E02
core
Speaker stance
Modality
Ability Aura
Can someone do it?
basic
Modal verb
Can
含义
A modal layer expressing skill, capability, learned ability, physical possibility, or practical capacity.
如何识别
Ask whether the sentence says someone is able to do something.
示例
单词
can|able|know how to
短语
can swim|able to help|know how to cook
句子
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
语言视角
用母语深入讲解
中文
显性程度
strong
重要程度
Ability is commonly expressed with 会, 能, and 可以, each with different emphasis on learned skill, possibility, or permission.
我会说中文。
wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén = I can speak Chinese
在所学语言中
英语
显性程度
strong
学习难度
英语主要用 can/could 和 be able to 表示能力。can 这类情态动词后面直接接动词原形，不加 to。
I can swim.
can + swim：can 表示能力，意思是“有能力游泳”。
常见易错点
学习者可能在 can 后面加 to，例如 can to swim，或混淆 can 和 be able to 的用法。
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.