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Can e Could

The document discusses the use of can and could in English. It explains that can is used to talk about present ability or possibility, while could is used for past ability or possibility. It provides examples of using can and could with different subjects and verbs, and examples of asking for permission or favors using can/could and question forms.

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Argos Nahasapeemapetilon
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108 views2 pages

Can e Could

The document discusses the use of can and could in English. It explains that can is used to talk about present ability or possibility, while could is used for past ability or possibility. It provides examples of using can and could with different subjects and verbs, and examples of asking for permission or favors using can/could and question forms.

Uploaded by

Argos Nahasapeemapetilon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Unit

30 can and could


I can play

He can play the piano,

can + infinitive (can do / can play / can come etc):

do do?
l/we/you/they can play l/we/you/they play?
ra n1
Cdl
he/she/it can't (cannot) see he/she/it see?
come etc. come? etc.

I can do something = I know how to do it, or it is possible for me to do it:


O I can play the piano. My brother can play the piano too.
O Sarah can speak Italian, but she can't speak Spanish.
O a: Can you swim?
b: Yes, but I'm not a very good swimmer.
O a: Can you change twenty pounds?
b: I'm sorry, I can't.
O I'm having a party next week, but Paul and Rachel can't come.

For the past (yesterday / last week etc.), we use cou ld /co uld n 't:
O When I was young, I could run very fast.
O Before Maria came to Britain, she co uld n 't u nd erstan d much English. Now she can
und erstand everything.
O I was tired last night, but I co u ld n't sleep.
O I had a party last week, but Paul and Rachel co uld n't come.

Can you ... ? C o uld you ... ? Can I ... ? C o uld I ... ?

We use Can you ... ? or C ould you ... ? when we ask people to do things:
O Can you open the door, please? or C ou ld you open the door, please?
O Can you wait a moment, please? or Co uld you w a i t ... ?

We use Can I have ... ? or Can I g e t ... ? to ask for something:


O Can I have a glass of water, please? or Can I g e t . . . ?

Can I ? or C o uld I ... ? = is it O K to do something?:


O Can I sit here?
O Tom, could I borrow your umbrella?

70 ( May I ... ?-» Unit 29


Exercises
^ jQ Q | Ask Steve if he can do these things:

Steve

Can you swim?

10 kilometres
Can you do these things? Write sentences about yourself. Use I can or I can't
7 1..................................................................................................... 10 ..........................................................

31Complete these sentences. Use can or can't + one of these verbs:

come find hear see speak

1 I'm sorry, but w e can t co m e to your party next Saturday.


2 I like this hotel room. Y o u ................................................................the mountains from the window.
3 You are speaking very quietly. I ................................................................you.
4 Have you seen my bag? I ................................................................ it.
5 Catherine got the job because sh e ................................................................five languages.

Complete these sentences. Use can't or couldn't + one of these verbs:

decide eat find go go sleep

1 I was tired, but I QOu\dnte\eep


2 I wasn't hungry yesterday. I ................................................................................my dinner.
3 Kate doesn't know what to do. S h e................................................................................
4 I wanted to speak to M ark yesterday, but I ................................................................................him.
5 Jam es.............................................................................. to the concert next Saturday. He has to work.
6 Paula.............................................................................. to the meeting last week. She was ill.

What do you say in these situations? Use can or could.

\ CD (o pe n/d oor)

Cpuldypuopan
. th ed o o r,p \e ae eZ

) (turn off/radio) © (use/pen)

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