Can & Can't: Expressing What You Can Do! 🎯🦸
Welcome to our grammar laboratory! Today, we explore how to talk about our amazing abilities using the modal verbs «can» and «can't». We use «can» when we have the skill, strength, or knowledge to do an action. For example: «I can swim fast» or «She can kick the ball». We use «can't» (short for cannot) when an action is impossible for us, like «I can't fly like a bird» or «Fish can't walk». When asking a friend about their abilities, we begin with «Can you ...? ». Our friend answers happily: «Yes, I can! » or politely: «No, I can't, but I can practice! ». Let us discover how to ask and answer with confidence!
✨ Can & Can't Formulas
Subject + can + base verb
- «I can run fast.»
- «He can swim well.»
- «They can kick the ball.»
Subject + can't (cannot) + base verb
- «I can't fly in the sky.»
- «A turtle can't climb trees.»
❓ Asking & Answering Questions
Question Pattern:
Can + subject + base verb ...?
Short Answers:
- 👉 «Can you swim?» ➔ «Yes, I can.» / «No, I can't.»
- 👉 «Can he throw far?» ➔ «Yes, he can.» / «No, he can't.»
- 👉 «Can birds fly?» ➔ «Yes, they can.»
💪 Ability & Question Builder Workshop
- A rabbit [can / can't] hop high. ➔ can
- A snake [can / can't] run on legs. ➔ can't
- Fish [can / can't] swim in the sea. ➔ can
- I [can / can't] fly like an eagle. ➔ can't
- ⭐ «Can you kick the ball?» ➔ «Yes, I can.»
- ⭐ «Can she skip with a rope?» ➔ «Yes, she can.»
- ⭐ «Can you fly?» ➔ «No, I can't.»
- ⭐ «Can they run fast?» ➔ «Yes, they can.»
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