Question

Exercise 2. What is the meaning of "can/could" or its equivalents in the following sentences?Упражнение 2. Какое значение придает модальный глагол"can/could” и его эквиваленты следующим предложениям?1. Could you open the door for me? 2. You can go to the cinema ifyou want. 3. She can't swim. 4. You could have told me about it before.5. Can I smoke here? 6. I will be able to buy you the tickets tomorrowwhen I go to the city centre. 7. Can he be eating again? 8. We will beable to see the shooting stars in August. 9. You can go out when youfinish your homework. 10. Rob was not allowed to go to the cinemabut he went all the same!​

Answer 1

Ответ:

1.просьба (request)

2.разрешение (resolution)

3.физическая способность (physical ability)

4.упрек (reproach)

5.разрешение (resolution)

6.объективная возможность (objective opportunity)

7.удивление (surprise)

8.объективная возможность (objective opportunity)

9.разрешение (resolution)

10.запрет (ban)

Answer 2

In the given sentences, the modal verb "can/could" and its equivalents are used to express various meanings and functions:

1. Could you open the door for me?

   • In this sentence, "could" is used to make a polite request or ask for a favor.

2. You can go to the cinema if you want.

   • Here, "can" is used to indicate permission or the ability to do something. It suggests that the person is allowed to go to the cinema if they choose to.

3. She can't swim.

   • "Can't" is the negative form of "can" and is used to indicate a lack of ability or capability. In this case, she is not able to swim.

4. You could have told me about it before.

   • "Could have" is used to express past possibility or regret. It implies that the person had the opportunity to tell the speaker about something in the past, but they didn't.

5. Can I smoke here?

   • "Can" is used to seek permission in this sentence. The speaker is asking if it's permissible to smoke in the current location.

6. I will be able to buy you the tickets tomorrow when I go to the city center.

   • "Will be able to" is used to indicate a future ability or possibility. It suggests that the speaker will have the capability to buy tickets tomorrow.

7. Can he be eating again?

   • Here, "can" is used to express disbelief or surprise. The speaker is questioning whether it's possible or likely that he is eating again.

8. We will be able to see the shooting stars in August.

   • Similar to sentence 6, "will be able to" is used to express a future possibility. It implies that the speaker and others will have the opportunity to see shooting stars in August.

9. You can go out when you finish your homework.

   • "Can" is used to indicate permission in this sentence. The person is allowed to go out once they complete their homework.

10. Rob was not allowed to go to the cinema but he went all the same!

    • "Was not allowed to" indicates a lack of permission or restriction. However, Rob chose to go to the cinema despite not being permitted to do so.

In summary, "can/could" and its equivalents can be used to express permission, ability, requests, past possibilities, future possibilities, disbelief, and more, depending on the context of the sentence.