Can
Explain
He can play football.
He can not play football.
Subject + can + verb + noun / noun phrase
I can speak Japanese.
He can play the piano.
They can play cards.
Check out the blogs for more on determiners.
She can use a sewing machine.
I can draw a dog.
My mum can make risotto.
Vocabulary
Verbs
With
Subject + present tense verb + with + noun / noun phrase
I pay with credit card.
I eat with chopsticks.
I see with glasses.
Present - positive
Subject + can + verb + noun / noun phrase
can / reserve / I / a table.
I can reserve a table.
speak / My mum / can / English
Answer
My mum can speak English.
with / pay / can / You / credit card or cash
Answer
You can pay with credit card or cash.
You / that train / take / St. Paul's Cathedral / to
Answer
You can take that train to St. Paul's Cathedral.
good / The waiter / red wine / recommend / can
Answer
The waiter can recommend a good red wine.
have / She / chocolates / two / can
Answer
She can have two chocolates.
Present - negative
Subject + can not + verb + noun / noun phrase
Subject + can't + verb + noun / noun phrase
Practice
can / speak / I / not / German.
I can not speak German.
not / reserve / You / can / to / a table
Answer
You can not reserve a table.
have / white wine / I / can't
Answer
I can't have white wine.
pay / can't / You / cash / with
Answer
You can't pay with cash.
Past tense - positive
Explain
Subject + could + verb + noun / noun phrase
Past
Now
Future
I could speak Italian.
It is in the past so means that you now can not speak Italian.
Now
Past
I can't speak Italian.
Future
I could speak Italian.
I could speak Italian but now I can't.
Now
Past
I can speak Italian.
Future
I could speak Italian.
I could speak Italian and now I can.
Why is number 3 wrong?
Answer
If you say you 'could' do something it means you 'can not' do it now. It is odd to say you 'could' do something if you still can.
Practice
Subject + could + verb + noun / noun phrase
could / play / I / golf.
I could play golf.
Chinese / I / could / speak
Answer
I could speak Chinese
could / make / I / bread
Answer
I could make bread.
skateboard / My brother / could / ride / a
Answer
My brother could ride a skateboard.
Ago
Five years ago
Three years ago
One year ago
Twenty years ago
Ten years ago
Four years ago
Two years ago
Now
Unsure how long ago?
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Use 'about': about a year ago, about two years ago, about four years ago.
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You can also say: a long time ago, ages ago for times far in the past.
Examples
Five years ago I could speak French.
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I could make pizza a year ago.
​
About three years ago my friend could use chopsticks but now she can't.
Past - negative
Now
Past
Future
I could not speak Italian.
I couldn't speak Italian.
Now
Past
I can speak Italian.
Future
I could not speak Italian.
I couldn't speak Italian.
I couldn't speak Italian but now I can.
Now
Past
I can't speak Italian.
Future
I couldn't speak Italian.
I couldn't speak Italian and now I can't.
Why is number 3 wrong?
Answer
If you say you 'could not' do something it means you 'can' do it now. It is odd to say you 'could not' do something if you still can not.
Practice
Subject + could not + verb + noun / noun phrase
could not / speak / I / Spanish.
I could not speak Spanish.
I could not speak Spanish but now I can.
cash / I / couldn't / with / pay
Answer
I couldn't pay with cash.
cash / card / but / could / I / couldn't / pay / with / pay / with
Answer
I couldn't pay with cash but could pay with card.
couldn't / table / reserve / My wife / the
Answer
My wife couldn't reserve the table.
couldn't / for 7:30pm / table / reserve / My wife / the
Answer
My wife couldn't reserve the table for 7:30pm.
fish / have / couldn't / We / the
Answer
We couldn't have the fish.
fish / because / restaurant / ran-out / have / couldn't / We / the
Answer
We couldn't have the fish because the restaurant ran-out.
Questions (?)
Now
Past
Can you speak Italian?
Future
Could you speak Italian?
Present tense - Practice
Can + subject + verb + noun / noun phrase?
Can / speak / you / German?
Can you speak German?
recommend / you / Can / a restaurant
Answer
Can you recommend a restaurant?
for / recommend / you / Can / dinner / a restaurant
Answer
Can you recommend a restaurant for dinner?
this / take / I / Can
Answer
Can I take this?
Can / speak / Russian / your sister
Answer
Can your sister speak Russian?
Past tense - Practice
Could + subject + verb + noun / noun phrase?
you / Could / a seat / recommend
Answer
Can you recommend a seat?
on / reserve / you / Could / the train / a seat
Answer
Could you reserve a seat on the train?
you / Could / at / pay / the till
Answer
Could you pay at the till?
Can with future events
Past
Now
Future
I can go to the bank this week.
It means the subject has the ability to go to the bank this week.
Past
Now
Future
I can watch a film tonight.
It means the subject has the ability to watch a film tonight (they are not busy).
Past
Now
Future
I can not watch a film tonight.
I can't watch a film tonight.
It means the subject does not have the ability to watch a film tonight (they are busy or tired).
Conversations
A: Can you take Billy to school today?
B: Yes, I can. What time does it start?
A: He needs to be there to for 9:00.
B: Okay.
​
A: Do you want to watch a film tonight?
B: I can't tonight. I'm going out. How about tomorrow night?
A: Sounds good.
​
A: We need some rice for dinner tonight. Can you pick some up on the way home?
B: Yes, I can. How much do we need?
A: One bag is fine.