can could(2) 2014
TRANSCRIPT
CAN – CAN’T• Can is a modal verb.• Can is used to express ability or to say that something is possible.
• Can is the same for all subjects. We don't add an 'S' in the third person (like other verbs)
The verb that comes after Can is in the infinitive without to:
I can speak Spanish. (= it is possible for me to speak Spanish = I have the ability to speak
Spanish)He can swim well.
We can see my neighbour in the garden.They can play the guitar
NEGATIVETo form the negative we add "not" after can to
form one word: cannot.We can also contract the negative to
form can't. (can't = cannot)
I cannot play the piano. We can't go to the cinema tonight.
She cannot speak French very well. He can't drive a car.
QuestionsTo from the question we change the position of the subject and the
auxiliary verb.The main verb is still in the infinitive
without to.Where can I buy an ice-cream?Can I go to the party, please?Can you speak Japanese?
What can we do on Saturday?
Remember that you can use short answers:
Can I sit here please? Yes, you can.
Can you speak Chinese? No, I can't.
'Could' can be used to talk about the past, the present or the future.'Could' is a past form of 'can'
When I was living in Boston, I could walk to work.
He phoned to say he couldn't come.I could see him clearly but I couldn't
hear him.
'Could' is used to make polite requests. We can also use 'can' for these but 'could' is
more polite.Could you help me, please?
Could you lend me some money?Could I have a lift?
Could I bother you for a moment?
EXERCISES1. Bob ……………….,but he doesn't have a car. (drive)
2. When she was in school she ……………farther than anyone else. (jump)
3. I ………………….Bill. (not / understand)
4. He ………………..football well when he was a kid. (play)
5. I …………….this exercise yesterday. (not / do)
6. Ask Jim, he ……………..you. (help)7. Some years ago I ……………ten miles.
(run)8. He had hurt his leg, so he
………………very well. (not / walk)9. I ………………..her at her office at the
moment. (not / contact)10. I ……………..Bob on the corner.
(see)
1. I ………….sleep last night. It was so hot!
2. When I was five or six, I ………..play with toys for hours, but I ………..now.
3. My late grandfather ………..speak French and my father ………..say a few words of Spanish. I …………speak anything but
English.
4. We're having a dinner party next Saturday, but Roger ……….come.
5. When I met Darren last year, he ……….swim. He was terrified of the water. Now he…………..swim like a fish!
6. I …………..finish my lunch today. I just wasn't hungry at all.
7. There are so many different ice creams to choose from. I …………decide. You choose for me.
8. I …………..find Ben and then I found him in the garden. Now I
……………..find him again. He keeps disappearing!