Эквивалент модального глагола CAN

Оглавление —> Глагол

Продолжаем знакомиться с модальным глаголом CAN. Порядок изучения модальных глаголов состоит из четырех пунктов. Перевод и грамматический закон мы уже рассмотрели. Рассмотрим третий пункт — эквивалент модального глагола CAN.

3. ЭКВИВАЛЕНТ модального глагола CAN.

Поскольку модальные глаголы являются недостаточными, то для восполнения недостающих форм употребляются синонимичные обороты или эквиваленты.

Так, эквивалентом модального глагола CAN является оборот:

TO BE ABLE TO = быть в состоянии;

Прилагательное — ABLE = способный , умелый.

Возьмем глагол “to speak” = “говорить” и проспрягаем его с модальным глаголом CAN в настоящем времени. Поставим предложения в утвердительную (+) и вопросительную (?) формы.

(+) I am able to speak English. (?) Am I able to speak English?

(+) You are able to speak English. (?) Are you able to speak English?

(+) He is able to speak English. (?) Is he able to speak English?

(+) She is able to speak English. (?) Is she able to speak English?

(+) It is able to speak English. (?) Is it able to speak English?

(+) We are able to speak English. (?) Are we able to speak English?

(+) You are able to speak English. (?) Are you able to speak English?

(+) They are able to speak English. (?) Are they able to speak English?

Отрицательную (-) форму можно образовывать при помощи отрицательного суффикса “UN”. Есть и сокращенные формы: AREN’T и ISN’T.

(-) I am not able to speak English = I am unable to speak English.

(-) You are not able to speak English = You are unable to speak English.

(-) He is not able to speak English. = He is unable to speak English.

(-) She is not able to speak English. = She is unable to speak English.

(-) It is not able to speak English. = It is unable to speak English.

(-) We are not able to speak English. = We are unable to speak English.

(-) You are not able to speak English. = You are unable to speak English.

(-) They are not able to speak English. = They are unable to speak English.

Как и всякий синоним эквивалент “to be able to” отличается от модального глагола CAN.

CAN = означает умение, возможность и способность совершить действие ВООБЩЕ, ВСЕГДА, ОБЫЧНО и т.д.

to be able to = означает возможность совершить действие в данном , конкретном случае, в данное, определенное время.

I can drive a car but now I am unable to drive the car because I’ve drunk too much. = Я умею (могу) водить машину, но сейчас я не могу вести машину , так как я слишком много выпил.

He can cook but he is unable to cook because he is busy. = Он может (умеет) готовить, но сейчас он не может готовить, так как он занят.

Однако в настоящем времени глагол может выражать тот же смысл — способность или возможность совершить действие в данный, конкретный момент.

Can you come to the meeting tomorrow? = Вы сумеете прийти завтра на собрание? ( Свободны ли вы? Есть ли у вас возможность прийти?)

Can you lend me this book? = Вы можете одолжить мне эту книгу?

I can’t go there now , I don’t feel well. = Я не могу идти туда сейчас, я плохо себя чувствую.

Проспрягаем эквивалент модального глагола CAN = “to be able to” в прошедшем времени. Поставим предложения в утвердительную (+) и вопросительную (?) формы.

(+) I was able to do it. (?) Was I able to do it?

(+) You were able to do it . (?) Were you able to do it?

(+) He was able to do it . (?) Was he able to do it?

(+) She was able to do it. (?) Was she able to do it?

(+) It was able to do it. (?) Was it able to do it?

(+) We were able to do it. (?) Were we able to do it?

(+) You were able to do it. (?) Were you able to do it?

(+) They were able to do it. (?) Were they able to do it ?

Отрицательная форму эквивалента в прошедшем времени может образовываться с помощью отрицательного суффикса “UN”. Есть и сокращенные формы: WAS’T и WERE’T.

(-) I was not able to do it. = I was unable to do it.

(-) You were not able to do it = You were unable to do it.

(-) He was not able to do it . = He was unable to do it.

(-) She was not able to do it. = She was unable to do it.

(-) It was not able to do it. = It was unable to do it.

(-) We were not able to do it. = We were unable to do it.

(-) You were not able to do it . = You were unable to do it.

(-) They were not able to do it. = They were unable to do it.

В прошедшем времени модальный глагол COULD заметно отличается от своего эквивалента “was/were able to”.

He could speak German well when he was young. = Он умел (мог ) говорить по-немецки, когда был молодым.

John was able to convince his brother. = Джон сумел ( был в состоянии) убедить своего брата.