Can / Can’t for Ability

Hook

Think of something you are good at: swimming, cooking, drawing, speaking another language. In a job interview, on a dating app, or when you meet new friends, people ask “What can you do?” In English, one small word answers that: can.

Notice

  • I can swim, but I can’t dive.
  • She can speak three languages.
  • They can’t play the piano.
  • Can you ride a bike? — Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
  • My grandfather can cook really well.

Does can change after he or she?

Rule

  • can = able to do something; can’t (cannot) = not able to.
  • subject + can / can’t + base verb: no -s, no to. He can drive. (not he can drives, not he can to drive)
  • can is the same for everyone: I / you / he / she / it / we / they can.
  • Question: Can + subject + verb? Can she cook? Short answers: Yes, she can. / No, she can’t.
  • Say how well: I can swim very well / quite well / a little. I can’t swim at all.
  • Pronunciation: in sentences can is short and weak (/kən/); can’t is long and strong (/kɑːnt/ or /kænt/).

Watch Out

  • ✗ She can sings well. → ✓ She can sing well. (no -s after can)
  • ✗ He cans drive. → ✓ He can drive.
  • ✗ I can to speak English. → ✓ I can speak English. (no “to”)
  • ✗ Do you can swim? → ✓ Can you swim?

Practice

  1. Complete: I ___ speak Spanish. (ability)
  2. Make it negative: “He can play tennis.”
  3. Make a question: you / swim
  4. Correct it: “She can sings well.”
  5. Correct it: “He cans drive.”
  6. Answer: “Can birds fly?”
  7. Answer: “Can fish walk?”
  8. Say it another way: “I am not able to cook.”
Show the answers
  1. can
  2. He can’t play tennis.
  3. Can you swim?
  4. She can sing well.
  5. He can drive.
  6. Yes, they can.
  7. No, they can’t.
  8. I can’t cook.

Your Turn

Write five things you can do (say how well) and three things you can’t do. Then ask someone three Can you…? questions.

Connect

Our Grammar Quiz has A1 questions on can and can’t.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

Fix mistakes like “She can sings” in our Error Correction tool.

Try Error Correction →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Production: I can use simple phrases to describe what I can and can’t do.

Azizul Hakim
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