Both Can and Could

Can和Could都是情態動情。一般來說，Could比Can更有禮貌（或者說更正式）。

CAN

The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission. However there are some other used of Can as we will see below.

Can的三種主要用法是：1) 能力 2) 可能性 3) 允許。但是正如我們下面將會看到的那樣，Can也還有其它的一些用法。

1. To express ability 表示能力

Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.

Can意思是（身體上）能夠做某事或知道如何做某事

• Birds can fly. 鳥兒能飛。
• Elephants can't fly. 大象不能飛
• I can speak two languages. 我能說兩種語言。

2. To express a possibility (in general) 表示（一般意思上的）可能性

This refers to a theoretical possibility.

這指的是理論上的可能性.

Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you would use may or might.

注意：我們不用can來談論將來的可能性。而是用may或might.

• It can get cold there at night so take a jacket. 夜裡會變冷，所以拿件夾克吧。
• I know you can win the competition. 我知道你能贏得比賽。
• Well, I think your car can be repaired, but it's not going to be cheap. 那麼，我想你的車能修好，但不會太便宜。

3. To offer to do something for others 答應為其它人做某事

Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do something for them.

當你答應幫助某些人，或為他們做某事的時候，會用Can。

• You don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you like. 你不需要走回家。如果你願意的話，我能載你到那。
• Can I carry your bags for you? 需要我為您提行李嗎？

4. To ask for or give permission / To request something 要求或允許 / 請求某事

Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission.

Can用來請求許可或給出許可。

Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.

注意：Can't用來拒絕請求。

• You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now. 你可以使用我的雨傘，我現在不需要它。
• Can I sit in that chair please? 請問我能坐那個椅子嗎？
• Mary, you can play outside if you like. Mary，如果你願意，可以在外面玩。
• Can I ask you a question? 我能問你個問題嗎？
• You can't go to the park. It will still be wet from the rain last night.你不能去公園。昨天下了雨，地還沒幹。
• We can't leave the room until the assignment is completed. 在作業完成前，我們不能離開房間。

5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed

Can't: 某些被禁止或不允許的事情

• We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant.我們不能在消防栓旁邊停車。
• You can drive as fast as you want on the German motorways.在德國高速公路上，你想開多快就開多快。
• You can't smoke in the restaurant. 你不能在飯店抽菸。
• You cannot drive a car without a license.你不能無證駕駛小汽車。

6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something is surprising

• It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm! 外面不會真的黑了吧，這才下午四點半。
• They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax. 他們不可能登錄了月球，我敢確定這就是個惡作劇

COULD

Could is similar to Can and often replaces Can in the past tense (though not always)

Could和Can類似，經常在過去時態中替代Can(雖然不是一定要替代）

1. To express ability in the past 表示過去的能力

• I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't. 在我小時侯能騎馬，但現在不會了。
• She could juggle eight balls when she was only 10 years old.她10歲時就能同時玩8個球。
• He could read when he was three years old.當他3歲時就會讀書了。

2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to request something (in the present) 當請求許可或某物時的禮貌詞語（現在時）

• Could I please use your bathroom? 請問我能用您的浴室嗎？
• Could we move on to the next topic now please?請問我們可以推進到下一個話題了嗎？
• Could you pass me the salt please?請問您可以把鹽遞給我嗎？
• I'm busy right now. Could you call back later?我現在在忙。您能一會再打過來嗎？

3. General permission in the past 過去的一般許可

• In high school, we couldn't leave the classroom without a pass. 在高中，我們在未得到允許時不能離開教室。
• He couldn't go to the concert because his mother wouldn't let him.他不能去演唱會，因為他的媽媽不讓他去。

4. A suggestion when asked what to do (choices and opportunities) 當問到做什麼時的一個建議（選擇和機會）

• He could try and fix it himself. 他可以試著自己修好它。
• We could go to the movies if you are interested. 如果你感興趣的話，我們可以去看電影。

5. Couldn't: Sure that something is untrue

Couldn't: 確定某事是假的。

Just like can't, you can use couldn't when you are sure that something isn't true or real.

就像can't一樣，當你確定某事不是真的時，可以用couldn't

• That couldn't be my cat meowing outside, it was hit by a car last week. 那不可能是我的貓在外面叫，它上星期被一輛車撞了。
• He couldn't have painted that. He has no artistic ability at all.他不可能畫了那幅畫。他一點藝術細胞也沒有。

6. Could + have + past participle: To express a possibility in the past

Could + have + 過去分詞：表示過去的一種可能性

To express that something was possible but did not happen.

表達了某些有可能但未發生的事情。

• We were lucky because it could have rained but it didn't. 我們是幸運的，因為本可能下雨但沒下。
• Why did you do that? You could have broken your leg.為什麼你那樣做？你可能會弄傷你的腿的。

7. Could + have + past participle: Unrealised past ability

Could + have + 過去分詞：未意識到的過去的能力

This is used to say that someone was able to do something, but they did not try to do it. Sometimes this is a form of criticism.

這用來表示：某人以前能做某事，但他們沒有試著那樣做。有時這是一種批評的形式。

• She
  could have married anyone she wanted to. 以前她本可以嫁給任何她想嫁的人。
• Why did you sit there doing nothing? You could have helped me. 你為什麼坐那裡啥也不做？你本可以幫幫我。

8. Could: A conditional form of Can

Could：條件語句中的Can。

Would + Can = Could. Note: Would be able to can replace could in the following examples.

Would + Can = Could. 注意：下面的例子裡的Would be able to可以替代could

• If we had some oranges I could make you some fresh juice.如果我們有些桔子，我可以給你做新鮮的桔汁。
• I could write the letter if you told me what to include. 我可以寫這個信件，如果你告訴我需要包括哪些內容的話。

Can vs Could Summary Chart

閱讀更多 寶寶學英語 的文章

關鍵字: Room S.H.E 電影夢工廠