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Back to Lesson 29 All extra practice

Can / Can't

Optional support — your core lesson stays exactly as it is.

🧩 Supplementary Practice

Extra practice — Can / Can't

Need the words to stick? Recognise, recall, then use them.

Extra support for language you've already met.

Step 1 · Let's Understand

Ability & permission — words & phrases

Recognise it, remember it, then use it.

Recognise the meaning

Recognise

Match each word with its meaning.

swim
cook
drive
play (an instrument)
speak (a language)
dance
draw
help

Answer, then check.

Group the words

Notice

Put each activity in the right group.

  • Sport / Bodyswim · dance · run fast · ride a bike
  • Art / Musicplay (an instrument) · draw · sing
  • Everydaycook · drive · help · speak (a language)

Words in real phrases

Chunks

Say each one aloud. Copy the rhythm.

I can swim.

swim

She can cook.

cook

He can drive.

drive

I can play the guitar.

play (an instrument)

She can speak French.

speak (a language)

Can you remember?

Recall

Say the word first, then check.

Use it

Use it

Write 3 sentences about you using words from ability & permission.

Step 2 · Let's Practise

Extra speaking practice

Model first, then say it yourself.

Model language

Chunks

Listen, then say each phrase twice.

Can you ___?

Yes, I can. / No, I can't.

I can ___ very well.

I can't ___ at all.

Can you teach me?

Guided speaking

Speak

Pairs: find 3 things you can both do and 2 things only one of you can do.

  • Use: "Can you ___?"
  • Use: "Yes, I can. / No, I can't."
  • Use: "I can ___ very well."
  • Use: "I can't ___ at all."

Model answer

I can speak English and Spanish. I can cook pizza very well. I can drive a car. I can't play the piano. I can't ski. Can you teach me to ski, please?

Complete the conversation

Practise

Choose the natural reply.

  1. B: …

  2. B: …

  3. B: …

Answer, then check.

Challenge

Speak

Now do it again with no notes. Speak for 60 seconds.

  • Talk about ability & permission without stopping.

Step 2 · Let's Practise

Common difficulties

The parts learners usually find hard in this lesson.

Pronunciation: can vs can't

Chunks

'Can' is usually weak /kən/ and quick. 'Can't' is strong /kɑːnt/ (UK) or /kænt/ (US) — the 't' is short. Listen for the difference.

I can swim.

I can't swim.

She can cook.

She can't cook.

Can you help? — Yes, I can.

Tricky ones — say it, then check

Recall

These are the parts beginners often get wrong.

Common difficulties

Practise

Slow down and choose carefully.

  1. After 'can', the verb has…

  2. Short answer: 'Can you swim?' → Yes, I ___.

Answer, then check.

Step 3 · Let's Use It

can / can't + verb

Strengthen the grammar from this lesson — a different route into it.

Quick explanation

Understand

'Can' and 'can't' are the same for I / you / he / she / we / they. After 'can' use the basic verb — no -s, no 'to'.

  • I can swim.
  • She can speak English.
  • We can't cook.

Notice the pattern

Notice

Read the sentences. What is the same in each one?

  • I can swim.
  • She can speak English.
  • We can't cook.
  • Can you help me?

Choose the right form

Practise

One answer only. Take your time.

  1. She ___ play tennis very well.

  2. I ___ swim — I'm scared of water.

  3. ___ you help me, please?

  4. He can ___ the guitar.

Answer, then check.

Fix the mistake

Common mistakes

Each sentence has one wrong word. Write it correctly.

She can't play the guitar — she practises every day.

I can swim. I never learned.

Do I open the window, please?

Build the sentence

Build it

Put the words in the right order.

IcanspeakEnglish
Shecan'tdriveacar
Canyouhelpme,please?

Answer, then check.

Make it yours

Use it

Write 2–3 true sentences about you using can / can't + verb.

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