Can, could, may, might, to be able to & to be allowed to

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO & TO BE ALLOWED TO

CAN, COULD, MIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO & TO BE ALLOWED TO

De Engelse taal kent een aantal werkwoorden die we kunnen gebruiken voor situaties waarin we in het Nederlands “(zou) kunnen” of “(zou) mogen” gebruiken, namelijk:

• Can + hele werkwoord
  
• Could + hele werkwoord
  
• May + hele werkwoord
  
• Might + hele werkwoord
  
• To be able to + hele werkwoord
  
• To be allowed to + hele werkwoord

CAN, COULD, MIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO & TO BE ALLOWED TO

We gaan het gebruik van deze werkwoorden bespreken. We maken hierbij onderscheid tussen de volgende categorieën:

1. (Zou) kunnen
   
2. (Zou) mogen
   
3. Een beleefde vraag stellen
   

(ZOU) KUNNEN

Wanneer we willen zeggen dat iets mogelijk is, gebruiken we can, could, may of might.

• It can become very hot in Africa (probable).
• It could become very hot tomorrow (possible).
• It may become hot, but only if the sun manages to come out (possible, though unlikely).
• It might become hot, but as it’s nearly winter, that’s unlikely (possible, though the odds that it ends up happening are low).

Wanneer we willen zeggen dat iets niet mogelijk is, gebruiken we can’t, couldn’t, may not of might not.

(ZOU) KUNNEN

Als we het vermogen, de vaardigheden of de mogelijkheden hebben om iets te doen, gebruiken we can, could of to be able to.

• Can gebruiken we alleen in de present simple.
• Could gebruiken we zowel in de present als past simple.
• To be able to kunnen we met alle werkwoordstijden gebruiken.

(ZOU) KUNNEN

Als we het vermogen, de vaardigheden of de mogelijkheden hebben om iets te doen, gebruiken we can, could of to be able to.

• I can help you.
• I could be of assistance.
• Luckily, we could help them with them with their homework.
• Tim was able to get us tickets to Metallica.

Als we het vermogen, de vaardigheden of de mogelijkheden niet hebben om iets te doen, gebruiken we can’t, couldn’t of to be unable to.

(ZOU) MOGEN

Om aan te geven dat we ergens toestemming voor hebben, gebruiken we can, could, may of to be allowed to.

• Mum says I can stay until midnight.
• Mum said I could stay until midnight.
• You may speak now.
• Were you allowed to stay over at Jeremy’s house?

Om aan te geven dat we ergens geen toestemming voor hebben, gebruiken we can’t, couldn’t, may not of to be not allowed to.

EEN BELEEFDE VRAAG STELLEN

Om (heel) beleefd te vragen of iets mag of kan, gebruiken we can, could, may of might, vaak in combinatie met please. Can is het minst beleefd, might is het meest beleefd en formeel.

• Can I have some tea, please?
• Could I have some tea, please?
• May I have some tea, please?
• Might I have some tea, please?

CAN, COULD, MIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO & TO BE ALLOWED TO

Complete the gaps with a form of can, could, may, might, to be able to or to be allowed to.

1. ___ you please pass me that book over there?
   
2. When he was young he ___ dance all night long.
   
3. ___ you speak Chinese?
   
4. You ___ at least come with us and meet our new neighbour, don't you think?
   
5. It ___ be possible for me to help you, but don’t get your hopes up.
   
6. She ___ drive but she takes the bus to go to work.
   
7. Nowadays, people ___ travel very easily all over Europe.
   
8. ___ you please let me know your answer by the end of the week?
   
9. I don't know yet, but I ___ come with you after all!
   
10. Children ___ bring their teddy bears to school.

CAN, COULD, MIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO & TO BE ALLOWED TO

1. Could you please pass me that book over there?
   
2. When he was young he could dance all night long.
   
3. Can you speak Chinese?
   
4. You could at least come with us and meet our new neighbour, don't you think?
   
5. It may be possible for me to help you, but don’t get your hopes up.
   
6. She can drive but she takes the bus to go to work.
   
7. Nowadays, people are able to travel very easily all over Europe.
   
8. Could you please let me know your answer by the end of the week?
   
9. I don't know yet, but I might come with you after all!
   
10. Children are allowed to bring their teddy bears to school.