LESSON 4.2 | CAN for possibility

LESSON 4.2 | CAN for possibility

Can / Can't

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CAN / CAN'T shows ability, inability, request, permission, possibility, and inappropriateness.


Examples:

a. I can speak English.
b. You can leave early today.
c. Can I come in, please?

Formation:

Positive: Subject + CAN + Verb1

Negative: Subject + CAN'T + Verb1

POSITIVE STATEMENT				NEGATIVE STATEMENT
I	can	speak	English	I	can't	speak	English
He	can	run	very vest	You	can't	run	very fast
He	can	sit	in the garden	He	can't	sit	in the garden
She	can	come	with us	She	can't	come	with us
It	can	jump	to the other side	It	can't	jump	to the other side
We	can	make	delicious cakes	We	can't	make	delicious cakes
You	can	pass	the exam	You	can't	pass	the exam
They	can	draw	pictures	They	can't	draw	pictures

NOTE: Negative form of CAN is either “cannot” or “can not” and its negative contraction is “Can’t”. In British English, it is pronounced /ka:nt/ but in American English, it is /kent/.


NOTE: Negative “YES/NO QUESTIONS” are formed in two ways:

1. Can you not come today?	Can he read fast?
2. Can’t you come today?	Can’t he read fast?

Can Yes/No Questions and Answers Chart

Can WH Information Questions and Answers Chart


USE:

We use “CAN” to express


1. Ability

Sarven can ride a bike.
He can speak Japanese.
I can play table tennis.
We can cook.
They can eat with chop sticks.
Paul and Ingrid can ski.


2. Inability

He can’t ride a horse.
I can’t type very fast.
We can’t lift 100 kilos.
Jan can not run fast.
Alicia cannot drive a car.


3. Request

Can you help me?
Can you tell me the way to the museum?
Can you come here a minute please?


4. Permissions

Can I use your cell phone?
Can I take a day off?
Can I smoke here?
Can I go out?

Typical responses: Certainly. Yes, certainly. Of course. Of course you can. Sure (informal) … etc


5. Possibility

The florist can deliver the bouquet early.
My friend can visit me this week

Note: can is not normal used to describe future possibility in the positive form.

INCORRECT: It can rain tomorrow.


6. Inappropriateness

You can’t wear that dress! It is indecent.
You can’t smoke in this building. It is illegal.
You can’t ask for information here. This is not information desk.