Can / Can’t
I can describe an ability and ask about another person’s ability.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
Lea can swim, but she can’t drive. Her friend can drive, but he can’t swim. Each person has a different ability.
Read the situation transcript
Lea can swim, but she can’t drive. Her friend can drive, but he can’t swim. Each person has a different ability.
Does can change when Lea becomes they?
Compare your idea
No. Can stays the same with every subject.
How it works
Use can plus a base verb for ability: I can swim. The negative is cannot or can’t. Can does not take -s with he or she.
For a question, put can before the person: Can you swim? Do not add do, and do not add to after can. Short answers are Yes, I can or No, I can’t.
Subject + can/can’t + base verb. Can + subject + base verb?
Notice this
I can swim.
Swimming is an ability I have.
Compare this
She can drive.
Can stays the same with she.
Hear the examples
I can swim.
Swimming is an ability I have.
She can drive.
Can stays the same with she.
We can’t sing.
We do not have this ability.
Can he cook?
This asks about an ability.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: She can to swim.
Say: She can swim.
Use a base verb without to after can.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Say one ability you have.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I can cook.
Check yourself: Use can plus a base verb.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Say one ability you do not have.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I can’t play the guitar.
Check yourself: Use can’t without don’t.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Ask about a friend’s ability.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Can you swim?
Check yourself: Put can before you.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Change I to he: I can sing.
Compare a model and explanation
He can sing.
Can does not change.
Self-check 2
Make a question: They can dance.
Compare a model and explanation
Can they dance?
Move can before they.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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She ___ play the piano.
can: Can stays unchanged and is followed by a base verb.
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I can’t ___ a car.
drive: Use drive after can’t.
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Choose the correct question.
Can you cook?: Put can before you; do is not needed.
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“He can swim.” What does it mean here?
He has this ability.: In this lesson can describes ability, not a current action.
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Choose a correct negative.
They can’t sing.: Can’t is already negative and takes the base verb.
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“Can Jo drive?” Choose a positive short answer.
Yes, she can.: Repeat can in the short answer.
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Correct “He cans dance.”
He can dance.: Do not add -s to can or the following verb.
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Which ability does the speaker have?
Cooking: The speaker says I can cook, but I can’t drive.
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Which is the full form of can’t?
cannot: Cannot is normally written as one word.
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What comes after can in these ability sentences?
A base verb: Use can swim, can cook and can drive.
Take it with you
I can describe an ability and ask about another person’s ability.