Can vs Could vs Shall!

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SHALL

[Tweet โ€œโ€™Shallโ€™ is used when making suggestions or offering help. It is only used in the first person singular (I) and plural ( we).โ€]

โ€™Shallโ€™ is used when making suggestions or offering help. It is only used in the first person singular (I) and plural ( we).

SUGGESTIONS

  • โ€™Shall we go to the cinema tonight?โ€™
    โ€™Thatโ€™s a great idea. Which cinema shall we go?โ€™

    โ€™Letโ€™s go to Odeon.โ€™
  • โ€™Shall we have a coffee break?โ€™
    โ€™That would be nice. Iโ€™m getting tired.โ€™

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OFFERING HELP

  • โ€™These bags are too heavy.โ€™
    โ€™Shall I carry them for you?โ€™
  • โ€™I donโ€™t know if they have any tickets left.โ€™
    โ€™Shall I call the organizers?โ€™

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Recommended for you:
The Difference Between SHALL and WILL
English Grammar: Usage of Shall vs Should with Examples

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CAN vs COULD

โ€™Canโ€™ and โ€™couldโ€™ have many different functions:

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ABILITY

Use โ€™canโ€™ to talk about things that you are able to do. Some people can sing very well, others canโ€™t sing a note. Athletes can run very fast and chefs can cook really well.

  • โ€™Shall we go on a boat trip?โ€™
    โ€™Sorry, Iโ€™d prefer to stay on the beach. I canโ€™t swim.โ€™
  • โ€™My husband can make very good spagetthi.โ€™
    โ€™Youโ€™re lucky. My husband canโ€™t cook at all.โ€™
  • โ€™Can your son ride a bicycle?โ€™
    โ€™Yes, he can. He learnt how to ride last year.โ€™
  • โ€™Help him. He canโ€™t breathe.โ€™ (not a general ability, itโ€™s happening NOW)
  • โ€™Whereโ€™s Chris? I canโ€™t see him anywhere.โ€™ (not a general ability, itโ€™s happening NOW)

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If you want to talk about ability in the PAST, use โ€™couldโ€™.

  • โ€™I could ride a bike when I was six. How about you?โ€™
    โ€™I couldnโ€™t ride one until I was fourteen.โ€™
  • โ€™My daughter could speak when she was one.โ€™
    โ€™Thatโ€™s incredible. My son couldnโ€™t speak until he was three.โ€™

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To talk about ability in other tenses use โ€™ABLE TOโ€™. (โ€™canโ€™ only has present and past forms)

  • โ€™Iโ€™m sorry, I wonโ€™t be able to go to your party.โ€™
    (Future: will/wonโ€™t be able to do something)
  • โ€™I havenโ€™t been able to talk to him since the accident.โ€™
    (Present Perfect: have/has been able to do something)

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Recommended for you:
Can vs Able To!
Can Could with Many Examples

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Use โ€™ABLE TOโ€™ for INFINITIVES and GERUNDS

  • โ€™I want to be able to speak five languages.โ€™
  • โ€™I love being able to communicate with so many people.โ€™

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You can also use โ€™ABLE TOโ€™ in the Present and the Past, but they sound a bit more formal.

  • โ€™No matter what I do, Iโ€™m not able to quit smoking.โ€™
  • โ€™She wasnโ€™t able to look me in the eye.โ€™

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Use โ€™able toโ€™ with modal verbs.

  • โ€™You should be able to do that on your own by now.โ€™
  • โ€™Heโ€™s an electrician. He must be able to fix this lamp.โ€™

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ASKING FOR SOMETHING

[Tweet โ€œUse โ€™CANโ€™, โ€™COULDโ€™ and โ€™MAYโ€™ when asking for permission. โ€™MAY โ€™ is considered formal- people usually just say โ€™Can Iโ€ฆ?โ€™โ€]

Use โ€™CANโ€™, โ€™COULDโ€™ and โ€™MAYโ€™ when asking for permission. โ€™MAY โ€™ is considered formalโ€“ people usually just say โ€™Can Iโ€ฆ?โ€™ or more politely โ€™Could Iโ€ฆ?โ€™

  • โ€™ Can I possibly use your phone?โ€™
    โ€™Of course. No problem.โ€™
  • โ€™Could I take tomorrow afternoon off?โ€™
    โ€™Sure. Just tell Susie about it.โ€™
  • โ€™May I wait here?โ€™
    โ€™Iโ€™m afraid, Sir, youโ€™ll have to wait downstairs.โ€™

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MAKING REQUESTS

[Tweet โ€œโ€™CANโ€™ , โ€™COULDโ€™, โ€™WILLโ€™ and โ€™WOULDโ€™ are also used when asking somebody to do something for you. โ€œ]

โ€™CANโ€™ , โ€™COULDโ€™, โ€™WILLโ€™ and โ€™WOULDโ€™ are also used when asking somebody to do something for you.
โ€™COULDโ€™ and โ€™WOULDโ€™ are considered more polite.

  • โ€™Can you get me some coffee on the way back?โ€™
  • โ€™Can you sign it here, please?โ€™
  • โ€™Will you wait here until I call you?โ€™
  • โ€™Could you tell me the time, please?โ€™
  • โ€™Would you call back later, please?โ€™

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POSSIBILITY

[Tweet โ€œWhen you are sure or not so sure about something, use โ€™MUSTโ€™, โ€™MAYโ€™, COULDโ€™, โ€™MIGHTโ€™ and โ€™CANโ€™Tโ€™โ€]

When you are sure or not so sure about something, use โ€™MUSTโ€™, โ€™MAYโ€™, COULDโ€™, โ€™MIGHTโ€™ and โ€™CANโ€™Tโ€™ to express different levels of certainty.

  • โ€™Is that Jack at the door?โ€™
    โ€™Yes, it must be him.โ€™ (the speaker is 100% sure)
    โ€™No, it canโ€™t be him. Heโ€™s at work.โ€™ (the speaker is 100% sure)
  • โ€™Can you buy some more wine, please? Susan and her husband may pop in later.โ€™ (the speaker is about 50% sure)
  • โ€™I might visit her when Iโ€™m in Paris.โ€™ (the speaker is about 30% sure)
  • โ€™Have you find your glasses?โ€™
    โ€™I havenโ€™t. They could be in the car.โ€™ (it is just one of many possibilities)
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