Can - Ability

Can is a modal auxiliary. We mainly use it to express:

Possibility and Ability
We use can to talk about what is possible, what we are able or free to do:

o She can drive a car.

o John can speak Spanish.
o I cannot hear you. (I can't hear you.)
o Can you hear me?

Note: Normally, we use can for the present. But it is possible to use can when we make present decisions about the future.

A. Can you help me with my homework? (present)

B. Sorry. I'm busy today. But I can help you tomorrow. (future)

Choose can or can’t according to the situation:

1.I know the answer; I ______
can answer the question now.

2.She is good at the piano; she ______

can play the piano very well.
3.This test is very difficult; I ______
can´t answer any question.

4.Maria can speak English but she ______

can´t speak French.

5.You ______
can´t sleep today because you are very nervous.

6.Juan ______
can play tennis very well; he is a good tennis player.

Write the following words in order:

1. school / can’t / to / She / go. She can´t go to school

2. languages / Can / other / speak / she? Can she speak other languages?

3. can’t / He / letter / a / write. He can´t write a letter

4. You / under / can’t / water / the / run. You can´t run under the water

5. vegetarian / She / because / meat / eat / she’s / can’t / a. She can´t eat meat because she´s a vegetarian

6. come / on / have / Sunday / to / They / lunch / can. They can come on Sunday to have lunch

7. have / we / taxi? / a / Can Can we have a taxi?

 Can - Ability
Choose can or can’t according to your opinion.

1. I ______
can´t speak Chinese.

2. I ______
can´t sing very well.

3. I ______
can´t run 20 kilometres.

4. I ______
can ride a bicycle.

5. I ______
can´t play basket.

6. I ______
can swim.

7. I ______
can understand my English teacher.

8. I ______
can´t dance “perreo”.

Write about your abilities.

I can speak English
I can´t play piano