El verbo can (y su pasado could) está entre los verbos modales más utilizados en lengua inglesa. Tiene distintos usos, si bien su conjugación es sencilla -presente y pasado, conviene aclarar las distintas formas oracionales:
- She can play de piano.
- He could be right.
Explicaciones más detalladas a continuación:
Habilidad / Ability:
También se utiliza can para hablar de las habilidades de una persona o habilidades generales:
- She can work and talk at the same time.
- Our team can beat all opponents in the competition.
- I can play the guitar and and write my own pieces.
- Please talk to me, I can't wait to meet you again.
- You can run away but sooner or later the police will arrest you.
- The orquestra couldn't play the 5th Symphony properly.
- I could not swim because the water was too cold.
Permiso / Permission:
Se utiliza can para pedir permiso para hacer algo, también con could en el formato de cortesía:
- Can I use the telephone, please?
- Can I borrow your mobile phone for a few minutes?
- Could you be so kind to lend me 10 pounds, please?
- Could we discuss the matter tomorrow, please?
- You can have a break now, if you prefer.
- You can call me tomorrow, if that is okay.
- You can have your holidays in August.
Posibilidad / Possibility
Usamos el verbo modal can para hacer afirmaciones generales sobre lo que es posible:
- It can be a nice weather in London.
- Such a things can happen if you are not careful
- Depending on the time of the year, it can get hot in Sidney.
- You could have a nice time in Spain.
- It could be a nice dinner in the restaurant's terrace.
- They could arrive on saturday night, if the roads are clear.
- I wish I could be there when she opens the presents.
- They could have finished that job on Wednesday.
- They could be dismissed next month.
- She could have been at home yesterday.
- He could have won the game in the previous match.
- You could have telephoned us before the event was cancelled.
Imposibilidad / Impossibility
Empleamos el negativo can't / cannot - couldn't / could not para expresar que algo es imposible:
- They cannot be happy after having obtained the third place.
- I can't be satisfied with that result.
- He couldn't believe it.
- She could not understand my explanation.
Peticiones e instrucciones / Instructions and requests:
Usamos could you como una forma de cortesía para de decirle o pedirle a alguien que haga algo -suele ir acompañado de please (por favor):
- Could you be so kind to give information of Cambridge city, please?
- Could you call a taxi, please?
- Could you help me with the luggage, please?
- Can you wait outside, please?
- Can I have a coffee, please?
- Can I talk to you, now?
Ofrecimientos e invitaciones / Invitations and offers
Normalmente, estas frases suelen comenzar con can I... / I can...
Examples:
- Can I lead the way?
- Can I offer you a drink?
- I can take you to the airport.
- Don't worry, I can order a different drink, if you prefer.