Use of Can/ Could (present ability, permission, possibility)

Use of CAN (present ability, permission, possibility)

“Can” = सक्नु / सक्छ (present ability or possibility)

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1. Ability (क्षमता)

कुनै काम गर्न सक्ने क्षमता जनाउँछ।

Structure:
Subject + can + V1

Examples:

• I can swim.
  म पौडी खेल्न सक्छु।
• She can speak English.
  ऊ अंग्रेजी बोल्न सक्छे।

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2. Permission (अनुमति)

अनुमति माग्न वा दिन प्रयोग हुन्छ।

• Can I go out?
  के म बाहिर जान सक्छु?
• You can use my phone.
  तिमी मेरो फोन प्रयोग गर्न सक्छौ।

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3. Possibility (सम्भावना)

सम्भावना देखाउँछ।

• It can rain today.
  आज पानी पर्न सक्छ।
• This road can be dangerous.
  यो बाटो खतरनाक हुन सक्छ।

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4. Informal Request (साधारण अनुरोध)

साथीभाइबीच प्रयोग हुन्छ।

• Can you help me?
  के तिमी मलाई सहयोग गर्न सक्छौ?

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5. Prohibition (निषेध) – negative

• You cannot smoke here.
  👉 यहाँ धूम्रपान गर्न पाइँदैन।

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Use of COULD (past, polite, possibility, imaginary)

“Could” = सक्थ्यो / सक्थे / सक्नुहुन्थ्यो (past or polite)

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1. Past Ability (भूतकालको क्षमता)

पहिले गर्न सक्ने क्षमता।

• I could run fast when I was young.
  म सानो हुँदा छिटो दौडन सक्थें।
• She could dance well.
  ऊ राम्रोसँग नाच्न सक्थी।

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2. Polite Request (सभ्य अनुरोध)

“can” भन्दा धेरै सभ्य।

• Could you help me?
  के तपाईं मलाई सहयोग गर्नुहुन्छ?
• Could you open the door?
  के तपाईं ढोका खोल्नुहुन्छ?

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3. Permission (formal / polite)

• Could I use your pen?
  के म तपाईंको कलम प्रयोग गर्न सक्छु?

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4. Possibility (कम सम्भावना)

“can” भन्दा कम निश्चित।

• It could rain tonight.
  आज राति पानी पर्न सक्छ (कम सम्भावना)।

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5. Suggestion (सुझाव)

• You could try this method.
  तिमी यो तरिका प्रयास गर्न सक्छौ।

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6. Imaginary / If sentence (काल्पनिक अवस्था)

• If I had money, I could buy a car.
  यदि मसँग पैसा भएको भए म गाडी किन्न सक्थें।

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Difference between CAN and COULD

CAN	COULD
Present ability	Past ability
Informal	Polite / formal
Strong possibility	Weak possibility
I can swim	I could swim (when I was young)
Can you help me?	Could you help me? (more polite)

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Important Points (महत्वपूर्ण कुराहरू)

✔ Can = सक्छ / सक्नु (present)
✔ Could = सक्थ्यो / सक्थे (past)
✔ Could is more polite than can
✔ Could is used in if sentences
✔ Both use V1 (base verb)

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Practice Sentences

1.      I can solve this problem.
म यो समस्या समाधान गर्न सक्छु।

2.      She could sing when she was a child.
ऊ सानो हुँदा गाउन सक्थी।

3.      Can you lift this box?
के तिमी यो बाकस उठाउन सक्छौ?

4.      Could you please help me?
के तपाईं मलाई सहयोग गर्नुहुन्छ?