 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
116
3. Permission.
Can we go home, Miss? Можно идти домой, мисс?
Не can go now. Теперь он может идти.
The teacher said we could go home. Учитель разрешил нам идти домой.
Can is now more common than may (or might) to express the idea permission.
4. Prohibition (it is found only with the negative form of the modal verb, as prohibition may be understood
as the negation of permission - not to be allowed to...). It corresponds to the Russian нельзя, не надо.
You can’t cross the street here. Здесь нельзя переходить улицу.
You can’t touch the exhibits in a museum (it is not allowed).
-
Can we stay here? - No, I’m afraid you can’t. (It’s not allowed.)
5. Request.
Can you hold on a minute, please?
Can I have some water?
Can you put the meat in salted water?
Could suggests a greater degree of politeness:
Could you come again tomorrow?
II. Can followed by any form of the infinitive may express:
1. Strong doubt, improbability, incredulity. This meaning occurs only with the negative form of the
modal verb + perfect infinitive, continuous infinitive, or be.
He can’t be working at this time
(it’s impossible that he is working...)
He can’t have seen it (it’s impossible that he saw it).
He can’t be there.
- He может быть, чтобы он работал сейчас.
- He может быть, чтобы он видел это.
- He может быть, чтобы он был там.
Could is used instead of can to express greater doubt. Thus the difference between can and could is in the
degree of expressiveness, could showing a greater degree of doubt or incredulity. The time-reference is
indicated not by the form of the verb but by that of the infinitive.
He
Can’t
Couldn’t
be so old.
- He может быть, что он так стар.
Не
Can’t
Couldn’t
be telling the truth.
- не может быть, что он говорит правду.
He
Can’t
Couldn’t
have told the truth.
- не может быть, чтобы он сказал правду.
2. Surprise, when can/could is used in questions. It corresponds to the Russian неужели ...
Can it be so late as all that? Неужели уже так поздно?
То refer the action to the past a perfect infinitive is used.
Could he have known her before? Неужели он знал ее раньше?
Could he have been telling her the truth?