Use can to describe an ability or ask someone for help or permission.
The idea
Put can before the base form of the main verb: She can ride. It stays can with every subject. For a negative, use cannot or the contraction can’t. For a question, put can before the subject: Can you open the window? A request with could may sound more polite in many contexts.
Examples
- I can swim.
- She can ride a bicycle.
- We cannot meet today.
- He can’t hear the announcement.
- Can you open the window?
- Can I use this chair?
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Watch out
Do not add -s to can or to the following verb: say She can ride, not She cans rides. Write the usual full negative as one word: cannot.
Try it yourself
She can ___ a bicycle. (ride / rides)
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ride
ride stays in its base form after can.
___ you open the window? (Can / Does)
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Can
Can begins this request and comes before the subject.
We ___ meet today. (cannot / does not)
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cannot
cannot is the standard single-word negative form of can.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
She can ___ a bicycle. (ride / rides)
___ you open the window? (Can / Does)
We ___ meet today. (cannot / does not)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write a sentence about something you can do, a sentence about something you cannot do today and a polite request for help.