1. Complete with :can-can’t or could –couldn’t and
identify the function of each sentence. Then
match each sentence with a picture.
1. *-----------------I ride my brother’s bike Mum?
*No, you ------------------ It’s too small for you
a-Ability b- Refuse Permission c- Asking for
permission
2. Lily ------------swing without anybody’s help.
a-Ability b- Permission c-Request
3. Peter -------------use the computer at the age
of three. a- Ability (in the past) b- Ability
(in the present) c-Asking for permission
4. Sally and Sam ----------go to work yesterday
because they had the flu. a-Inability
(present) b- Inability (past) c-Request
5. ----------------you wait for me? I haven’t dried
my hair yet. I’m still not ready.
a-Ability b-Refusing Permission c-Requesting
6. That’s really funny, I -------------stop laughing.
a- Request b- Possibility c- Inability (present)
7. Peter ----------be a cigarette addict. He
-------------give up smoking.
a- Requesting b- Possibility c- Inability
8. Julia --------------ride a horse.
a-Ability(present) b-Possibility c- Inability
9. Sam -------------you help me , I ‘m moving to
a new house.
a-Requesting b- Possibility c- Inability
10. Do you think that he ----------find gold there?
a-Requesting b- Possibility c- Inability
11. She ---------stop working even in her car.
a-Request b- Possibility c- Inability(present)
12. ----------I take a photo of this British guard ?
a-Requesting b- Permission(Ask) c- Inability
13. She is very tired. She---------sleep last night.
a-Requesting b- Possibility c- Inability(past)
14. You ----------have fun in the garden.
a-Requesting b- Possibility c- Inability
Can * expressing ability :
can or inability can’t in the
present: Subject+ +
Verb(base form): I can
speak English
*Expressing Request :
Can+ Subject+ verb ?
Can you help me, please?
*Asking for
Permission: can+
Subject+ Verb? Can I
watch TV mum?
*Expressing Possibility
Subject+ can +Verb
She isn’t here. She can be
ill
Can * expressing ability :
can or inability can’t in the
present: Subject+ +
Verb(base form): I can
speak English
*Expressing Request :
Can+ Subject+ verb ?
Can you help me, please?
*Asking for
Permission: can+
Subject+ Verb? Can I
watch TV mum?
*Expressing Possibility
Subject+ can +Verb
She isn’t here. She can be
ill
could : * expressing
ability could or
inability couldn’t in the
past: + Verb(base
form): I could speak
English
when I was 9.
*Expressing Request :
Could+Subject+
verb ? Could you
show me the way,
please?
*Expressing Possibility
Subject+ could
+Verb She isn’t
here. She could be ill
could : * expressing
ability could or
inability couldn’t in the
past: + Verb(base
form): I could speak
English
when I was 9.
*Expressing Request :
Could+Subject+
verb ? Could you
show me the way,
please?
*Expressing Possibility
Subject+ could
+Verb She isn’t
here. She could be ill
The man can make
the snake dance
but he can’t make
it speak.
Jane couldn’t
count when she
was three years
old.
Can(Present)
Could(past)
I
You
We
They
He
She
It
Speak to you?
speak French?
Dance beautifully?
Use the computer?
Play the guitar?
Paint a picture?
sing?
I
You
We
They
He
She
It
Can/ cannot
(can’t)(present)
Could/could
not(couldn’t)(past)
Speak French
use a computer.
Write a letter.
Drive a car.
fish.
Go to school alone
Switch on the TV.

2. Key:
Can –c/ can’t- b
Can- a
Could-a
Couldn’t- b
Can or could –c
Can’t- c
Could or can/can’t-c
Can-a
Could or can-a
Could or can –b
Can’t-c
Can – b
Couldn’t –c
Could or can - b