Explanation
Exercises

🟢 Can / Can't – Form & Use

🧩 Form

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

📘 Use

  • 🧠 Ability: Leo can swim fast. / I can’t cook.
  • 🚫 Permission: Can I use your phone? / You can’t sit here.
  • 🔮 Possibility: I can’t come today. / Can you come tomorrow?
  • 🙏 Request / Asking: Can I have some water, please? / Can you help me, please?

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ She cans drive. → ✅ She can drive.
  • ❌ Do you can swim? → ✅ Can you swim?
  • ❌ I can't to go. → ✅ I can't go.

🟢 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 run.
    ❌ We can’t to run.
  • 👤 No -s with he/she/it: Use can for all persons – no -s at the end
    ✅ He can drive.
    ❌ He cans drive.
  • ❌ No do/don’t: Can is an auxiliary verb. Don’t use do/don’t for questions or negatives
    ✅ Can you help me?
    ❌ Do you can help me?
    ✅ She can’t come.
    ❌ She don’t can come.

📘 Use

  • 💪 Ability: To talk about what someone knows how to do in the present
    👉 Leo can swim very well.
    👉 I can’t cook.
  • 🔮 Possibility / Permission: To ask if something is possible or allowed
    👉 Can I sit here?
    👉 You can’t park here.
    👉 I’m sorry, but I can’t come today.
  • 🛍️ Asking / Ordering: Use can to ask for something (in shops, restaurants, etc.)
    👉 Can you lend me a pen?
    👉 Can I have some water, please?
    👉 Can I have a sandwich, please?
Exercises:
1
2
3

Can / Can't – Form & Use

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 – Form & Use

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 – Form & Use

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.