英语词汇ability can and could的意思、翻译、用法及例句-英语用法大全

Contents overview

ability : can and could82 ability: can and could1knowledge, skill, strength, etc: I can read Italian.We use can to say what people and things are able (or unable) to do because of their knowledge, skill, strength, nature, design, etc.I can read Italian, but I can't speak it.Dogs can't climb trees.Henry can lift 100 kilos.These roses can grow anywhere.Can gases freeze?My car can do 150mph.Be able to (85) is used with similar meanings, especially when we are talking about people's ability.Henry is able to lift 100 kilos.2possible in the situation: We can go to Paris.We also use can to say what we are able (or unable) to do because of the circumstances that we are in – what is possible in the situation.We can go to Paris this weekend, because I don't have to work.I can't come out this evening: I have to see my brother.There are three possibilities: we can go to the police, we can talk to a lawyer, or we can forget all about it.'What can we do?''We can try asking Lucy for help.'Anybody who wants to can join the club.3past: She could read when she was four.We use could to talk about general ability in the past.She could read when she was four.My grandmother could sing like an angel.My last car could do 160mph.In those days everybody could find a job.It could be quite frightening if you were alone in our big old house.Was/were able to is also possible, especially to talk about people's ability.She was able to read when she was four.4past: could is not always possibleWe use could for 'general ability' – for example to say that somebody could do something at any time, whenever he/she wanted.When I was younger, I could run 10km in under 40 minutes.We do not normally use could to say that somebody did something on one occasion. Instead, we use other expressions.I managed to run 10km yesterday in under an hour. (not I could run 10km yesterday …)How many eggs were you able to get? (not … could you get?)After six hours' climbing, we succeeded in getting to the top of the mountain. (not … we could get to the top …)I found a really nice dress in the sale. (not I could find …)However, we use couldn't to say that something did not happen on one occasion.I managed to find the street, but I couldn't find her house.5other uses of couldCould is not only past: we also use it as a 'softer', less definite form of can.'What shall we do tomorrow?''Well, we could go fishing.'When you're in Spain, you could go and see Alex.Could can mean 'would be able to'.You could get a better job if you spoke a foreign language.Could is used in past indirect speech, when can was used in direct speech.'Can you help me?''What did you say?''I asked if you could help me.'6could have …We use a special structure to talk about unrealised past ability or opportunities – to say that somebody was able to do something, but did not do it; or that something was possible, but did not happen.could have + past participleI could have married anybody I wanted to.I was so angry I could have killed her!Why did you jump out of the window? You could have hurt yourself.I could have won the race if I hadn't fallen.This structure can be used to criticise people for not doing things.You could have helped me – why did you just sit and watch?Negative sentences suggest that somebody would not have been able to do something even if they had wanted or tried to.I couldn't have won, so I didn't go in for the race.I couldn't have enjoyed myself more – it was a perfect day.The structure is sometimes used to talk about past events which are not certain to have happened (like may/might have – 71.8).'Who sent those flowers?''I'm not sure. It could have been your mother.'This structure can also refer to present situations which were possible but which have not been realised.He could have been Prime Minister now if he hadn't decided to leave politics.We could have spent today at the beach, but we thought it was going to rain so we decided not to go.7chances: Will it happen? / Is it happening? – can not usedWe do not use can to talk about the chances (probability) that something will actually happen, or is actually happening. Instead, we use may (71).We may go camping this summer. (not We can go …)'Where's Sarah?''She may be with Joe.' (not She can be …)However, could is possible in this sense.It could rain later this evening, perhaps. (but not It can rain later …)Previous Next

词组	ability can and could
释义	Contents overview ability : can and couldModal Auxiliary Verbs82 ability: can and could1knowledge, skill, strength, etc: I can read Italian.We use can to say what people and things are able (or unable) to do because of their knowledge, skill, strength, nature, design, etc.I can read Italian, but I can't speak it.Dogs can't climb trees.Henry can lift 100 kilos.These roses can grow anywhere.Can gases freeze?My car can do 150mph.Be able to (85) is used with similar meanings, especially when we are talking about people's ability.Henry is able to lift 100 kilos.2possible in the situation: We can go to Paris.We also use can to say what we are able (or unable) to do because of the circumstances that we are in – what is possible in the situation.We can go to Paris this weekend, because I don't have to work.I can't come out this evening: I have to see my brother.There are three possibilities: we can go to the police, we can talk to a lawyer, or we can forget all about it.'What can we do?''We can try asking Lucy for help.'Anybody who wants to can join the club.3past: She could read when she was four.We use could to talk about general ability in the past.She could read when she was four.My grandmother could sing like an angel.My last car could do 160mph.In those days everybody could find a job.It could be quite frightening if you were alone in our big old house.Was/were able to is also possible, especially to talk about people's ability.She was able to read when she was four.4past: could is not always possibleWe use could for 'general ability' – for example to say that somebody could do something at any time, whenever he/she wanted.When I was younger, I could run 10km in under 40 minutes.We do not normally use could to say that somebody did something on one occasion. Instead, we use other expressions.I managed to run 10km yesterday in under an hour. (not I could run 10km yesterday …)How many eggs were you able to get? (not … could you get?)After six hours' climbing, we succeeded in getting to the top of the mountain. (not … we could get to the top …)I found a really nice dress in the sale. (not I could find …)However, we use couldn't to say that something did not happen on one occasion.I managed to find the street, but I couldn't find her house.5other uses of couldCould is not only past: we also use it as a 'softer', less definite form of can.'What shall we do tomorrow?''Well, we could go fishing.'When you're in Spain, you could go and see Alex.Could can mean 'would be able to'.You could get a better job if you spoke a foreign language.Could is used in past indirect speech, when can was used in direct speech.'Can you help me?''What did you say?''I asked if you could help me.'6could have …We use a special structure to talk about unrealised past ability or opportunities – to say that somebody was able to do something, but did not do it; or that something was possible, but did not happen.could have + past participleI could have married anybody I wanted to.I was so angry I could have killed her!Why did you jump out of the window? You could have hurt yourself.I could have won the race if I hadn't fallen.This structure can be used to criticise people for not doing things.You could have helped me – why did you just sit and watch?Negative sentences suggest that somebody would not have been able to do something even if they had wanted or tried to.I couldn't have won, so I didn't go in for the race.I couldn't have enjoyed myself more – it was a perfect day.The structure is sometimes used to talk about past events which are not certain to have happened (like may/might have – 71.8).'Who sent those flowers?''I'm not sure. It could have been your mother.'This structure can also refer to present situations which were possible but which have not been realised.He could have been Prime Minister now if he hadn't decided to leave politics.We could have spent today at the beach, but we thought it was going to rain so we decided not to go.7chances: Will it happen? / Is it happening? – can not usedWe do not use can to talk about the chances (probability) that something will actually happen, or is actually happening. Instead, we use may (71).We may go camping this summer. (not We can go …)'Where's Sarah?''She may be with Joe.' (not She can be …)However, could is possible in this sense.It could rain later this evening, perhaps. (but not It can rain later …)Previous Next
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