Mastering the Use of Can, Could, and Be Able To

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Fanny can play the piano very well.

We can go swimming today. The weather is fine.

Can I take the dog for a walk?

Ability

     I can sing one song in Polish.

     Fanny can play the piano very well.

Possibility

     We can go swimming today. (The weather is fine).

     We can go to Rome in June because both of us have a week off work. 

(It is possible for us to go to Rome because we don’t have to work in June.)

Permission

     Can I take Daisy for a walk?

     Students can use calculators during the exam. 

Ability: can, could, be able to

                                   In this lesson you will:

-learn the difference  and similarities between

            can, could, be able to

-practise

differences + similarities between
can, could, be able to

abilty

I	can	speak	English
you	can	play	the piano
he,she,it	can	run	very fast
we	can	jump	to the other side
you	can	make	delicious cakes
they	can	swim

You use can + infinitive to say what you are good at now.

inabilty --> negative

I	can / cannot	speak	English
you	can / cannot	play	the piano
he,she,it	can / cannot	run	very fast
we	can / cannot	jump	to the other side
you	can / cannot	make	delicious cakes
they	can / cannot	swim

You use can't/cannot + infinitive to say what you are not good at now.

questions

Can	I	speak	English?
Can	you	play	the piano?
Can	he/she,it	run	very fast?
Can	we	jump	to the other side?
Can	you	make	delicious cakes?
Can	they	swim

Work in pairs.

A asks questions A and B answers in full sentences.

B asks questions B and A answers in full sentences.

         Can you ski very well?

Yes, I can ski very well.

No, I can't/cannot ski very well.

ride a bike

speak Japanese

play table tennis

cook

eat with chopsticks

fly

A

ride a horse

type very fast

lift 100 kilos

play basketball

drive a car

B

I	could	speak	English when I was 12
you	could	play	the piano two years ago
he/she,it	could	run	very fast at high school
we	could	jump	to the other side when we were little
you	could	make	delicious cakes some time ago
they	could	swim	at the age of 6

abilty in the past --> could + infinitive

I	couldn't	speak	English when I was 12
you	couldn't	play	the piano two years ago
he/she,it	couldn't	run	very fast at high school
we	couldn't	jump	to the other side when we were little
you	couldn't	make	delicious cakes some time ago
they	couldn't	swim	at the age of 6

inabilty in the past --> couldn't /could not  + infinitive

questions

Could	I	speak	English when I was four?
Could	you	play	the piano two years ago?
Could	he/she,it	run	very fast at high school?
Could	we	jump	to the other side when we were little?
Could	you	make	delicious cakes last week?
Could	they	swim	at the age of three?

Work in pairs.

A asks questions A and B answers in full sentences.

B asks questions B and A answers in full sentences.

        Could you ski very well at the age of six?

Yes, I could ski very well

No, I couldn't ski very well

10 drive a car

8 swim

9 walk to school

a baby walk

3 play computer games

A

6 ski

o

3 read books

7 walk to school on your own

6 speak Dutch

5 ride a bike

8 understand French people

B

can, can't, could, couldn't

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/modal-verbs-of-ability-exercise-1.html?utm_content=cmp-true

Practice

PRESENT	PRESENT
I can read	I am able to read
you can read	you are able to read
he/she,it can read	he/she,it is able to read
we can read	we are able to read
you can read	you are able to read
they can read	they are able to read

negative sentences?

questions?

In spoken language we prefer can

Now make the table for the PAST yourself

PAST

PAST

PAST	PAST
I could run fast	I was able to read
you could run fast	you were able to read
he/she,it could run fast	he/she,it was able to read
we could run fast	we were able to read
you could run fast	you were able to read
they could run fast	they were able to read

negative sentences?

questions?

can, could, be able to

https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/en/English_as_a_Second_Language_(ESL)/Abilities/Can_could_be_able_to_rt2734010fh

can, be able to

https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/3g1-can-be-able.php

Practice

Why do we need a synonym (to be able to) for can/could

-general ability can. could, be able to

I can / am able to swim.

I could / was able to play the guitar when I was ten.

-one specific occasion in the past--> use was/were able to

We were able to get to the top of the mountain.

NOT we could get to the top of the mountain.

1

2

can does not have a future tense

I can swim. 

When I take lessons I will be able to swim.

Can doesn't have a perfect tense.

I can swim.

George has been able to swim since he was four.

I had been able to buy the tickets before the shop closed.

3

We cannot use can after will and must

She will be able to drive a car after some lessons.

He must be able to to pass the test if he works hard.

https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/3g1-can-be-able.php

Practice

https://dictionary.cambridge.org

Study can, could, be able to

https://www.linguee.nl/

D

Which emoij(s) best represent(s) how you feel after today's lesson?

Explain your choice(s).