Grammar point Modal Verbs Expressing Ability and Possibility

Can and to be able to expressing ability and capability. The modal verb can means physical or mental ability and capability. It has two forms in the indicative mood: present can and past could. All the other tenses are supplied by the construction to be able to.

In the Present Simple can is preferable, in the Present Perfect to be able to is only possible, in the Future Simple both are widely used.

Could in the Past Simple is especially used with verbs of sense perception: to see, to hear, to taste, to feel, to smell, to know, to understand, to remember, etc. In the meaning "managed to do smth in a particular situation" only to be able to is used. The negative couldn't is possible in all cases.

Exercise 1. State the meaning of the modals in the sentences (physical or mental ability, capability, managed to do smth in a particular situation).

1. At last I have been able to decipher the telex. 2. I'll be able to use a typewriter perfectly after a few lessons. 3. Can you see any difference between the final variant of the contract and its draft version? 4. The government provided the farmers with low interest loan, so they were able to pay the new taxes. 5. Can you hear that queer sound of the motor? 6. Can you drive a plane? 7. We were able to exchange the opinions between the two sittings. 8. Not knowing Chinese, I couldn't understand a word from the talk.

Exercise 2. Match the adjectives from the job advertisements with their definitions.

hard-working self-motivated creative dynamic well-organized	you can deal with paperwork quickly you can adapt to changing circumstances you can get on well with everyone you can solve complicated problems you can work for long hours when required
even-tempered tactful friendly pragmatic intelligent flexible	you can work on your initiative you can find practical solutions you can organize a network of clients you can travel a lot you can't get angry or annoyed easily you can handle people successfully without upsetting them

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences using either could or was/ were able to.

1. It was a big recession in production, but we ________ remain the market leader.

2. The overhead projector was broken, so we ________ not show slides at the presentation.

3. Though the client spoke Pidgin English, I ________ understand the gist of his complaint.

4. It was very difficult to find a good office manager, but at last we ________ hire one.

5. Although I was sitting at the back of the hall, I ________ hear everything quite well.

6. He was a brilliant salesman and ________ sell anything to anyone.

7. Although the negotiations were very tough, we ________ come to the mutual agreement.

8. She was brought in a bilingual family, so she ________ speak two languages fluently.

May and can expressing possibility due to the circumstances

In the meaning of possibility due to the circumstances usage of may is restricted to affirmative sentences whereas can is found in all kinds of sentences.

May He may find the job he likes. — —

Can He can find the job he likes. Can he find the job he likes? He cannot find the job he likes.

Their time reference is also different. May refers to the present or future; the form might is used in the past - time context only in the reported speech. Can (could) may refer to the present, past or future.

May He may find the job he likes. He said he might find the job he liked. He may find the job he likes soon.

Can He can find the job he likes. He could find the job he liked. He can find the job he likes soon.

Exercise 4. Underline the modals expressing possibility due to the circumstances in the following sentences; translate them into Russian.

1. In the USA, the head of a company may have the job title "President". 2. Business travellers can trade down to cheaper fares. In America 80 per cent of travellers now use economy or discount fares. 3. The Body Shop may have simple packaging, but it uses the image just as much as Dior does. 4. A week in a mid-range hotel in the Alps can cost as little as £175. 5. A bankrupt cannot be a director of a company and cannot start a new firm without informing customers and suppliers that he is a bankrupt. 6. Alliances may give companies unprecedented flexibility. 7. Technology is changing so fast that only a specialist who is constantly involved in business can keep up with the latest developments. 8. Ten years ago, Mexico's announcement that it could not service its debt launched the 1980s crisis.

Exercise 5. Fill in the blanks with the modals can and may in proper tense forms.

1. We________ not afford such an expensive company car. 2. No one ________ show me a proof of the matter. 3. For the first 20 years of the 20th century, American women ________ not even vote. 4. We have a kind of a chicken-and-egg problem because our business ________ not attract investors. 5. The situation ________ change for better. 6. You ________ n't start hotel from nothing. 7. Set your goal and go all-out to achieve it. You ________ do it. 8. No person on the campus ________ talk about the future, as he did. 9. Bill Gates states he is in high-level negotiations with AT&T about a series of ventures that ________ include interactive television, on-line computer services, and software. 10. I have my money back? - I'm afraid we ________ n't give a refund without a receipt. 11. Products ________ be equally designed to strengthen brand loyalty among retailers or gain entry to new markets. 12. Other central office activities ________ include R&D and purchasing.