Structural-semantic peculiarities of conditional sentences in english and uzbek

3) Could you tell me his address if it is possible? – Agar imkoni bo’lsa, manzilni ayta olasizmi?
The modal verb ‘can’ has the following meanings:
I. The primary meaning
II. The imperative meaning
Ш. The suppositional meaning
I. The modal verb ‘can’ in the primary meaning expresses ability and capability (mental, physical or circumstantial abilities) in Uzbek and English.
e.g. The second year students can translate this text without a dictionary, if they study very hard(mental ability) – Agarda 2-bosqich talabalari qattiq o’qishsa, matnni hech qiyinchiliksiz lug’atdan foydalanmay tarjima qila olishadi.
He can dance now but he couldn’t when he was young if there were a lot of people around, (physical ability)
Students can go to the theatre if they want. They have two pairs today, (circumstantial ability) – Talabalar agar xohlashsa, teatrga borishlari mumkin.
II. The modal verb can in the imperative meaning expresses permission, request or prohibition.
e.g. Can you help Alisher with his task if you can, please? (request) – Agar uddasidan chiqa olsangiz, bu vazifada Alisherga yordam bera olasizmi iltimos?
Can we drop in at a shop for face cream if we have time? (asking for permission) – Agar vaqtimiz bo’lsa, yuz uchun krem olgani do’konga birrovga kirib o’tsak bo’ladimi?
You can't discuss this subject with your friend even if you do want it, (prohibition) - Ming xohlasang ham buni do’sting bilan muhokama qilolmaysan.
Note: 1. The form ‘could’ used instead of ‘can’ makes the sentence more polite.
2. The forms can’t, couldn’t make the sentence more emotional and insistent.
Compare: 1) Can you come again tomorrow if possible? – Agar mumkin bo’lsa, ertaga ham kela olasanmi?
Could you come again tomorrow if possible? – Agar mumkin bo’lsa, ertaga ham kela olasizmi?
2) Can I come too if there are free seats?
Can’t I come too even if there are free seats?
Couldn’t I come too if there are free seats?
III. The modal verb can in the suppositional meaning expresses strong doubt or very strong doubt.
e.g. He can’t be working at this time if he did what he told me yesterday, (strong doubt) – Agarda kecha menga aytgan ishini qilgan bo’lsa, u ayni vaqtda ishlayotgan bo’lishi mumkin emas.
He couldn't have told the truth even if he wanted because he is a coward person, (very strong doubt)
Note: To distinguish between a question about somebody’s ability to do something and the expression of strong doubt we use the indefinite infinitive in the first case and the perfect infinitive or progressive infinitive in the second (with the exception of the verbs to be, to know, to love, to live, to hate, and some others).
e.g. 1. Could she translate the text if given a task?
2. Could he have known her before if he lived in Spain too?
Note: There is practically no difference in meaning between can and could. ‘Could’ makes the sentence a little more emphatic.
e.g. Can/could she have been told everything if she wanted to know the truth?
Note: To express strong or very strong doubt of an action not taking place we use the expression ‘to fail to do something’. Negative prefixes dis- and mis- are also used.
e.g. Can Malika have failed to see him even if he was very near her? – U Malikaga shunchalik yaqin masofada turgan bo’lsa-da, Malikaning ko’rmay qolishi mumkinmidi?
Can you dislike to listen to the pop music even if you like arts?
Students can’t have misunderstood the teacher if they listened attentively.
‘To be able to’ is the equivalent of the modal verb can. It supplies the missing parts of can and provides an alternative form for the present, future and past tenses.