Modals 'Kunnen'

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 3

Modal Verbs

Kunnen / Mogen

Can / Cannot

Je gebruikt can om aan te geven dat je iets 'kunt' of 'mag'

I can swim very well

You can borrow my car today.

Je gebruikt cannot om aan te geven dat je iets 'niet kunt' of 'niet mag'

We cannot swim very well

He can't hear anything, he is deaf

Could / Could not

Je gebruikt could om aan te geven of vragen dat iets 'zou kunnen' of 'zou mogen'

I could help you with that if you like.

Could I have a cup of tea please?

Je gebruikt could om aan te geven dat iets 'kon'

She could swim very well when she was younger

Je gebruikt could not om aan te geven dat iets 'niet kon'

He could not talk until he was five.

Could is beleefder dan can bij het vragen om hulp / toestemming.

to be able to =  in staat zijn om

Je gebruikt to be able to in combinatie met have, has, shall, should, will, enzovoorts.

I will be able to come to your party tomorrow.

She hasn't been able to do that assignment yet.

We should be able to win this match if we try hard enough.

to be able allowed to =  mogen

Je gebruikt to be able to in combinatie met have, has, shall, should, will, enzovoorts.

Are you allowed to go out tonight?

She won't be allowed to go out tonight because she failed her test.

Exercise 1

Can, cannot, could or could not?

Complete each sentence with the missing modal verbs.

Type the whole sentence!

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

be able to

Complete each sentence with the correct form of be able to.

Type the whole sentence!

Our team ___ win the cup six times so far.

Walter __ avoid the dog at the last moment.

We should _____ win if we try hard enough.

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

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