can/can't EF elementary

1. Can/Can’t + infinitive
EF Elementary 5A

2. DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
ABILITY – I KNOW HOW TO/I DON’T KNOW HOW TO
POSSIBILITY – IT’S POSSIBLE/IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
PERMISSION – IT’S OK/IT’S PERMITTED
- IS IT OK/PERMITTED IF I DO THIS?
PROHIBITION – IT’S NOT OK/IT ISN’T PERMITTED
REQUEST – PLEASE, DO THIS

3. DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
ABILITY – I KNOW HOW TO/I DON’T KNOW HOW TO
I can sing, but I can’t dance

4. DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
POSSIBILITY – IT’S POSSIBLE/IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
I can come to class on Wednesday,
but I can’t come on Thursday
because I have to work

5. DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
PERMISSION – IT’S OK/IT’S PERMITTED
- IS IT OK/PERMITTED IF I DO THIS?
Driver: can I park here?
Policeman: Yes, you can park here.

6. DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
PROHIBITION – IT’S NOT OK/IT ISN’T PERMITTED
Can I smoke in here?
Nurse: No, you can’t smoke in here.
It’s a hospital.

7. DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
REQUEST – PLEASE, DO THIS
Can you open the window please?

8. I
YOU
HE, SHE, IT
WE
YOU
THEY
CAN
SWIM
COME
HELP
+

9. I
YOU
HE, SHE, IT
WE
YOU
THEY
CAN’T
CANNOT
SWIM
COME
HELP
-

10. CAN
I/YOU
HE/SHE/ IT
WE/YOU/THEY
SWIM?
COME?
HELP?
?
 
YES,
I/YOU
HE/SHE/ IT
WE/YOU/THEY
CAN
NO,
I/YOU
HE/SHE/ IT
WE/YOU/THEY
CAN’T

11. CAN and CAN’T are the same for all persons
He/she can drive (He/she cans drive)
CAN/CAN’T work like “be” – inversion in questions,
no DON’T/DOESN’T in negatives
Where can I find a newsagent’s?
(Where do I can find a newsagent’s?)
CAN’T = CANNOT
DON’T use TO after CAN/CAN’T
I can swim (I can to swim)