Level 03 – Step 06 : Modal Can for Ability (I can swim. He can speak English.)
/Level 03 – Step 06 : Modal Can for Ability (I can swim. He can speak English.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to use the modal verb can to talk about ability.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to use the modal verb can to talk about ability.
🐧Igupen: Can is for ability? Like saying I can run fast?
/🐧Igupen: Can is for ability? Like saying I can run fast?
🦉Professor Owl: Yes. Use can to say someone is able to do something now or usually.
/🦉Professor Owl: Yes. Use can to say someone is able to do something now or usually.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What does can mean?
/What does can mean?
• Can shows ability or possibility. It means “is able to” or “is allowed to” in some cases.
/• Can shows ability or possibility. It means “is able to” or “is allowed to” in some cases.
How to make sentences with can
/How to make sentences with can
• Affirmative: Subject + can + base verb. Example: I can swim.
/• Affirmative: Subject + can + base verb. Example: I can swim.
• Negative: Subject + cannot (can’t) + base verb. Example: She can’t ride a bike.
/• Negative: Subject + cannot (can’t) + base verb. Example: She can’t ride a bike.
• Question: Can + subject + base verb? Example: Can he speak English?
/• Question: Can + subject + base verb? Example: Can he speak English?
When to use can for ability
/When to use can for ability
1. To say someone knows how to do something: He can play the piano.
/1. To say someone knows how to do something: He can play the piano.
2. To say someone is physically able: I can lift this box.
/2. To say someone is physically able: I can lift this box.
3. To ask for permission (informal): Can I go outside?
/3. To ask for permission (informal): Can I go outside?
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Remember: after can use the base form of the verb (no -s, no -ed). For example, say “She can sing,” not “She can sings.”
/Remember: after can use the base form of the verb (no -s, no -ed). For example, say “She can sing,” not “She can sings.”
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
He can speak English → Subject He; can + speak.
/He can speak English → Subject He; can + speak.
I can swim → Subject I; can + swim.
/I can swim → Subject I; can + swim.
She can’t drive a car → Negative: can’t.
/She can’t drive a car → Negative: can’t.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 I can swim.
/No.01 I can swim.
No.02 He can speak English.
/No.02 He can speak English.
No.03 She can play the piano.
/No.03 She can play the piano.
No.04 We can finish the work today.
/No.04 We can finish the work today.
No.05 They can run fast.
/No.05 They can run fast.
No.06 You can ask a teacher for help.
/No.06 You can ask a teacher for help.
No.07 I can’t lift that heavy box.
/No.07 I can’t lift that heavy box.
No.08 Can she ride a bike?
/No.08 Can she ride a bike?
No.09 My brother can cook simple meals.
/No.09 My brother can cook simple meals.
No.10 We can see the stars tonight.
/No.10 We can see the stars tonight.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Make a sentence with can: (I / play / soccer)
/Q1: Make a sentence with can: (I / play / soccer)
Q2: Choose the correct form: She (can / can’t) speak French.
/Q2: Choose the correct form: She (can / can’t) speak French.
Q3: Fill in the blank: ___ you help me with my homework? (use can)
/Q3: Fill in the blank: ___ you help me with my homework? (use can)
Q4: True or False: After can we use the verb with -s for he/she.
/Q4: True or False: After can we use the verb with -s for he/she.
Q5: Change to negative: He can swim well.
/Q5: Change to negative: He can swim well.
Q6: Make a question: You can open the door.
/Q6: Make a question: You can open the door.
Q7: Choose the correct sentence: A) I can sings. B) I can sing.
/Q7: Choose the correct sentence: A) I can sings. B) I can sing.
Q8: Fill in the blank: My parents ___ (not / can) come to the party. Use can’t.
/Q8: Fill in the blank: My parents ___ (not / can) come to the party. Use can’t.
Q9: Make a sentence about ability: (they / cook)
/Q9: Make a sentence about ability: (they / cook)
Q10: Question with can: (can / he / drive / a car)
/Q10: Question with can: (can / he / drive / a car)
Answers
/Answers
A1: I can play soccer.
/A1: I can play soccer.
A2: can or can’t both possible; choose based on meaning. Example: She can speak French.
/A2: can or can’t both possible; choose based on meaning. Example: She can speak French.
A3: Can you help me with my homework?
/A3: Can you help me with my homework?
A4: False → After can we use the base verb without -s.
/A4: False → After can we use the base verb without -s.
A5: He can’t swim well.
/A5: He can’t swim well.
A6: Can you open the door?
/A6: Can you open the door?
A7: B is correct → I can sing.
/A7: B is correct → I can sing.
A8: My parents can’t come to the party.
/A8: My parents can’t come to the party.
A9: They can cook. (or They can cook dinner.)
/A9: They can cook. (or They can cook dinner.)
A10: Can he drive a car?
/A10: Can he drive a car?
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Nice work today. Use can to tell what people are able to do. Try making five sentences about what you and your friends can or can’t do.
/🦉Professor Owl: Nice work today. Use can to tell what people are able to do. Try making five sentences about what you and your friends can or can’t do.
Keep practicing and enjoy discovering new abilities.
/Keep practicing and enjoy discovering new abilities.
