E02
core
Speaker stance
Modality
Ability Aura
Can someone do it?
basic
Modal verb
Can
Significado
A modal layer expressing skill, capability, learned ability, physical possibility, or practical capacity.
Como identificar
Ask whether the sentence says someone is able to do something.
Exemplos
Palavras
can|able|know how to
Frases
can swim|able to help|know how to cook
Frase
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
Visão do idioma
No seu idioma nativo
Português
Presença
strong
Importância
Ability is commonly expressed with poder, saber, conseguir, ser capaz de, or dar para.
Eu sei nadar.
I know how to swim.
No seu idioma de aprendizado
Inglês
Presença
strong
Dificuldade
English expresses ability mainly with can/could and be able to.
I can swim.
can = ability
Dificuldade típica de quem aprende
Learners may add 'to' after modal verbs or confuse can and be able to.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.