TEACHER'S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Fun Ability Test

Activity Type Introduction

Reading, writing and Here is an enjoyable worksheet activity to help students practice
speaking activity, group the modal verbs of ability 'can' and 'can't'. In the activity, students
work try to complete various challenges and fill in a chart to show what
members of their group can and can't do.

Language Focus Procedure

Modal verbs of ability
Divide the class into groups of three.
'can' and 'can't'
Give each group a copy of the worksheet.

Aim
To try to complete
various challenges and to
fill in a chart and write a
summary to show what
members of your group
can and can't do.
Go through the challenges on the worksheet and make sure the
students understand each one.
Ask the students to write their names next to the first challenge
on the worksheet.
In their groups, the students take it in turns to complete the first
challenge.

Students put a tick in the 'can' and 'can't' column next to their
Preparation name, depending on whether they completed the task successfully
Make one copy of the or not.
worksheet for each group
of three. The students then repeat the procedure for the other challenges
and complete the chart.

Level When the students have finished, ask them to write a summary of
what their group can and can't do.
Elementary
After the students have completed their summaries, have the
groups read them to the class and discuss which challenges were
Time the most difficult to do.
35 minutes

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 MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Fun Ability Test

NAMES CAN CAN'T

1. spin around five times and then walk in a
2. straight line
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1. pat your head and rub your stomach at the
2. same time
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1. stick your thumb up and point at it with your
2. other hand, then switch hands
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1.
stand up and touch your toes
2.
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1.
draw a square and a circle at the same time
2.
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1. close your eyes and describe what another
2. student in the class is wearing
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1.
snap your fingers
2.
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1.
say the months of the year backwards
2.
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1.
say 10 countries in ten seconds
2.
3.
NAMES CAN CAN'T
1.
say the alphabet in ten seconds
2.
3.

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