Ability, permission, possibility & requests. CAN & CAN’T Ability, permission, possibility & requests.
I CAN: I know how to. I CAN’T: I don’t know how to. MEANING 1 I CAN: I know how to. I CAN’T: I don’t know how to.
CAN & CAN’T ABILITY / PERMISSION
Michael Phelps can swim very well.
She can ride a bike.
The babies can’t walk.
He can’t run 10 km.
Can cats speak? No, they can’t.
MEANING 2 I CAN: It’s possible for me. I CAN’T: It’s not possible for me.
I can go shopping with you on Tuesday, but I can’t on Saturday.
MEANING 3 YOU CAN: It’s OK, it’s permitted. YOU CAN’T: It’s not OK, it’s not permitted.
You can’t park there!
You can smoke in this restaurant.
MEANING 4 CAN YOU…?: Please do it. CAN I…?: Is it OK if I do it?.
Can you close the door? Can I sit down?
CAN & CAN’T don’t change (I, You, He, She, etc) He cans: INCORRRECT CAN’T = CANNOT CAN & CAN’T + INFINITIVE: I can swim I can to swim: INCORRECT
FORMATION + - I / You / swim. I / You / swim. He / She / It / can come. He / She / It / can’t come. We / They help. We / They help.