§3.4 kunnen & mogen

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2,3

§3.4 Modal Verbs

Kunnen/mogen

Vermogen, vaardigheid of mogelijkheid

•  Can --> alleen bij de tegenwoordige tijd (kunnen)
• I can help you with that if you want
• Could --> 'zou kunnen'
• I could help you with that if you want
• Could --> verleden tijd van can
• I couldn't go to the beach yesterday
• Am/Is/Are/Was/Were/Will be + able to --> gebruikt in alle tijden
• I wasn't able to help him yesterday, I'm not able to help today either, but I will be able to help him tomorrow.

Toestemming

• Can --> alleen in tegenwoordige tijd 
• Dad said I can stay over tonight
• Could --> alleen in verleden tijd
• Dad told me that I could stay over last week
• Be allowed to --> alle tijden
• I was allowed to stay up until 11pm yesterday
• I will not be allowed to go on holiday if I don't pass my exams

Beleefde vragen stellen

• Can --> minder beleefd, vooral met vrienden
• Can you help me with my homework?
  
  
• Could --> beleefder, met onbekenden of oudere mensen
• Dad, could you help me with my chores? 

was/were able to

• Om aan te geven dat je op één bepaald moment in het verleden in staat was om iets te doen
• I was able to buy that new PS5 game for very cheap yesterday. 

Exercise 1

Can, cannot, could or could not?

Complete each sentence with the missing modal verbs.

You __ park here, it is forbidden.

Sam __ go to the party because he was too busy.

He does not have a racket so he __ play tennis.

___ you ride a bike when you were seven?

Pamela is a ballerina, she __ dance very well.

They __ see the lunar eclipse yesterday.

If my sister were younger, she __ learn English.

I looked everywhere but I __ find my keys.

__ dinosaurs fly?

If you are hungry, you __ eat a banana.

Exercise 2

Could or Was/were able to?

Complete each sentence with the missing modal verbs.

Only use was/were able to for successes!

Our team ___ win the cup six times.

Walter __ avoid the dog at the last moment.

Frank ___ speak any Spanish before he moved to Spain.

John __ walk for a couple of weeks because his leg was broken.

Scientists ___ take a picture of a black hole last year.