Can and Can't: Ability: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I ___ swim, but I'm not very fast. → can

Can is followed by the bare infinitive — never by to and never with an -s.

2. She ___ play the piano beautifully. → can

Modal verbs have one form for every subject, so there is no cans.

3. ___ you help me with this box, please? → Can

Can makes its own question by moving in front of the subject. No do is used.

4. He ___ come to the meeting — he's in Lisbon. → can't

The negative is can't or cannot, with the bare infinitive after it.

5. "Can you drive?" — "Yes, I ___." → can

The short answer repeats the modal verb, not the main verb.

6. Which sentence is correct? → I can speak Spanish.

Can is always followed by the base form of the verb, with no to and no -ing.

7. ___ I open the window? It's very warm in here. → Can

Can I is the everyday way of asking permission in English.

8. They ___ find the address on the map. → can't

Can't works for every subject, and the verb after it stays bare.

9. It ___ get very cold here in February. → can

Can also expresses general possibility, not only personal ability.

10. "Can your sister cook?" — "No, she ___." → can't

The negative short answer repeats the modal in its contracted form.

11. Which sentence asks for permission? → Can I sit here?

Can I asks permission for yourself; can you asks somebody else to do something.

12. We ___ hear you — the line is very bad. → can't

Can't plus the bare infinitive is the standard negative.

13. ___ he speak any English at all? → Can

The modal itself moves to the front of a question; no auxiliary is added.

14. You ___ park here between nine and six. → can't

Can't also expresses a rule or prohibition, not just inability.

15. Which sentence is correct? → Can she come tomorrow?

In a question the modal moves and the main verb stays in its base form.

16. I ___ remember his name — it's on the tip of my tongue. → can't

Can't is used with verbs of the senses and memory, where many languages use a simple present.

17. ___ we take photographs inside the museum? → Can

Can asks whether something is permitted.

18. My grandmother ___ still ride a bicycle at eighty. → can

Can never changes for the subject, however old the subject is.

19. "Can I pay by card?" — "Of course you ___." → can

The short answer repeats the modal by itself.

20. Which is the correct negative? → He can't drive.

Can't takes the bare infinitive and needs no auxiliary of any kind.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I ___ speak three languages fluently. → can

Can expresses ability and is followed by the bare infinitive.

2. She ___ ride a bicycle — she never learned as a child. → can't

The negative of can is can't or cannot, with no auxiliary added.

3. ___ you pass me the salt, please? → Can

Can you is the everyday polite request; could you is slightly more formal.

4. ___ I use your phone for a moment? → Can

Can I asks permission, and the modal moves to the front of the question.

5. My brother ___ cook very well, but he never does. → can

Can has one form for every subject — there is no cans.

6. We ___ find our seats in the dark. → can't

Can't is used with verbs of perception where other languages use the present simple.

7. "Are you able to swim?" — "Yes, I ___ — I learned as a child." → can

The short answer uses the modal that matches the ability being asked about, and it never changes for the subject.

8. You ___ smoke anywhere in the building. → can't

Can't expresses a prohibition as well as an inability.

9. ___ your daughter read yet? → Can

The modal moves in front of the subject to make a question; no do is added.

10. It ___ be quite windy on the coast in autumn. → can

Can also expresses general possibility rather than personal ability.

11. I'm sorry, I ___ come to your party on Saturday. → can't

Can't is the standard way of refusing an invitation politely.

12. ___ we pay in cash here? → Can

Can asks whether something is permitted or possible.

13. He ___ play the guitar and the drums. → can

Can covers ability and never takes an -s in the third person.

14. They ___ hear the music from three streets away. → can

Can is normal with hear, see, smell and feel in English.

15. "Is your brother able to drive?" — "No, he ___ — he never took lessons." → can't

The negative short answer uses the contracted modal, which is the same for every subject.

16. ___ you tell me the way to the station? → Can

Can you is how English asks a stranger for help.

17. Children under twelve ___ travel free on this line. → can

Can expresses permission granted by a rule.

18. I ___ understand a word he said. → couldn't

With a past narrative the modal shifts to couldn't, though can't works in a present retelling.

19. ___ anybody here speak Arabic? → Can

The modal moves to the front, and speak stays in its base form.

20. My father ___ use a computer at all. → can't

Can't states an inability, with the bare infinitive after it.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe a modest language ability of your own. → I can speak a little Italian.

Describe a modest language ability of your own.

2. Ask a stranger politely for assistance. → Can you help me, please?

Ask a stranger politely for assistance.

3. Explain that a woman is unavailable. → She can't come to the meeting.

Explain that a woman is unavailable.

4. Ask permission to take a chair. → Can I sit here?

Ask permission to take a chair.

5. Describe a man's musical ability. → He can play three instruments.

Describe a man's musical ability.

6. Report that your group is lost. → We can't find the hotel.

Report that your group is lost.

7. Ask a parent about a skill their children may have. → Can your children swim yet?

Ask a parent about a skill their children may have.

8. Tell a customer what is permitted in a shop. → You can pay by card here.

Tell a customer what is permitted in a shop.

9. Complain about a bad phone connection. → I can't hear you very well.

Complain about a bad phone connection.

10. Make a restaurant reservation for a group. → Can we book a table for four?

Make a restaurant reservation for a group.

11. Say that an older relative retains an ability. → My grandmother can still drive.

Say that an older relative retains an ability.

12. Explain a traffic restriction. → You can't park on this street.

Explain a traffic restriction.

13. Ask whether a new employee is available. → Can she start on Monday?

Ask whether a new employee is available.

14. Describe a general possibility about the weather. → It can be very cold in January.

Describe a general possibility about the weather.

15. Explain a financial limit on a couple. → They can't afford a bigger flat.

Explain a financial limit on a couple.

16. Politely open a conversation. → Can I ask you a question?

Politely open a conversation.

17. Describe a man's fitness. → He can run ten kilometres easily.

Describe a man's fitness.

18. Suggest a possible arrangement. → We can meet after work tomorrow.

Suggest a possible arrangement.

19. Ask whether sound reaches another floor. → Can you hear the music upstairs?

Ask whether sound reaches another floor.

20. Admit that a name has escaped you. → I can't remember her surname.

Admit that a name has escaped you.