Grammar

Can and Can't for Ability

Use 'can' to say someone is able to do something and 'can't' for inability. 'Can' is followed by the base form of the verb and stays the same for all subjects.

Post

Level A1 Modals

Summary

Use 'can' to say someone is able to do something and 'can't' for inability. 'Can' is followed by the base form of the verb and stays the same for all subjects.

Structure

subject + can/can't + base verb

Examples

Common mistakes

• Adding 'to', e.g. 'I can to swim' instead of 'I can swim'.
• Adding -s for he/she, e.g. 'She cans cook' instead of 'She can cook'.

Related

Should for Advice

More modals

Can / Could (Ability and Permission) A2

Use 'can' for present ability and informal permission or requests. Use 'could' for past ability and for more polite requests.

Must / Have To (Obligation) B1

Use 'must' and 'have to' to express obligation or necessity. 'Mustn't' means something is forbidden, while 'don't have to' means there is no obligation.

May / Might (Possibility) B1

Use 'may' and 'might' to talk about present or future possibility. 'May' is also used for formal permission.

Would for Past Habits B2

Use 'would' to talk about repeated past actions and habits, similar to 'used to'. Unlike 'used to', 'would' is not normally used for past states.

Would (Polite Requests and Hypotheticals) B1

Use 'would' for polite requests and offers, for hypothetical results (especially in conditionals), and to describe imagined situations.

Should for Advice A2

Use 'should' to give advice or say what is the right thing to do. 'Shouldn't' advises against something. It is followed by the base form of the verb.

External links

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