Page 81 - Oxford_Grammar_for_Schools_3_Student_Book_Neat (1)

Can and could for ability and

permission

I can recognize and use can andcouldfor ability and permission.

Can and could for ability

*1 O 14.1 Listen and tick /the correct pictureÿ
ican But I can't ÿ
skateboarA skateboarA What can Sarah do?
really Well! here.

1 Why is Max late?

Can and could are modal verbs.We use them to talk 2 What was the weather like this morning?
about possibility,ability and permission.We use can and
isn'tw talkaboutoafpnmabiim.

Subject can/can't Base form

I /he /she /it/ can swim 1000 metres.
we /you /they can't dance.
3 Where's Sarah?
Can Subject Base form

1/we /she / it/ swim 1000 metres?
Can
we / you / they dance?

We use could and couldn't to talk about our abilities
in the past.We often use a past time phrase.
4 How far can Emily's dad run?
could/ Base
Subject Past time phrase
couldn't form
when I was eight.
I/he/ when she was three.
she /it/ could swim this morning.
we / you / couldn't
yesterday.
they
in 2006. 5 What can Edwardcook?

We often use can and could for ability to talk about our
senses.
I can smell smoke. I can't taste it.
Can youhear me? I couldn't see it.

Unit 14 79