can – Early Modern English verb conjugation

Early Modern English verb forms of can

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to can
Participle: could
Gerund: canning

Transitiviness: transitive

Indicative

Present

Ican
thoucann(e)st
he;she;itcan
wecan
yecan
theycan

Preterit (Past)

Icould
thoucould(e)st
he;she;itcould
wecould
yecould
theycould

Subjunctive

Present

Ican
thoucan
he;she;itcan
wecan
yecan
theycan

Preterit (Past)

Icould
thoucould(e)st
he;she;itcould
wecould
yecould
theycould

Imperative

thoucan
yecan

Notes:

  • Compound forms (perfect, pluperfect) are formed either with 'have' or 'be'.
  • Future is formed as in modern English, with auxiliary 'will'.
  • Conditional is formed as in modern English, with auxiliary 'would'.
  • Continuous forms are formed with auxiliary 'be' and gerund. Sometimes the gerund is preceded by 'a-'
  • Plural forms in present lost the '-en' ending, and was used only as a stylistic affectation to indicate rural or old-fashioned speech.