English grammar
Ability & Permission
"Can" and "could" express ability or permission, present and past. "May" is more formal. "Could you help me?" sounds politer than "Can you help me?", a distinction native speakers use instinctively.
can / could / may + base verb
Real Examples from Native Speakers
"Can you mix something with these two ingredients? No."
Random Ingredients Challenge For Dinner
How it works
Formula
can / could / may + base verb
This page combines the textbook rule with real-world English: every example is an unscripted clip from a real native speaker. You're hearing how this grammar point sounds in real life, not in a classroom.