II. MEANING AND USE
1. CAN
a. Can exists in the simple present ‘can'.
Exemple :
I can lift this table.
Ali's father cannot buy a car.
Can Fatou cook some rice?
Can't Pauline's brother drive a car?
b. In the simple past can becomes could.
Exemple :
My father could play football very well when he was young.
They could not build a big house two years ago.
Could these pupils speak English very well last year?
Couldn't you come home early?
c. In the other tenses we replace it by its equivalent ‘to be able to'.
Exemple :
they will be able to play football tomorrow.
Will this little boy be able to go to market?
Shall we not be able to travel to Bobo during holidays?
She will not be able to drive her mother's car.
Fondamental :
Can is used to express the capacity (physical, mental, intellectual....).
It can also express a permission
Exemple :
can I go out please?
