How well can you speak English? (您的英語說得如何？)
也許你曾被問過這個問題？也許你也問過自己這個問題！我們用英語動詞 'can' 來談論能力，而這通常是英語課堂上最先學習的動詞之一。在這篇網誌，我們會探討英語對話使用單詞 can 的時機及方式。
使用「Can」的時機？
Can 是一個情態動詞，與其他情態動詞一樣，具有幾個不同的功能，最常見是用來談論一般能力時。
I can count to 30 in Russian. (我能使用俄語數到 30。)
Daniela can swim 100 lengths of the pool. (Daniela 能游 100 個來回。)
can is cannot, or 的 Negative (否定形式) 是can't.。
I Can't speak French at all. (我根本不會說法語。)
Ali Can't play the piano. (Ali 不會彈鋼琴。)
Jenny Can't bake cakes. (Jenny 不會焗蛋糕。)
如何用「Can」來表示允許
我們還會使用 can 來徵求或給予允許。
Can I have another piece of cake please?
My son can stay out until 12 tonight.
要令句子更禮貌或正式，可以使用 'may' 來達致相同功能：
May I have a coffee please?
同樣，這種用法的反義詞是 can't.。
You can't go to the park until you finish your homework.
He can't come in, because he's not invited.
提議和請求
當我們提議提供某些事物時，也會使用 can’：
Can I help you with your bag?
Can I get you another cake?
我們亦可以用 ‘can’ 提出請求。
Can you open the window please?
Can you come here for a minute?
請注意：想要更禮貌一點，可以用 'could' 代替 can 來表示提議和請求。could 在英語中聽起來往往更為婉轉，因此感覺更有禮貌，尤其對年長人士更適用。
Could you come here for a minute?
Could I get you a drink?
用 ‘Can’ 來談論一般事實
Can 亦會用於談論通常是真實的事情，但未必適用於所有情況。
Too much time in front of a screen can lead to loneliness
Studying too hard can be a problem for young people.
在英語中使用 Can 有哪些規則？
作為情態動詞，can 不會像普通動詞般變化，只有一種形式，因此用起來相當簡單。不過，如果要談論過去或將來或使用不定式時，我們就必須使用不同的動詞形式。在這些情況下，我們會用到 'be able to'.。例子如下：
I think I can unlock the door with this key (Present)
I was able to unlock the door with the key (past - talking about a specific event)
In the future I will be able to speak English fluently (Future)
I would love to be able to write beautiful poetry.
can 的否定形式是 can't , or cannot.，又以 can't 最為常用。,但是，如果我們想特別強調，則可能會使用完整形式。比較：
She can't tell you what to do!
She cannot tell you what to do!(通常視為更強調)
疑問句是用 Can + 主詞構成：
Can Jodie come to the party?
Can you see the board OK?
使用 Can 或 Could 的例外情況
有時，如果想令句子更正式或更有禮貌，我們會用 could 代替 can；但在談論一般能力的情況下，Could 亦是 Can 的過去式。請看看以下句子：
When I was at university I could choose to study three languages.
I could read music much better when I was younger.
這兩句都暗示你已不再具備這些能力或選擇。
雖然我們只用 Could 來談論過去的一般能力，但亦會使用 Couldn't 這種否定形式來談論過去的一般能力，以及只發生過一次的事情。
要談論只發生過一次的事情，我們還可以使用 Be able to，因此以下三句都可行：
When he was a child he couldn't play any instruments.
John couldn't fix his computer, so he's taken it to a shop.
John wasn't able to fix his computer, so he's taken it to a shop.
在英語中使用 can 的常見錯誤
其中一個極常見的錯誤，是在 Can 後方使用不定式。就像所有情態動詞一樣，我們不能這樣寫。情態動詞後面一定緊隨不附帶 To 的不定式 (即原形動詞)
I can't to go to the party, because I don't feel well. (我不能去參加派對，因為我覺得不舒服。)✗
I can't go to the party, because I don't feel well. (我不能去參加派對，因為我覺得不舒服。)✓
學生學習英語時，亦經常忘記 can 並無將來式形態，所以會使用 'will can' (這是絕對錯誤的！)
In the future I will can drive. (將來我會開車。)✗
In the future I will be able to drive. (將來我會開車。)✓
另一個常見錯誤，是在談論過去時混淆 could 和 be able to。記得問問自己：你是想談論一般能力或技能，還是只發生過一次的事情 — 例如被困在電梯裡？
After half an hour of being stuck inside, George could open the lift door. (在被困在裡面半小時後，George 能夠打開電梯門。)✗
After half an hour of being stuck inside, George was able to open the lift door. (在被困在裡面半小時後，George 能夠打開電梯門。)✓
歌詞中使用 can 的名曲
《Can You Ever Forgive Me? (大老作家)》 是 2018 年上映的喜劇劇情片，講述一位沮喪的作家想出了賺錢大計。Melissa McCarthy 更憑藉片中的主演角色獲得奧斯卡金像獎提名。
The Beatles 樂隊寫了一首歌，關於兩個人如何相處得更融洽。https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyclqo_AV2M《We Can Work It Out (我們能解決問題)》是 1965 年的大熱金曲，講述我們可以多聆聽對方的心聲，從而解決問題。
Justin Timberlake 的https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw《Can't Stop the Feeling (無法停止這種感覺)》朗朗上口，原本是人氣電影《Trolls (魔髮精靈)》的原聲帶歌曲。這種感覺無法停止 (而且亦無法停止熱舞，從影片上就能看出！)
Mini quiz
請找出並改正這些句子中的錯誤。
1.Did you can play a musical instrument when you were at school?
2.Marta can to come to the meeting on Thursday.
3.I got up early yesterday and I could finish my project on time.
4.May you open the window please?
5.You need to ask your parents if you are able to stay out until midnight tomorrow.
Answers
1.Could you play a musical instrument when you were at school?
2.Marta can come to the meeting on Thursday.
3.I got up early yesterday and I was able to finish my project on time.
4.Can you open the window please?
5.You need to ask your parents if you can stay out until midnight tomorrow.