Explanation
Exercises

🟢 Can / Can't – Form & Use

🧩 Form

  • Positive: I/You/He/She/It/We/They can sing 🎤
  • Negative: I/You/He/She/It/We/They cannot / can't sing ❌🎤
  • Question: Can I/You/He/She/It/We/They sing? ❓
  • Short Answer:
    • ✅ Yes, I/You/He/She/etc. can.
    • ❌ No, I/You/He/She/etc. cannot / can’t.

📘 Use

  • 🧠 Ability: Laura can sing very well. / I can’t speak German.
  • 🚫 Permission: Can I sit here? / You can’t park here.
  • 🔮 Possibility: I can’t come to the party. / Can you go?
  • 🙏 Request / Asking: Can I have a soda, please? / Can you drive me?

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ She cans swim. → ✅ She can swim.
  • ❌ Do you can speak English? → ✅ Can you speak English?
  • ❌ I can't to come. → ✅ I can't come.

🟢 Can / Can’t – Form & Use

🧩 Form

  • 🔤 Infinitive without to: Use can + base verb (without to)
    ✅ I can swim.
    ❌ I can to swim.
    ✅ We can’t come.
    ❌ We can’t to come.
  • 👤 No -s with he/she/it: Use can for all persons – no -s at the end
    ✅ He can swim.
    ❌ He cans swim.
  • ❌ No do/don’t: Can is an auxiliary verb. Don’t use do/don’t for questions or negatives
    ✅ Can you swim?
    ❌ Do you can swim?
    ✅ He can’t swim.
    ❌ He don’t can swim.

📘 Use

  • 💪 Ability: To talk about what someone knows how to do in the present
    👉 Laura can sing very well.
    👉 I can’t speak German.
  • 🔮 Possibility / Permission: To ask if something is possible or allowed
    👉 Can I sit here?
    👉 You can’t vote if you aren’t 18.
    👉 I’m sorry, but I can’t come to the party.
  • 🛍️ Asking / Ordering: Use can to ask for something (in shops, restaurants, 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

Can, can’t: Ability, possibility, permission

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
1 I use your pen for a moment?
2 Sarah play the violin beautifully.
3 We make it to the cinema tonight—our car broke down.
4 you open this jar for me?
5 I see the board clearly without my glasses.
6 You park here; it’s a no-parking zone.
7 They find any information on that topic online.
8 Visitors enter the building without an ID badge.
9 Students use calculators during the test.
10 We go hiking next weekend if the weather stays fine.

Can, can’t: Ability, possibility, permission

Write affirmative (+) and negative (-) sentences using can, can’t with the words below.
1
He / swim / 100 meters in one minute. ⇒ He
. (+)
2
I / finish / the report by tomorrow. ⇒ I
. (-)
3
They / enter / the building without an ID badge. ⇒ They
. (-)
4
She / speak / French fluently. ⇒ She
. (+)
5
We / bring / our pets to the restaurant. ⇒ We
. (-)
6
You / use / a computer in the library. ⇒ You
. (+)
7
The car / start / without the key. ⇒ The car
. (-)
8
Mary and I / solve / this puzzle together. ⇒ Mary and I
. (+)
9
He / lift / that heavy box alone. ⇒ He
. (-)
10
You / pay / with a credit card here. ⇒ You
. (+)

Can, can’t: Ability, possibility, permission

Complete this dialogue with can, can’t and the words in brackets.
1
John: (I/borrow) your laptop this evening?
2
Sarah: Sorry, I (not/lend) my laptop; I need it tonight.
3
John: (you/come) to my birthday party on Friday?
4
Sarah: I (come) if I finish my work on time.
5
John: (I/use) your kitchen to bake cookies?
6
Sarah: Of course, you (use) it anytime.
7
John: (you/drive) me to the station tomorrow morning?
8
Sarah: I (drive), but only after 9 a.m.
9
John: (you/speak) Spanish?
10
Sarah: I (not/speak) Spanish very well.