What is your job? …
I can sing …
I can ride a bicycle …
I can speak French …
They can’t read Thai …
She can cook Italian food …
Can you jump? …
Can Jane and Paul speak French? …
He can speak French, Thai and Japanese …
Can you use a computer? …
What can they do?
| person | play the guitar | drive a car | speak German |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark | yes | no | yes |
| John and Jane | no | yes | no |
| Mary | yes | no | no |
| audio | question | long answer | short answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can Mark play the guitar? | Yes, he can play the guitar | Yes, he can. | |
| Can Mark drive a car? | No, he can’t drive a car. | No, he can’t. | |
| Can Mark speak German? | Yes, he can speak German. | Yes, he can. | |
| Can John and Jane play the guitar? | No, they can’t play the guitar. | No, they can’t. | |
| Can John and Jane drive a car? | Yes, they can drive a car. | Yes, they can. | |
| Can John and Jane speak German? | No, they can’t speak German. | No, they can’t. | |
| Can Mary play the guitar? | Yes, she can play the guitar. | Yes, she can. | |
| Can Mary drive a car? | No, she can’t drive a car. | No, she can’t. | |
| Can Mary speak German? | No, she can’t speak German. | No, she can’t. |
Can
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’ for he, she, it (like other verbs)
The verb that comes after can is the base form without to:
I can swim.
You can run fast.
He can ride a bicycle.
She can play the guitar.
We can swim.
They can speak English.
It can wait.
Can’t
We usually use can’t, but sometimes we say cannot. They have the same meaning, but can’t is more common.
I can’t go.
You can’t come.
He can’t drive a car.
She can’t play the piano.
We can’t run.
They can’t speak Japanese.
It can’t wait.
Can …?
For questions, we change the order of can and the person.
Can I sit here? Yes, you can.
Can you swim? Yes, I can.
Can he play the guitar? No, he can’t.
Can she ride a bicycle? Yes, she can.
Can we swim? Yes, we can.
Can they speak English? No, they can’t.
Can it wait? No, it can’t.
Job descriptions
- 1 – shop assistant
- 3 – nurse
- 7 – journalist
- 10 – farmer
- 9 – taxi driver
- 8 – student
- 12 – photographer
- 11 – postman
- 2 – model
- 4 – lawyer
- 5 – bartender
- 6 – mechanic
Match the description
- A – sells things in a shop
- J – looks after people in hospital
- I – writes for a newspaper
- D – grows fruit and vegetables
- E – drives people for money
- H – studies at school or university
- L – takes pictures of places or people
- B – delivers letters and packages
- F – wears beautiful clothes
- C – helps people in court
- K – serves and makes drinks in a bar
- G – fixes cars and motorbikes
Match the job with its correct description
- A photographer takes photographs.
- A flight attendant works on an airplane.
- A barista makes coffee.
- A waiter works in a restaurant.
- A surgeon does operations in a hospital.
- A lifeguard keeps swimmers safe.
- A firefighter stops fires from burning.
- A clown makes people laugh.
Match the words with the pictures
- He can use a computer.
- She can speak Italian.
- They can swim at the beach.
- She can play volleyball.
- She can cook French food.
- He can drive a car.