Ch 11
Can & Can't
I can swim · She can't drive · Can you help?
Use can to talk about ability, permission and possibility.
Ability
She can swim very well.
Permission
You can sit here.
Possibility
It can be very cold in January.
can is a modal verb — it never takes -s, -ing, or -ed. It's always the same form for every subject.
subject + can + base verb → She can speak French. ✓
He / She / It
She can drive. (NOT cans drive)
✗ Wrong
She can to swim.
→ no "to" after can
She cans swim.
→ no -s on modal
can't (spoken)
I can't swim.
cannot (formal)
You cannot use phones in the exam.
Spelling: "cannot" is ONE word, not two. NEVER write "can not" except for emphasis ("You can not ignore this!").
Can + subject + base verb? → Can you swim? ✓
Can you cook?
Yes, I can. / No, I can't.
Can she drive?
Yes, she can. / No, she can't.
I can to swim.
→
I can swim.
No "to" after can
She cans drive.
→
She can drive.
Modals never take -s
I can swimming.
→
I can swim.
Base verb after can, not -ing
You can not park here. (one word in standard use)
→
You cannot park here.
cannot = one word
Recap
Positive
can + base verb
I can swim.
Negative
can't / cannot
She can't cook.
Question
Can + subject + base verb?
Can you help?
No -s
modal verbs never change
She can (NEVER "cans")