How to form Sentences using Modal Verbs by Vandana Mam
Use CAN to make sentences.

Sentence formation is an important aspect in spoke English. one can speck effective and correct English when he knows how to frame sentences. In order to frame correct sentence one should know the basic grammar rule.

In this lesson we will discuss basic rules to form Sentences using Modal Verbs. Core modal verbs have only one form. They have no to-infinitive form, -ing form, past form or -ed form. We have to reword what we want to say by using other expressions:

Example :
I’d love to be able to see the Taj Mahal one day.
Not: I’d love to can see the Taj Mahal one day.

They had to sell their house.
Not: They musted sell their house.

The modal 'can' is a commonly used modal verb in English. It is used to express; ability, opportunity, a request, to grant permission, to show possibility or impossibility. It is this large amount of functions and the fact that ‘can’ is replaced by other modals when it is used to express future or past time that often lead to certain errors.

Here are some examples of 'can':

He can play the piano. Ability
We can visit my sister when we are in Brighton. Opportunity
You cannot (can't) use my car. Permission
Can I borrow your pen? Request
You can learn Japanese at that school. Possibility

Can – present – past – future
Like most modal verbs 'can' is very different in the past or future. Here is how 'can' is used in different situations.

Ability
Present I can play the piano / I can't play the violin
Past (could) I could play the piano as a child. / I couldn't play the violin as a child.
Future I will be able to play the piano soon / I won't be able to play the violin.

When referring to ability during a specific event 'was able to' replaces could:
With my friend's help, we were able to clear the garage in no time at all.

Opportunity
Present I'm free now. We can go. / I'm not free now. We can't go yet.
Past (be able to) I was free so we were able to go. / I was not free so we were unable to go.
Future I'll be free then so we can go. / I won't be free then so we can't go.

Permission
Present I can stay at Danny's when he's out of town. / I can't stay at Danny's when he's out of town.
Past I was allowed to stay at Danny's when he was out of town. / I wasn't allowed to stay at Danny's when he was out of town.
Future I can stay at Danny's when he's out of town next month. / I can't stay at Danny's when he's out of town next week.

With permission 'may' is also used although this is seen as more formal.

Request:
Present Can I have a coffee? / Can't I have a coffee?
With requests the time is usually the near future. 'May' or 'could' are also possible.

Possibility:
Present You can earn a lot of money in gaming. / You can't earn a lot of money as a teacher
Possibility with 'can' is normally used for generalisations. 'Could' is also possible.

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