Likes, abilities and requests, part 3 of 6

Can and Can't: Talking About Abilities (I Can Swim)

Can means you know how to or are able to: I can swim. It is the same for everyone, with no -s, and the verb stays as it is: She can drive.

A1 · 14 minBefore:Would like

The idea

What can is

It is the word for what you know how to do or are able to do. It is the same for everyone, and the next verb stays as it is.

An ability. I can swim.
Possible now. I can't come today.
No do. It makes its own questions: Can you cook?

When to use it

To say what you know how to do, what you are able to do right now, and what you cannot do. These expressions go with it:

Things you can do

ride a bike
play chess
speak two languages
draw

Phrases with can

You can do it!
I can see it.

Phrases with can't

I can't wait!
I can't hear you.
I can't believe it!
I can't find my keys.

Examples

What you can do
My grandma can knit.
What you cannot do
I can't cook.
Asking
Can you play the drums?
Right now
I can't talk now. I'm at work.
Something new
Our baby can walk now!
Animals
Cats can see in the dark.

How to build it

4 steps

Put can after the subjectThe same for everyone, with no -s:She can
Add the verb as it isNo to and no -s:She can drive.
Negative: can'tIt is can not, joined and short:She can't drive.
Question: can firstNo do or does:Can she drive?

Affirmative

SubjectHe
cancan
base verbfix
complementcomputers.

Negative

SubjectWe
can'tcan't
base verbsee
complementthe screen.

Question

CanCan
subjectyou
base verbwhistle
??

The rule

The same for everyone

Form	With I	With she
Affirmative	I can sing.	She can sing.
Negative	I can't sing.	She can't sing.
Question	Can I sing?	Can she sing?
Short answer	Yes, I can.	No, she can't.

How to pronounce it

can
/kən/, /kæn/
In a sentence it is weak, /kən/; strong /kæn/ only in short answers.
can't
/kænt/
It is stressed, with an open /æ/; the stress is what tells it from can.
cannot
/ˈkænɑt/
One word; stronger than can't.

Check

My dad (blank) cook very well. Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with Can I...? and Can you...? for asking

Can you swim?

An ability

Can you help me?

A favor

Can you swim? asks about an ability. Can you help me? asks a favor: that is part 2.

Part 4: asking with can

In real life

To hear the difference, listen for stress: in I can swim, can almost disappears; in I can't swim, can't is strong and long.

Frequently asked questions

Is cannot one word or two?

One word: cannot. Can not as two words is rare. In speech, people say can't.

Can you use can for the past?

For the past use could: I could swim when I was five. You see that later.

Is it "I know swim" or "I can swim"?

I can swim. Know is for facts (I know the answer), not for skills.

In short

Can is the same for everyone, no -s: she can swim.
After can, the base verb, no to: I can drive.
Negative can't; questions start with can: Can you cook?
Can is weak; can't is strong.

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