Possibility and Ability

How to talk about Possibility and Ability

I can play tennis
I can’t play soccer
My grandmother could swim
My grandmother couldn't swim
Can and Could are modal auxiliary verbs

We use can to:

● talk about possibility and ability

● make requests
● ask for or give permission
● Talk about possibility and ability

● I CAN run very fast

Sub + Auxiliary Ability + Complement

● I CAN’T go to the party

Sub + Auxiliary Possibility in neg. + Complement

● make requests

● Can you came to my house?

Auxiliary of request + Sub + complement

● Yes I can / No I can’t

Affirmative word + Sub + Aux of possibility Negative word + Sub + Aux, neg
● ask for or give permission

● Can I go to the bathroom?

Aux of permission + Sub + complement

● Yes you can / No you can’t

● Affirmative + Sub + Aux / Negative + Sub + Aux in negative.
Exercise: Put the words in the right order

● English / say / can / . / my / seventeen / words / parrot

● a / than / other / any / run / faster / cheetah / can / animal
● can’t / my / understand / wife / sport / I / like / watching / why
● I / husband / can’t / romantic / my / like / ? / understand / why / movies / why /
watching /