Summary of "Модальный глагол CAN – как употреблять"

Summary of the Video: “Модальный глагол CAN – как употреблять”

The video, presented by Marina Ozerova, focuses on explaining the correct usage of the modal verb “can” in English, particularly addressing common mistakes learners make when using it in different tenses.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Basic Usage of “Can” in Present Tense
- “Can” is a modal verb used equally with all persons (I, you, we, he, she, it).
- In the present tense, “can” does not take any endings (unlike regular verbs).
- Example: “You can,” “We can,” “He can” (no -s ending for he/she/it).
Problems with “Can” in Past and Future Tenses
- The modal verb “can” does not have a direct future form.
- To express ability in the future, English uses the phrase “will be able to” instead of “will can.”
- Example: “I will be able to swim,” not “I will can swim.”
Understanding the Translation of “Can” in Russian
- In Russian, there are two verbs that correspond to “can”:
  - “Мочь” (imperfective) — general ability or possibility.
  - “Смочь” (perfective) — completed ability or successful action.
- English distinguishes these aspects using different constructions:
  - Present: “can”
  - Past: “could” or “was/were able to”
  - Future: “will be able to”
Past Tense Forms
- “Could” is the past form of “can” but is often used to express general ability in the past.
- For specific completed actions in the past, use “was/were able to.”
- Example:
  - General ability: “I could swim when I was five.”
  - Specific accomplishment: “I was able to swim across the pool yesterday.”
Future Tense Construction
- Since “can” cannot be used in the future tense directly, replace it with “will be able to.”
- Example: “I think I will be able to pass the exam.”
Tense Agreement and Modal Verbs
- When coordinating tenses, especially in reported speech or complex sentences, use “could” for past general ability and “was/were able to” for specific past achievements.
- For future possibilities, always use “will be able to.”

Methodology / Instructions for Using “Can” Correctly

Present Tense: Use “can” + base verb (no endings) for all subjects. Example:

She can speak English.
Past Tense: Use “could” for general past ability. Use “was/were able to” for specific completed actions in the past. Examples:

I could run fast when I was young. I was able to finish the race last Sunday.
Future Tense: Replace “can” with “will be able to.” Example:

I will be able to help you tomorrow.
Reported Speech / Complex Sentences: Maintain tense consistency by using “could” or “was/were able to” appropriately. Example:

I thought I couldn’t come, but I was able to.

Additional Notes

The verb “can” is modal and does not conjugate with auxiliary verbs like “do” in questions or negatives.
The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the imperfective vs. perfective aspect in Russian to grasp the English distinctions.
Practice is encouraged to internalize these rules.