MODAL VERBS CAN - COULD

MODAL VERBS

CAN or COULD

TEACHER MIREYA - UEMSB

CAN- CAN´T

PUEDO / NO PUEDO

EXAMPLES

• I CAN CYCLE

• YOU CAN SKATE.

• THEY CAN FISH.

• WE CAN SHOP.

• HE CAN SWIM

• SHE CAN DANCE.

EXAMPLES

• HE CAN´T PAINT.

• YOU CAN´T PLAY SOCCER.

• SHE CAN´T DANCE BALLET.

• I CAN´T PLANT FLOWERS.

• THEY CAN´T PLAY CHESS.

• WE CAN´T PLAY PIANO.

EXAMPLES

• CAN YOU PAINT?

• CAN HE PLAY A VIOLIN?

• CAN HE READ?

• CAN SHE COOK?

CAN YOU SWIM?

• YES, I CAN.

• NO, I CAN´T

CAN

• ·To show ability : I can sing

CAN

• To ask somebody to do something:

    Can you close the window, please?

CAN

• To ask for something:

    Can I have your pen, please?

CAN

• To ask for permission to do something?

    Can we play on the computer, please

Multiple Select

WHAT ARE THE MODAL VERBS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS?

• May

• Could

• Would

• Can

Multiple Select

Which one is correctly written:

• She cans play piano

• She can to play piano

• She can play piano

• She can plays piano

Multiple Select

How is formed the Negative sentence:

• Andrew not can solve math homework

• Andrew cannot solve math homework

• Andrew can't solve math homework

• Andrew solve can't math homework

Poll

CAN THEY RIDE A HORSE?

• CORRECT

• INCORRECT

Multiple Choice

I ______ see you, it's too dark

• can't

• can

• don't

• mustn't

Multiple Choice

Megan _____ play both the piano and the guitar.

• CAN

• COULD

• MUST

COULD - COULDN'T

ABILITY IN THE PAST

• We use ‘could’ and ‘couldn’t’ to talk about our abilities in the past.

  She could play chess when she was seven.

  He could read when he was five.

  I couldn’t run when I was a baby.

Asking for and giving permission

• We also use could if we want to ask for permission ‘‘politely’’ or in a formal way.

• A: ‘Could I sit down here, please?’ B: ‘Yes, of course.’

• A: ‘Could I use your telephone?’ B: ‘Yes, you can.’

• A: ‘Could I borrow your bicycle?’ B: ‘No, I’m afraid not.’

Making a request

• We often use could when we ask someone to do something in a very formal and polite way.

• Could you be quiet, please?

• A: ‘Could you pass me the sugar?’ B: ‘Certainly.’

• Could you lend me some money?

• Could you tell me how to get to the school?

Find the mistakes in the sentences and correct them.

• I am couldn’t read English books in my chidhood.

• Could to you carry these bags for me, please?

• My grandfather could speaks five languages.

• We couldn’t playing chess four years ago.

• Could Mozart writing music when he was a child?

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

Choose if the sentence includes ‘‘ability’’, ‘‘permission’’ or ‘’request’’.

1. Can I use your laptop this weekend?

• ABILITY

• PERMISSION

• REQUEST

Multiple Choice

2. Can you help me with these bags?

• ABILITY

• PERMISSION

• REQUEST

Multiple Choice

3. Karen could speak Russian in her childhood.

• ABILITY

• PERMISSION

• REQUEST

Multiple Choice

4. Could I use your pencil, please?

• ABILITY

• PERMISSION

• REQUEST

Multiple Choice

5. They can dance for long hours.

• ABILITY

• PERMISSION

• REQUEST

Multiple Choice

CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION

1. She screamed a lot but nobody …….. heard her voice.

• COULD

• CAN

• COULDN'T

• CAN'T

Multiple Choice

2. You are 17 years old, you …. enter the club at this age.

• CAN

• CAN'T

• COULD

• COULDN'T

Multiple Choice

3. My mother ……. play the guitar very well when she was young.

• CAN'T

• COULD

• CAN

• COULDN'T

Multiple Choice

4. She …….. understand five language and …… speak three language

• can/can’t

• can/can

• could/can

• could/could

Multiple Choice

5. I …….. play tennis now. I have got a terrible headache.

• can´t

• can

• could

• couldn't