Complete Guide to “Can Be” Modal Verbs: Usage, Examples, and Practice

Modal verbs are essential building blocks of English grammar, and “can be” is one of the most frequently used structures. This comprehensive guide will explain everything about “can be” – its meaning, rules, sentence structures, common mistakes, and practical usage with Hindi translations.

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Table of Contents

1. What Does “Can Be” Mean?
2. Grammatical Rules & Structures
3. Detailed Usage with Examples
4. “Can Be” vs. “Could Be”
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
6. Practice Exercises

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1. What Does “Can Be” Mean?

“Can be” is a modal verb phrase used to express:

• Possibility (संभावना) – Something may or may not happen
  Example: The weather can be stormy in July. (जुलाई में मौसम तूफानी हो सकता है।)
• Capability (क्षमता) – Someone/something has the potential
  Example: She can be a great artist. (वह एक महान कलाकार हो सकती है।)
• Permission (अनुमति) – Something is allowed
  Example: Phones can be used here. (यहाँ फोन इस्तेमाल किये जा सकते हैं।)
• Temporary State (अस्थायी अवस्था) – Behavior that changes
  Example: He can be very funny. (वह बहुत मज़ाकिया हो सकता है।)

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2. Grammatical Rules & Structures

Sentence Structures

Type	Structure	Example	Hindi Translation
Affirmative	Subject + can be + adjective/noun	Life can be unpredictable.	जीवन अप्रत्याशित हो सकता है।
Negative	Subject + cannot (can’t) be + adjective/noun	It can’t be false.	यह गलत नहीं हो सकता।
Interrogative	Can + subject + be + adjective/noun?	Can this be true?	क्या यह सच हो सकता है?

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3. Detailed Usage with Examples

Examples Table

S.No	English Example	Hindi Translation
1	This road can be dangerous at night.	रात में यह सड़क खतरनाक हो सकती है।
2	Learning English can be fun.	अंग्रेज़ी सीखना मज़ेदार हो सकता है।
3	He can be very stubborn sometimes.	वह कभी-कभी बहुत जिद्दी हो सकता है।
4	The weather can be unpredictable.	मौसम अप्रत्याशित हो सकता है।
5	Mistakes can be corrected.	गलतियाँ सुधारी जा सकती हैं।
6	She can be a great singer.	वह एक महान गायिका हो सकती है।
7	This medicine can be harmful.	यह दवा हानिकारक हो सकती है।
8	The meeting can be postponed.	बैठक स्थगित की जा सकती है।
9	Children can be very creative.	बच्चे बहुत रचनात्मक हो सकते हैं।
10	It can be a misunderstanding.	यह एक गलतफ़हमी हो सकती है।

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4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

 Incorrect: She can be sings well.
 Correct: She can sing well.

 Incorrect: This can be happens.
 Correct: This can happen.

 Incorrect: Can be he right?
 Correct: Can he be right?

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5. Practice Exercises

Section 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. This problem __________ solved easily.
2. She __________ very helpful when needed.
3. __________ this decision changed later?
4. Too much sugar __________ bad for health.
5. The results __________ surprising.

Section 2: Translate into Hindi

6. The exam can be tough this year.
7. They can be our best friends.
8. Can this project be completed on time?
9. His words can be misleading.
10. The event can be cancelled due to rain.

Section 3: Rewrite Using “Can Be”

11. It is possible to learn coding online.
12. Is it possible to meet the manager today?
13. Sometimes, people are very rude.
14. The keys might be lost.
15. This situation is changeable.

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Final Thoughts

Mastering “can be” will help you speak and write English more naturally. Practice regularly with the examples and exercises provided to reinforce your learning.

Need more clarification? Ask in the comments!