TEACHER’S NOTES
WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Can you...?
Activity Type Introduction
Reading, listening and In this can and can't game, students guess whether a partner can
speaking activity, pair or can't do certain things and ask 'Can you...?' questions to find
work out if their guesses are right or wrong.
Procedure
Focus
Divide the students into pairs (Student A and B). If possible,
Modal verbs of ability
put students with someone they don't usually work with or don't
Can you...? know very well.
Yes, I can. / No, I can't. Give each student a corresponding worksheet.
Ask the students to write their partner's name in the space at the
Aim top of the worksheet.
To guess whether a
Working alone, students guess whether their partner can or can't
partner can or can't do
do the things listed on their worksheet by circling can or can't in
certain things and then
each sentence.
to ask 'Can you...?'
questions to find out if
When the students have finished, they take it in turns to find out
your guesses are right or
if their guesses are right or wrong by asking their partner 'Can
wrong.
you...?' questions, e.g. 'Can you draw a square and a circle at the
same time?'
Preparation
Students put a tick or cross in the last column, depending on
Make one copy of the two whether their guess was right or wrong.
worksheets for each pair
of students. If possible, students ask their partner to demonstrate their ability.
The student with the most correct guesses wins the game.
Level
Afterwards, students tell the class about their partner, e.g. 'I
Elementary (A1-A2)
talked to Pam. She can spell the teacher's full name, but she can’t
play the piano', etc.
Time
25 minutes
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MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY
WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Can you...?
Student A
Partner's name: ü /x
1. My partner can / can't draw a square and a circle at the same time.
2. My partner can / can't ride a horse.
3. My partner can / can't say 'goodbye' in five languages.
4. My partner can / can't drive a car.
5. My partner can / can't swim 100 metres.
6. My partner can / can't cook well.
7. My partner can / can't add 143 to 89 without writing anything (answer 232).
8. My partner can / can't say the months of the year backwards.
9. My partner can / can't name six countries in Europe.
10. My partner can / can't play a musical instrument.
Teach-This.com © 2021 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY
WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Can you...?
Student B
Partner's name: ü /x
1. My partner can / can’t spell the teacher's full name.
2. My partner can / can't play the piano.
3. My partner can / can't run two kilometres without stopping.
4. My partner can / can't multiply 7 by 12 without writing anything (answer 84).
5. My partner can / can't draw well.
6. My partner can / can't type without looking at the keyboard.
7. My partner can / can't ride a motorbike.
8. My partner can / can't snowboard.
9. My partner can / can't play backgammon.
10. My partner can / can't say 'hello' in five languages.
Teach-This.com © 2021 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
