Ability (can/could) Exercises PDFSet 1: Can & Can't: Present Ability
20 questions·12 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.She ___ speak three languages.
a) couldb) canc) is abled) cans
2.I ___ swim very well. I need lessons.
a) don't canb) am not canc) isn't abled) can't
3.___ you play the guitar?
a) Canb) Do canc) Ared) Is
4.He ___ drive a car. He never learned how.
a) don'tb) not canc) can'td) doesn't can
5.My grandmother ___ cook better than anyone.
a) cansb) canc) is cand) do can
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.can
2.can't
3.Can
4.can't
5.can
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."can"(b)
Use 'can' + base verb for present ability. 'Could' refers to past ability ('She could speak three languages as a child'); 'is able' would need 'to' before the verb ('is able to speak'); 'cans' doesn't exist because modals don't take -s in the third person.
2."can't"(d)
Use 'can't' (= cannot) to say you are not able to do something. 'Don't can' is not correct English.
3."Can"(a)
To ask about ability, put 'Can' before the subject: Can + subject + base verb?
4."can't"(c)
Use 'can't' for inability. The negative of 'can' is 'can't' or 'cannot', not 'not can' or 'doesn't can'. 'He don't' is also wrong because 'he' takes 'doesn't', and 'doesn't can' is impossible — modals don't combine with 'do/does'.
5."can"(b)
'Can' is a modal verb — it has the same form for all subjects. Never add 's': 'she can', not 'she cans'.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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