Modal verbs

can and could

Can adalah modal verb (atau modal auxiliary verb).

Pola

(+) S + can + V1

(-) S + cannot/can’t + V1

(?) Can + S + V1

Bentuk orang ketiga tunggal (third person singular) tidak ditambah akhiran –s.

- She cans swim very well. (Salah)

- She can swim very well. (Benar)

Kalimat pertanyaan dan negatif tanpa menggunakan do.

- Do you can swim? (Salah)

- Can you swim? (Benar)

- I don’t can swim. (Salah)

 - I can’t swim. (Benar)

Setelah can, gunakan infinitive tanpa to (infinitive without to).

- I can to speak a little English. (Salah)

- I can speak a little English. (Benar)

Can tidak memiliki bentuk infinitive atau participles. Bila diperlukan, bisa menggunakan bentuk lain yaitu (to) be able to yang memiliki makna yang sama.

- I’d like to be able to stay here. (Bukan … to can stay …)

- You’ll be able to walk soon. (Bukan You’ll can …)

- I’ve always been able to play games well. (Bukan I’ve always could …)

- I’ve always been allowed to do what I liked. (Bukan I’ve always could …)

Could adalah bentuk ”past tense” dari can. Tetapi penggunaan could tidak hanya dalam bentuk past, tetapi juga present atau future.

- I could read when I was four.

- You could be right.

- Could I see you tomorrow evening?

Pola

(+) S + could + V1

(-) S + could not/couldn’t + V1

(?) Could + S + V1

Could juga digunakan untuk kalimat pengandaian (conditional sentences).

- I could marry him if I wanted to.

- If only we had enough money, we could go to Europe for our holiday.

Can dan could terutama digunakan untuk:

a. menyatakan ability

b. menyatakan possibility

c. meminta dan memberikan permission

d. menawarkan, meminta seseorang untuk melakukan sesuatu

 

 

                                               Source:  http://catatanbahasainggris.blogspot.com