Can, can’t: Ability, possibility, permission

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  • Exercises: 1 2 3

    Can, can’t: Ability, possibility, permission

    Exercise 3

    Complete this job interview with can, can’t and the words in brackets.

    1Interviewer: (you/drive)?

    2Ann: Yes, I . I have a driving license and a car.

    3Interviewer: (you/accept) criticism?

    4Ann: I (not accept) negative criticism, but I (accept) constructive criticism.

    5Interviewer: (you/use) the Microsoft Office Suite?

    6Ann: Yes, I . I have a lot of experience using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

    7Interviewer: (speak) German or French?

    8Ann: I (speak) German very well, but I (not speak) French very fluently.

    9Interviewer: When (you/start)?

    10Ann: I (be) here tomorrow morning if you want.


     

    Exercises: 1 2 3

  • Can, can’t: Grammar chart

    Grammar chart displaying the form and use of modal verbs 'can' and 'can't' for expressing ability, permission, and possibility, with correct and incorrect example sentences.

    Download full-size image from Pinterest

    Can, can’t: Form

    Infinitive without to

    We use can + infinitive without to.

    • I can swim.
    • I can to swim.
    • We can’t come.
    • We can’t to come.

    Don’t use -s after he/she/it

    We don’t add -s after he/she/it. We use can for all persons.

    • He can swim.
    • He cans swim.

    Don’t use do/don’t

    Can is an auxiliary verb and has a negative and interrogative form. We don’t use do/don’t to make questions and negatives.

    • Can you swim?
    • Do you can swim?
    • He can’t swim.
    • He don’t can swim.

    Can, can’t: Use

    Ability

    We use can/can’t to talk about ability in the present (=things that we know how to do).

    • Laura can sing very well. 
    • I can’t speak German. 

    Possibility

    We use can/can’t to ask for permission or to say if something is possible or not.

    • Can I sit here?
    • You can’t vote if you aren’t 18 years old. 
    • I’m sorry, but I can’t come to the party. 

    Ask for something

    We use can/can’t to ask for something and to order in bars, restaurants, shops, etc.

    • Can you lend me some money?
    • Can I have some water, please?
    • Can I have a burger and a soda?

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