"Can" and "Could" Special Uses

"Can" and "Could" Special Uses
Can and could are modal auxiliaries used to express ideas such as ability, possibility and permission. They also have some special uses. For example, they are often used with verbs that do not have a continuous form to talk about ongoing states and experiences.

Complete the following sentences with an appropriate word or phrase.

1. I …………………….. Mary coming.
can see
am seeing
see
2. ………………….. somebody coming up the stairs?
Are you hearing
Can you hear
3. What did you put in the soup? I ………………… something funny.
taste
am tasting
can taste
4. Suddenly I realized I ……………….. something burning.
was smelling
could smell
5. I ………………… what she wanted.
knew
could knew
had known
6. I ………………… what she wanted.
guessed
could guess
Either could be used here
7. You ………………… she is British from her accent.
tell
told
can tell
8. I …………………… what you are talking about.
can't understand
don't understand
Either could be used here
9. She is an arrogant woman, but somehow you can’t ………………… her.
help to like
help like
help liking
10. I couldn’t ………………. what they said.
help to overhear
help overhearing
help overhear
11. I can’t help ……………………. what she wants.
but to wonder
but wonder
but wondering
12. I can't help .......................... what I should do next.
but wonder
wondering
Either could be used here
Answers
1. I can see Mary coming.
2. Can you hear somebody coming up the stairs?
3. What did you put in the soup? I can taste something funny.
4. Suddenly I realized I could smell something burning.
5. I knew what she wanted.
6. I guessed / could guess what she wanted.
7. You can tell she is British from her accent.
8. I can’t understand / don’t understand what you are talking about.
9. She is an arrogant woman, but somehow you can’t help liking her.
10. I couldn’t help overhearing what they said.
11. I can’t help but wonder what she wants.
12. I can’t help wondering / but wonder what I should do next.