Grammar Focus

The modal verb can is very flexible. At the intermediate level, we mainly use it to talk about:

1. Ability – what someone is able to do

   • I can cook Italian food.

   • She can play the piano.

   • They can’t ski very well.

2. Permission – what is allowed or not allowed

   • Can I sit here?

   • You can’t enter without a ticket.

   • Students can use the library until 9 p.m.

3. Possibility / Opportunity – what is possible in a situation

   • We can still catch the last train if we hurry.

   • It can be very hot in Spain in August.

   • You can see the mountains from this window.

Form:

• Positive: subject + can + base verb → She can swim.

• Negative: subject + cannot / can’t + base verb → He can’t drive.

• Question: Can + subject + base verb → Can they come with us?

Remember: can never changes form. We don’t say he cans.

Exercise 1: Sentence Practice

Ability

• I play the guitar. → I can play the guitar.

• You speak two languages. → You can speak English and French.

Permission

• He uses the office after hours. → He can use the office after hours.

• We eat in this café. → We can eat in this café.

Possibility

• The museum opens late today. → We can visit the museum this evening.

• The road is closed. → We can’t drive this way.

Now write 3 sentences of your own (1 for ability, 1 for permission, 1 for possibility).

Exercise 2: Dialogue Practice

Practice short conversations with can.

Example:

• A: Can I borrow your book?

• B: Yes, you can.

Now complete these with your own ideas:

A: Can you __________ tonight?
B: No, I can’t. __________.

A: Can we __________ in this room?
B: Yes, we can. __________.

A: Can she __________ at the meeting?
B: No, she can’t. __________.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Nathan: Can you help me?
Professor: Yes, I ___ (1).

Emily: Can you come to my house now?
Chloe: No, I ___ (2).

Zach: Can she take this train to Berlin?
Ticket Clerk: No, she ___ (3).

James: Can he bring his dog?
Jessica: Yes, he ___ (4).

John: Can I go to a party tonight?
Mom: No, you ___ (5).

Exercise 4: Negative Sentences

Rewrite these sentences with cannot / can’t.

1. I study Japanese every day. → ________________________

2. He drives trucks. → ________________________

3. She takes professional pictures. → ________________________

4. She speaks Russian. → ________________________

5. He stays up late. → ________________________

Exercise 5: Questions with Can

Turn these sentences into questions.

1. I study Japanese every day. → ________________________

2. He drives trucks. → ________________________

3. She takes professional pictures. → ________________________

4. She speaks Russian. → ________________________

5. He stays up late. → ________________________

Extra Activity (B2 Challenge)

Write a short paragraph about your skills, permissions, and possibilities using can.

Example:
I can speak English quite well, but I can’t speak German. I can use the gym at my university, but I can’t use the swimming pool without a card. In my city, you can see many concerts in summer, and you can visit interesting museums. We can travel by train easily, but we can’t always drive because the traffic is terrible.

Now write your own.

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Sentence Practice (sample answers)

Learners write their own, but here are examples:

• Ability: I can play basketball.

• Permission: We can use the library until 8 p.m.

• Possibility: You can see the stars tonight because the sky is clear.

Exercise 2: Dialogue Practice (sample answers)

A: Can you study tonight?
B: No, I can’t. I have to work.

A: Can we eat in this room?
B: Yes, we can. The teacher said it’s okay.

A: Can she speak at the meeting?
B: No, she can’t. She is on holiday.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

1. Nathan: Can you help me?
   Professor: Yes, I can.

2. Emily: Can you come to my house now?
   Chloe: No, I can’t.

3. Zach: Can she take this train to Berlin?
   Ticket Clerk: No, she can’t.

4. James: Can he bring his dog?
   Jessica: Yes, he can.

5. John: Can I go to a party tonight?
   Mom: No, you can’t.

Exercise 4: Negative Sentences

1. I study Japanese every day. → I can’t study Japanese every day.

2. He drives trucks. → He can’t drive trucks.

3. She takes professional pictures. → She can’t take professional pictures.

4. She speaks Russian. → She can’t speak Russian.

5. He stays up late. → He can’t stay up late.

Exercise 5: Questions with Can

1. I study Japanese every day. → Can I study Japanese every day?

2. He drives trucks. → Can he drive trucks?

3. She takes professional pictures. → Can she take professional pictures?

4. She speaks Russian. → Can she speak Russian?

5. He stays up late. → Can he stay up late?