5.

2
Can
affirmative and negative
When do we use can affirmative and
negative?
We use can affirmative and negative to talk about abilities.

I can play the guitar.

They can sing.

My brother can’t ride a bike – he’s only two!

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 Read about Rob’s family. What can these people do?
Mum Dad Jim Rob

The people in my family can do different things.

Mum can’t cook very well, but she can fix bikes. My
dad can cook well, and he can sing and act. My
brother Jim and I can’t sing or act very well, but we
can play the guitar. I can draw good pictures, too!

Mum: fix bikes Dad: cook, sing and act

Jim: play the guitar Rob: play the guitar, draw

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How do we make affirmative and
negative sentences with can?
Affirmative Negative
I can cook. I can’t cook.
You can cook. You can’t cook.
He/She/It can cook. He/She/It can’t cook.
We can cook. We can’t cook.

You can cook. You can’t cook.

They can cook. They can’t cook.
The negative form of
can is can’t.

can is the same after

I, you, he/she/it, we and they.

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 Practice Time
Who can and can’t do these things? Write affirmative and negative
sentences with can.

1. elephants / people – jump

Elephants can’t jump. People can jump.

2. parrots / I – fly
Parrots can fly. I can’t fly.

3. a dog / a pop star – sing

A dog can’t sing. A pop star can sing.

4. my cat / my teacher – read

My cat can’t read. My teacher can read.

5. a parrot / a person – swim

A parrot can’t swim. A person can swim.

6. my classmates and I / hamsters – write

My classmates and I can write. Hamsters can’t write.

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