Sentence: Jim can run in the race
Response: Do you mean
Jim is able to run, or
Jim is permitted to run
Sentence: Jim could have run in the race
Response: Do you mean
Jim was able to run, or
Jim was permitted to run
Sentence: Jim may run in the race
Response: Do you mean
Jim will be permitted to run, or
Jim will possibly run
Sentence: Jim will run in the race
Response: Do you mean
Jim is willing to run, or
Jim is intending to run, or
You insist Jim will run, or
You predict Jim will run