Can

subject + ? I He Can auxiliary verb (hulpwerkwoord) can cannot cant you main verb play play play tennis tennis tennis

NB: there is only one form of can The main verb is always the infinitive (hele werkwoord zonder to) o dus niet: I can to play tennis o ook niet: he can to come to my house o ook niet: she can to help me with my homework

Rules: we use can to talk about what we are able to do o She can ride a bike. o Peter can speak Chinese. o Mrs Taylor, I cant hear you! o Can you hear me? We use can for the present tense (tegenwoordige tijd) but also use it if we make decisions about the future (beslissingen mbt de toekomst): o Can you help me with my homework? (present tense) o Sorry. Im busy now. But I can help you tomorrow if you like? (future tense) We use can to ask someone to do something. Its not a real question (are you able to do this ben jij in staat om dit te doen) but we want them to do it. This is informal (informeel) between family and friends. o Can you put the TV on? o Can you be quiet! I cant hear the TV. o Can you make me some tea, please.

Could
subject + ? My grandmother She Could auxiliary verb (hulpwerkwoord) could could not couldnt your grandmother main verb swim walk swim when she was three until she was two. when she was three?

NB: there is only one form of could The main verb is always the infinitive (hele werkwoord zonder to) o dus niet: I could to play tennis o ook niet: he could to swim before he could to walk. o ook niet: she couldnt to help me with my homework, she was busy.

Rules: we use could to talk about what was possible in the past (verleden tijd) o I could swim when I was 5 years old. o My grandmother could speak four languages. o When I got home yesterday, I couldn't open the door. o Could you understand what that man just said? We use could in a question to ask somebody to do something. This is polite (formal). o Could you tell me where the bank is, please? o Could you send those flowers to my girlfriend, please? If we talk about a specific date in the past we use be able to instead of could: Past general My grandmother could speak Spanish. My grandmother couldnt speak Spanish.

+ -

specific occasion A man fell into the river yesterday. The police were able to save him. A man fell into the river yesterday. The police werent able to save him.

Can and could practice

A mix and match join the numbers and letters to make correct sentences. 1. we couldnt find a parking place 2. I could use my fathers can when 3. We couldnt go to his party because 4. I couldnt ride a bicycle until 5. I couldnt stop him 6. They couldnt buy it 7. Jack couldn't come 8. Nobody could do the exam 9. I couldn't phone you 10. She could read before a b c d e f g h I j we were away on holiday I didnt have your number. He had to stay and help his parents. It was very busy in town. she went to school. They didnt have enough money. I lived with my parents. It was very difficult. He doesnt listen to me. I was ten!

Put these words in the right order 1. I you ask something? could

2. coffee? 3. call 4. life? 5. you back me

some you you

could make

could tomorrow? give you explain

could a

could please? me lend

again, that 10, please

6. could you

7. words English can 8. faster than

parrot seventeen any English run I

my

say cheetah can I now

other a I

animal can but

9. young couldnt

speak when was

Fill in the missing words 1. Sue asked if she __________________ come to London with us. 2. I __________________ say no because shes been so very kind to me. 3. You __________________ have said it was just for the family. 4. No, I __________________ because she knew you were coming.

couldnt

could

could

couldnt