Learn English Online - free English lessons for beginners - Unit 10

Lesson 47 - Can and Can't - Ability

can	cannot / can't

Birds can fly.	Horses can't fly, but they can run very fast.

The modal verb can for ability
Tense	Positive Form + (can)	Negative Form - (cannot or can't)	Question Form ? (can / can't)
Present	I can speak German quite well.	I can't speak Chinese.	Can you speak English? Can't you find the practice forum?
Past	Can becomes could. I could only speak English when I was a child.	Cannot or can't become could not or couldn't. I couldn't speak any German when I came here.	Can or can't become could or couldn't. Could you have taken German lessons before you came here? Couldn't you get any help with your German when you arrived?
Future	Can becomes to "be able to " I will be able to speak German fluently by the time I leave Germany.	Cannot or can't become will not be able to or won't be able to. I won't be able to go on holiday next year.	Can or can't become will be able to or won't be able to. Will you be able to go on holiday this year? Why won't you be able to go on holiday next year?