Modal verbs with the meaning "to be able to, “can”, "may"
Modal verbs (情态动词) can be used to express possibility, desire, ability, and necessity. Modal verbs cannot appear without a predicate and can only appear in predicate phrases.
The verb 能
The modal verb 能 
is used in the following cases:
1) when there is an opportunity to do an act, i.e. it is either physically possible, or circumstances allow it to be done.
is used in the following cases:
1) when there is an opportunity to do an act, i.e. it is either physically possible, or circumstances allow it to be done.Examples
电脑能同时做多项工作
A computer can perform multiple operations at the same time
diànnǎo néng tóngshí zuò duō xiàng gōngzuò
我的手机没电了，我不能给他打电话
My phone is out of battery, so I can't call him
wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le, wǒ bù néng gěi tā dǎ diànhuà
Pay attention
The negative form of modal verbs is formed by adding the adverb 不 . The adverb 没 cannot be used.
. The adverb 没 cannot be used.
2) something is being done well.
The adverbs such as 很 or 最 are often placed before the verb 能.
or 最 are often placed before the verb 能.
Pay attention
In this meaning it is similar to the modal verb 会 .
.
Examples
海南岛最能吸引游客
Hainan Island attracts the most tourists
hǎinán dǎo zuì néng xīyǐn yóukè
这种菜很能填饱肚子
This food is very filling (That is, you easily get full from eating this food)
zhè zhòng cài hěn néng tián bǎo dùzi
3) there is an inanimate object that has some function. 能 is used to emphasize this function.
Examples
X射线能穿透很多物体
X-rays can penetrate many objects
x-shèxiàn néng chuān tòu hěn duō wùtǐ
4) the action is permitted by the rules of conduct.
Examples
我能提个问题吗？
Can I ask a question?
wǒ néng tí ge wèntí ma
5) the action seems reasonable to the speaker.
Examples
我们能补上那些漏洞
We can patch up those holes
wǒmen néng bǔ shàng nà xiē lòudòng
You can use 可以 to give a short positive answer to a question with 能.
不能 and 不行 are used to give a short negative answer to a question with 能.
to give a short positive answer to a question with 能.
不能 and 不行 are used to give a short negative answer to a question with 能.Examples
——你能不能早点出去？—— 可以
Can you leave earlier? — Yes, I can
nǐ néngbunéng zǎodiǎn chūqù — kěyǐ
——你能不能早点出去？—— 不能
Can you leave earlier? — No, I can't
nǐ néngbunéng zǎodiǎn chūqù — bù néng
The verb 能够
The verb 能够 is most often used in the written language.
能够 and 能 have differences only in usage.
is most often used in the written language.
能够 and 能 have differences only in usage.Examples
天花板和墙上的灯能够独立操控
The ceiling and wall lights can be controlled independently
tiānhuābǎn hé qiáng shàng de dēng nénggòu dúlì cāokòng
我保证她能够努力工作
I promise she will work hard
wǒ bǎozhèng tā nénggòu nǔlì gōngzuò
Pay attention
You can use 不能够 in a negative answer to a question with 能够.
A positive answer to a question with 能够 must be detailed.
An answer with 能够 cannot be short.
The verb 可以
The modal verb 可以 is used in the following cases:
1) when it expresses the ability of an object to do an action. It is translated as "can".
It is often used in compound sentences that contain certain conditions for doing an action.
is used in the following cases:
1) when it expresses the ability of an object to do an action. It is translated as "can".
It is often used in compound sentences that contain certain conditions for doing an action. Pay attention
The modal verbs 可以 and 能 are used almost interchangeably.
Examples
我可以帮你
I can help you
wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ
我们可以在码头抛锚
We can dock at the pier
wǒmen kěyǐ zài mǎtóu pāomáo
The negation is formed by using 不能.
Examples
——你可以说汉语吗？—— 不能，我只能说英语
Do you speak Chinese? — No, I only speak English
nǐ kěyǐ shuō hànyǔ ma — bù néng, wǒ zhǐ néng shuō yīngyǔ
2) when it indicates the availability of external conditions to do an action.
It is translated as "can, to be able to”.
Examples
今天我们没有课，可以休息
We have no classes today, so we can rest
jīntiān wǒmen méi yǒu kè, kěyǐ xiūxi
羊毛可以纺成毛线
You can spin the wool into yarn
yángmáo kěyǐ fǎng chéng máoxiàn
The negation is formed by using 不能.
Examples
现在房子里不能上网
There is no Internet access in the house now
xiànzài fángzi lǐ bù néng shàng wǎng
3) when it expresses permission. It is translated as “may”.
Examples
他们可以去湖里钓鱼
They can go fishing in the lake
tāmen kěyǐ qù hú lǐ diàoyú
The negation is formed by using 不能.
You can also use 不行 instead of 不能 to give a short negative answer.
Examples
——这儿可以抽烟吗？—— 不行/这儿不能抽烟
Can I smoke here? — No, you can't/You can't smoke here
zhèr kěyǐ chōuyān ma — bù xíng/zhèr bù néng chōuyān
Pay attention
In interrogative sentences with 可以, the pronoun 我 is usually omitted.
In this meaning, you can also negate using 不可以.
is usually omitted.
In this meaning, you can also negate using 不可以.However, 不可以 is used to express a strict prohibition. It can be used as a flat refusal.
Examples
不，我不准。你不可以
No, I forbid that. You can't do that
bù, wǒ bù zhǔn. nǐ bù kěyǐ
The verb 会
The modal verb 会 is used in the following three cases:
1) when referring to acquired skills and abilities.
is used in the following three cases:
1) when referring to acquired skills and abilities.Examples
他会说英语
He speaks English
tā huì shuō yīngyǔ
我们不会开车
We can't drive
wǒmen bú huì kāichē
2) when referring to a proficiency in something. It has the meaning "do something well".
Pay attention
会 is usually preceded by the adverbs 很 and 最.
Examples
你很会游泳啊
You're a good swimmer
nǐ hěn huì yóuyǒng a
妈妈很会画画
My mother is good at painting
māma hěn huì huà huà
Pay attention
In these two meanings it is similar to the verb 能.
3) when it expresses the probability of an event.
Examples
客人可能会来
We will probably have guests
kèrén kěnéng huì lái
明天还会下雪吗？
Will it snow tomorrow?
míngtiān hái huì xià xuě ma
会 can also be expressed in the future tense:
Examples
我会帮助她
I will help her
wǒ huì bāngzhù tā
The verb 可能
可能 expresses probability for an intended action or situation.
expresses probability for an intended action or situation. Pay attention
In colloquial speech, 可能 can be preceded by the adverbs 最 and 也 .
.Examples
这也可能是对的
That's probably right
zhè yě kěnéng shì duì de
早上可能会突然变冷
It can suddenly get cold in the morning
zǎoshang kěnéng huì túrán biàn lěng
可能 can be used as a noun, meaning "possibility". If you add the particle 的 to 可能, it can also be used as an attribute meaning "possible".
to 可能, it can also be used as an attribute meaning "possible".Examples
最可能的解释
The most likely explanation
zuì kěnéng de jiěshì
获胜的可能
The probability of winning
huòshèng de kěnéng
The verbs 准 and 许
The modal verbs 准 and 许 "to allow" are most commonly used in the negative form: 不准 and 不许.
They are most commonly used in written language.
and 许 "to allow" are most commonly used in the negative form: 不准 and 不许.
They are most commonly used in written language.Examples
他不准离开国家
He is not allowed to leave the country
tā bù zhǔn líkāi guójiā
你们不许看答案
You are not allowed to peek at the answers
nǐmen bù xǔ kàn dá'àn