Warm-Up Question:
What activities can you do well, and what things are hard for you to do?
Examples: swim, play different sports, speak English (or another language), communicate with other people
Grammar Focus
Can / Can’t for Ability and Permission
- We use can to talk about what someone is able to do or allowed to do.
- We use can’t to show that someone does not have the ability or permission.
Key points:
- Use can + base verb to say what someone can do:
➤ “I can swim.”
➤ “She can play the piano.”
- Use can’t + base verb to say what someone cannot do or is not allowed to do:
➤ “He can’t come to the party.”
➤ “You can’t use your phone in class.”
- Use can for permission:
➤ “Can I leave early?”
- Use can for ability:
➤ “She can run fast.”
🗣️Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking
Understanding and using can / can’t helps you express what people can do, what they’re allowed to do, and what rules they must follow in daily life.
Here are common ways you’ll hear or use can / can’t:
- Talking about abilities:
- “Can you help me with this?”
- “I can speak English.”
- Asking for or giving permission:
- “Can I open the window?”
- “You can leave now.”
- Understanding rules and limits:
- “You can’t park here.”
- “Students can’t use phones in class.”
These phrases are especially useful when talking about rules, abilities, or what people are allowed to do in places like school, work, or public spaces.