Exercises: 1 2 3

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, Excell, 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.


 

 

can, can’t – grammar chart

 
can, can't – ability, possibility, permission

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can, can’t – form

 

Infinitive without to

 
We use can + infinitive without to.

  • I can swim. (NOT I can to swim.)
  • We can’t come. (NOT We can’t to come.)

 

No -s after he/she/it

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

  • He can swim. (NOT He cans swim).

 

No 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? (NOT Do you can swim?)
  • He can’t swim. (NOT 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?

 

Exercises: 1 2 3