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 could/co uldn't:
O When I was young, I could run very fast.
O Before Maria came to Britain, she co uld n't und erstand 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 ... ? Co uld you ... ? Can I ... ? C o uld I ... ?
We use Can you ... ? or C o uld you ... ? when we ask people to do things:
O Can you open the door, please? or Co uld 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 pen/do or)
Cpuldypuopan
. th ed o o r,p \e a e eZ
) (turn off/radio) © (use/pen)
