1. Primary Longman Elect
4A Chapter 6
could/couldn’t
… when …

2. Couldn’t (Could not) = was not able to do
Could / Couldn’t
Could / Couldn’t are the past tense forms of can / can’t.
Could = was able to do
Couldn’t (Could not) = was not able to do

3. Jack could swim two years ago.
Could / Couldn’t
Could / Couldn’t are the past tense forms of can / can’t.
two years ago
Jack could swim two years ago.

4. I couldn’t play the violin last year.
Could / Couldn’t
Could / Couldn’t are the past tense forms of can / can’t. 
last year
I couldn’t play the violin last year.

5. When We use the connective when to link up two sentences.
4 years old
Tom could ride a bike when he was four.

6. When We use the connective when to link up two sentences.
7 years old
Jenny could skip when she was seven.

7. Key structure I could ride a bike when I was five. couldn’t
play the piano
The verb after could / couldn’t doesn’t change.

8. Practice What could the children do when they were young?
Susie
do ballet / 6
Susie could do ballet when she was six.

9. Practice What could the children do when they were young?
Ben
hop / 4
Ben could hop when he was four.

10. Practice What could the children do when they were young?
Willy
tidy his toys / 3
Willy could tidy his toys when he was three.

11. Practice What could the children do when they were young?
Peter
Jill
swim / 7
Peter and Jill could swim when they were seven.

12. Practice What could the children do when they were young?
Danny I
play table tennis / 8
Danny and I could play table tennis when we were eight.

13. Reflexive pronouns Tammy could tie her shoelaces by herself.
Doing something by myself/yourself
= Doing something without other people’s help
Tammy could tie her shoelaces by herself.

14. Reflexive pronouns Ken couldn’t get dressed by himself.
Doing something by myself/yourself
= Doing something without other people’s help
Alan
Ken
Ken couldn’t get dressed by himself.

15. Key structure I could get dressed by myself. He himself. She herself.
You
yourself/yourselves. We
ourselves.
They
themselves.

16. Practice
What could/couldn’t the children do by themselves when they were five?
Carmen couldn’t pack her school bag _________ .
You could climb the stairs ____________ .
Connie and Cathy could carry their school bags ____________ .
David couldn’t tie his shoelaces ____________ .
I could do up my buttons _____________ .
Betty and I couldn’t comb our hair __________ .
You and John could get dressed ____________ .
by herself
by yourself/yourselves
by themselves
by himself
by myself
by ourselves
by yourselves

17. What could/couldn’t you do by yourself when you were young?
Tell your friends.

18. THE END