会 / 能 / 可以
Three modal verbs: 会 (learned skill; will likely), 能 (able, circumstances allow), 可以 (may, permitted)
HSK 2HSK 3.0 · 1
S + 会/能/可以 + V (+ O)
会 expresses a learned skill (我会游泳 'I can swim') and future likelihood (明天会下雨). 能 expresses ability or whether circumstances allow it right now (我今天感冒了,不能游泳), and degree of ability (他一分钟能游一百米). 可以 mainly expresses permission (这里可以抽烟吗?). To forbid something, use 不能 or 不可以; 不会 means 'can't (never learned)' or 'won't'. Decide by the source: learned → 会, circumstances → 能, permission → 可以.
HSK 2–3 gap-fill items often offer all three as options.
Examples
我会说一点儿汉语。
I can speak a little Chinese.
明天会下雨吗?
Will it rain tomorrow?
我今天不舒服,不能去上课。
I'm not feeling well today, so I can't go to class.
这里可以拍照吗?
May I take photos here?
Exercises
1.我 游泳,是去年学的。
2.老师,我 用一下您的笔吗?
3.我的脚疼,今天不 跑步。
4.天阴了,下午 下雨。