E02
core
Speaker stance
Modality
Ability Aura
Can someone do it?
basic
Modal verb
Can
Merkitys
A modal layer expressing skill, capability, learned ability, physical possibility, or practical capacity.
Näin tunnistat sen
Ask whether the sentence says someone is able to do something.
Esimerkit
Sanat
can|able|know how to
Ilmaukset
can swim|able to help|know how to cook
Lause
She can swim.
Visual guide
Basic shape
Ability layer person + CAN + action She + can + swim = skill / capacity / possibility = action is possible for her
Compare shape
Same meaning, different tools: Modal: can swim Phrase: able to help Know-how: know how to cook Affix/particle: swim-ABLE Construction: possible to swim
Kielinäkymä
Äidinkielelläsi
Englanti
Esiintyminen
strong
Tärkeys
English expresses ability mainly with can/could and be able to.
I can swim.
can = ability
Opiskeltavalla kielelläsi
Espanja
Esiintyminen
strong
Vaikeustaso
Ability is expressed mainly with saber for learned ability and poder for possibility/capacity.
Sé nadar. Puedo ayudarte.
I know how to swim. I can help you.
Tyypillinen oppijan haaste
Learners often confuse saber and poder.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.