TODAY (POSSIBILITY)

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

We can simply turn these positive sentences into negative by using NOT after CAN such as CANNOT or CAN’T.

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. I CANNOT/CAN’T LIFT 20 KG A SACK.

2. SHE CAN’T WATCH HORROR MOVIES ALONE AT NIGHT.

3. MY MOTHER CAN’T BUY ALL THE GROCERIES FROM THE MARKET ALONE.

4. THEY CAN’T COMPLETE THEIR WORK BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

5. SHE CAN’T SLAP HER BOYFRIEND.

6. CLASS CAN’T CONTINUE 30 MINUTES MORE.

7. MATHS TEST CAN’T BE TOUGH.

8. INSTANT NOODLES CAN’T BE COOK WITHIN 5 MINUTES.

9. SHE CAN’T BE DIED BY ELECTRIC SHOCK.

10. MEENA CAN’T COME TO THE PARTY TODAY.

QUESTION SENTENCES

When we ask a question from someone by using the word CAN in the beginning so it will become PERMISSION.

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. CAN I COME IN? (PERMISSION)

2. CAN I HAVE YOUR PEN? (PERMISSION)

3. CAN YOU DO A FAVOUR FOR ME? (PERMISSION)

4. CAN SHE COME BEFORE 2 PM? (PERMISSION)

5. CAN WE GO FOR A WALK THIS TIME? (PERMISSION)

NEGATIVE QUESTION SENTENCES

Before turning any example into a NEGATIVE QUESTION always ensure a sense of the sentence. In other words, always check your sentence that it will able to make any sense or not.

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. CAN’T I COME IN?

2. CAN’T I HAVE YOUR PEN?

3. CAN’T YOU DO A FAVOUR FOR ME?

4. CAN’T SHE COME BEFORE 2 PM?

5. CAN’T WE GO FOR A WALK THIS TIME?

6. CAN’T SHE WATCH HORROR MOVIES ALONE AT NIGHT?

7. CAN’T MY MOTHER BUY ALL THE GROCERIES FROM THE MARKET ALONE?

8. CAN’T THEY COMPLETE THEIR WORK BEFORE THE DEADLINE?

9. CAN’T SHE SLAP HER BOYFRIEND?

THE PAST TENSE OF CAN

PAST COULD

Furthermore, COULD use in both PRESENT as well as in PAST. first let’s make some sentences in PAST:-

PAST COULD is all about PAST ABILITY and PAST POSSIBILITY.

FOR EXAMPLE:-

POSITIVE SENTENCES

1. I COULD WASH MY CLOTHES. (PAST ABILITY)

2. I COULD GO TO A PAINTING COMPETITION. (PAST ABILITY)

3. SHE COULD WATCH HORROR MOVIES ALONE AT NIGHT. (PAST ABILITY)

4. MY MOTHER COULD BUY ALL THE GROCERIES FROM THE MARKET ALONE. (PAST ABILITY)

5. THEY COULD COMPLETE THEIR WORK BEFORE THE DEADLINE. (PAST ABILITY)

6. SHE COULD SLAP HER BOYFRIEND (PAST ABILITY)

7. SHE COULD PAY THE ELECTRICITY BILL. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

8. MATHS TEST COULD BE TOUGH. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

9. INSTANT NOODLES COULD BE COOK WITHIN 5 MINUTES. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

10. CLASS COULD CONTINUE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

11. MEENA COULD COME TO THE PARTY YESTERDAY. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Now you know how you can turn positive examples into negative ones.

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. I COULD NOT/COULDN’T WASH MY CLOTHES.

2. I COULDN’T GO TO A PAINTING COMPETITION.

3. SHE COULDN’T WATCH HORROR MOVIES ALONE AT NIGHT.

4. MY MOTHER COULDN’T BUY ALL THE GROCERIES FROM THE MARKET ALONE.

QUESTION SENTENCES

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. COULD I WASH MY CLOTHES?

2. COULD I GO TO A PAINTING COMPETITION?

3. COULD SHE WATCH HORROR MOVIES ALONE AT NIGHT?

4. COULD MY MOTHER BUY ALL THE GROCERIES FROM THE MARKET?

NEGATIVE QUESTION SENTENCES

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. COULDN’T SHE PAY THE ELECTRICITY BILL?

2. COULDN’T MATHS TEST BE TOUGH?

3. COULDN’T MEENA BE COOK WITHIN 5 MINUTES?

4. COULDN’T CLASS CONTINUE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES?

5. COULDN’T MEENA COME TO THE PARTY YESTERDAY?

THE PAST TENSE OF CAN

PRESENT COULD

Similarly, we will make some PRESENT COULD sentences. It is used in the present in a very POLITE WAY for PERMISSION, SUGGESTION and to show respect for those who are elder than you or high position.

FOR EXAMPLE:-

QUESTION SENTENCES

1. COULD WE GO FOR LUNCH? (PRESENT SUGGESTION and PERMISSION)

2. COULD WE GO TO THE MOVIE? (PRESENT SUGGESTION and PERMISSION)

3. COULD THEY COME TODAY? (PRESENT SUGGESTION and PERMISSION)

4. COULD SHE GO FOR A CHECKUP? (PRESENT SUGGESTION and PERMISSION)

You can simply make the negative, question and negative question version of any present could sentences. Try to make some sentences and try to use them in your daily conversation.

THE PAST TENSE OF CAN

COULD HAVE

Similarly, we also use COULD HAVE + V3 in PASSIVE WITH MODALS and we generally use it when something was possible or not possible in the past. Furthermore, it is also used as passive with modals.

POSITIVE SENTENCES

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. SHE COULD HAVE BOUGHT MORE CHEAPER JACKET. (PAST POSSIBILITY )

2. THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN THEIR FAVOURITE MEAL. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

3. WE COULD HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR CARRY BAGS IN THE HOTEL. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

4. MEENU COULD HAVE GONE TO THE SALON FOR A HAIRCUT. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

5. SHIVANI AND RAVI COULD HAVE FORGOTTEN TO EACH OTHER. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

6. RANJANA COULD HAVE PURCHASED COSTLY EARPHONES. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

FOR EXAMPLE:-

1. SHE COULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT MORE CHEAPER JACKET. (PAST POSSIBILITY )

2. THEY COULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THEIR FAVOURITE MEAL. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

3. WE COULD NOT HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR CARRY BAGS IN THE HOTEL. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

4. MEENU COULD NOT HAVE GONE TO THE SALON FOR A HAIRCUT. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

5. SHIVANI AND RAVI COULD NOT HAVE FORGOTTEN TO EACH OTHER. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

6. RANJANA COULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED COSTLY EARPHONES. (PAST POSSIBILITY)

Furthermore, we can make these examples into Interrogative and Interrogative negative as well but this is your task, you can try to make these examples and share them with us.

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