Modal (mis) Usage and the Weirdness of 'Could': English Weirdness, Ep. 1
This item is only available for Canadian orders.Catalogue Number: HBM001
Producer: Hard-Boiled English Media
Producing Agencies: Hard-Boiled English Media
Subject: Education, ELL/ESL, English, Language Arts, Professional Development, Study Skills
Language: English
Grade Level: 6 - 8, 9 - 12, Post Secondary, Adult
Country Of Origin: Canada
Copyright Year: 2020
Running Time: 9:12
‘Could’ vs. ‘Be Able To’: How to Use Modals in English Grammar
In this episode, we investigate the differences in meaning, from and use between the modals 'can', 'could' and 'be able to.' We pay particular attention to the strange anomaly of learners inaccurate grammar usage of 'could' to express a single positive action in the past.
English Weirdness is a video series that explores and investigates the strange side of the English language, its irregular grammar, contradictory syntax rules, and even the oddities created by learners as they attempt to navigate the complexities of this language made up of Latin, French, Celt, and German influences. The series is the creation of English-as-Second Language instructor Paul Duke from Vancouver, BC.
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