LEVEL III(6) COD.

EW

POSSIBILITY, ABILITY. CAN AND CAN’T

CAN
CAN IS A MODAL VERB.
The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility
Can is used to express ability or to say that
and 3) permission. However there are some other used
something is possible.
of Can as we will see below
 Can is the same for all subjects. We
don't add an 'S' in the third person
1. To express ability
(like other verbs)
Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to
know how to do something.
 The verb that comes after Can is in
 Birds can fly.
the infinitive without to:
 Elephants can't fly.
 I can speak two languages.
 I can speak Spanish. (= it is possible
for me to speak Spanish = I have the
2. To express a possibility (in general)
ability to speak Spanish)
 I know you can win the competition.
 He can swim well.
 Well, I think your car can be repaired, but it's not
 We can see our neighbour in the
going to be cheap.
garden.
 They can play the guitar.
3. To offer to do something for others.
Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do
something for them. COULD

Could is similar to Can and often

 You don't need to walk home. I can take you there
replaces Can in the past tense.
if you like.
 Can I carry your bags for you? TO EXPRESS ABILITY IN THE PAST.

4. To ask for or give permission.  I could ride a horse when I was

 You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now. younger but now I can't.
 Can I sit in that chair please?
 Can I ask you a question?  She could juggle eight balls when
she was only 10 years old.
5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed
 We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant..  He could read when he was three
 You can't smoke in the restaurant. years old.
 You cannot drive a car without a license.
Note: We don't use can to talk about future
possibilities.
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ACTIVITY.
Can – English gramar exercises.
1. Complete the sentences. Use CAN and the
infinive listen.
I ______ ___________ to the music.
You _______ __________ to the music.
He________ __________to the music.
She________ _________ to the music.
It__________ _______to the music.
We ________ ________to the music.
They________ ________to the music.

2. Write sentences with can and can`t using the following verbs.
Can, can’t, change, climb, meet, read, ride, sing, understand, visit.

POSITIVE
Catherine and Ann ___________ ______________ 4 songs
Jake _____________ ____________ a book.
Amy _____________ ______________ her friend.
Our family __________ _____________ England.
NEGATIVE
Jhon __________ ____________ a bike
I _________ __________ this tree.
They ________ __________ 10 punds.
Our class ________ ________ everything.

3. Write in your notebook each of the sentences, using the interrogative

way.

a. She can drive a car. f. The student can do the homework before the
b. John can have a coffee with Mary today. class.
c. The children can go to the park. g. Mary and John can have a meeting.
d. I can swim. h. We can send this email now.
e. The teacher can help the student. i. You can make a photocopy of this.
j. Steve and his friends can go home.

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4. Select the correct answer, using the words in brackets.

a. I _______ give you a lesson this evening. (Will be able, can,

could)
b. Do you think one day people __________to travel to the
stars? (Will be able, can, could)
c. I _______ do the shopping this week. (Will be able, can,
could)
d. We were very busy last week but we __________ do all we
had to. (Will be able, can, could)
e. You ________ get a better job if you'd work harder. (Will be
able, can, could)
f. He ___________ find his ticket for the concert. (couldn`t, won`t be able to, can`t)
g. ____________ hear what I was saying? (Couldn’t you, Will you be able to,can`t you)
h. She ___________ walk until she was three. (couldn’t, can’t, wasn’t able to)
i. ___________ you park in this street at weekends? (Could.,can, Will you be able)
j. __________ play the guitar yet? (Can’t you, Will you be able to,could you)

5. Write a phrase in your notebook with each of the sentences.

 I can….  People can….  She couldn`t…….

 You can….  He can…  Juan couldn’t……
 My mom can…  They can…  Can Tom…..
 My father can….  My grand mother can`t….  My uncle can’t…
 She can…..  My grand father can’t….  Can my sister…
 Federic can..  Can she….  They couldn’t…
 My Friends can….  Can they…..

6. Write in your notebook ten sports that you or your Friends can or like to perform. (Use can.)
7. Write in your notebook ten sports that you or your friends can not perform. (Use can’t.)
8. Write in your notebook ten skills that you did not have when you were little. (Use couldn’t.)