Present: 'I can speak three languages'
Past: 'My daughter could ride a bike when she was only three'
Conditional: 'I would go to the concert if I could'
Sometimes we can also use it for the near future:
'I can't go to the party tomorrow. I have to work.'
But it has no present perfect or past perfect forms nor future with 'will', an infinitive or -ing forms. In these situations 'be able to' must be used:
Present Perfect: 'I've never been able to drive properly'
Past Perfect: 'When I arrived they hadn´t been able to finish their homework'
'Will' future: 'I'm sure I'll be able to dance much better in a few days'
Infinitive: 'I'd like to be able to speak German'
-ing: 'She left without being able to tell me the truth'
Click here to get a guide to use the correct verb patterns
Activity 1: Choose the correct answer.
Activity 2: Order the words.
Activity 3: Rewrite the sentences using modal verbs.
