Supplementary Material

USE OF «CAN»
(Supplementary Material for Elementary Module)

We use can to express ability. We use cannot or can’t to express inability.

a) in the affirmative form, the order is:

subject Can Verb in infinitive complement

Yes, Lisa Can cook lasagna

He Can speak English and Chinese
They Can repair the computers in 2 hours
Yes, She Can understand algebra

b) in the negative form, the order is:

subject Can’t / cannot Verb in infinitive complement

No, Lisa Can’t cook lasagna

He Can’t speak any language except Spanish.
They Cannot repair the computers fast
No, She Can’t understand algebra

c) In the interrogative form, the order is:

«wh» word Can Subject Verb in infinitive complement ?

———- Can Lisa cook lasagna ?

What languages Can He speak ?
How fast Can They repair the computers ?
———- Can She understand algebra ?

We can also use Can or Can’t to ask for permission and to give or to deny permission:

Ask for permission Give permission Deny permission

Can I smoke? Yes, you can smoke. No, you cannot smoke.
Can go to the bathroom? Yes, you can (go to the bathroom). No you can’t (go to the bathroom).

EXERCISES:
I. Put the following sentences in the correct order:

1. you / do / can / many things / the new computer / with.

2. A fireman / help / can / people in accidents.

3. You / learn / English well / if you study a lot / can.

4. ? / I / use / telephone / your / can / please.

5. In any country in the world / can’t / consume steroids / athletes.

6. Jerry / catch / in any episode / can’t / Tom .

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7. An adult / many things / can’t / that children can do / do.

8. Where / buy / I / can / something for a headache. / ?

9. Open / please / can / the window / you / ?

II. Answer the following questions:

E.g.: What typical beverages can you drink in Chile?

You can drink Chicha, Enguindado, Pisco, Mote con Huesillos, Mistela, Licor de Oro, Navegado,
etc.

1. What can you do with a computer?

2. Where can you buy cars?

3. What can an Architect do?

4. What languages can you learn at Tronwell?

5. Can Santiago reduce its levels of pollution?

6. What countries can put men in Space?

7. What country can people dance Samba in?

8. What food can you eat in Italy?

III. Make the appropriate question according to the answers.

E.g.:
1. No, you can’t smoke here.
Can I smoke here please?

1. Yes, I can speak German.

2. You can find cheap restaurants downtown.

(Where…)

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3. No Sir, you can’t take photographs (at the museum).

4. This machine can scan and photocopy documents, and it can print documents.

(What…)
5. (The doctor) You can eat vegetables, fruit, and seafood. You can’t eat sweets, pasta and meat.

(What…)
6. You can visit Santa Lucia and San Cristóbal Hills, the Civic Center, etc, in Santiago.

(What places…)
7. Sorry, You can’t use the car, son. You drink too much.

8. Yes, Sir. You can pay with any credit card.

9. You can call for Room Service around the clock (24 hours a day).

(Until what time…)

10. Go to Aisle 24. You can find all types of chocolates and sweets there.

(Where…)

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KEY CHECK

I. Put the following sentences in the correct order:

1. you / do / can / many things / the new computer / with.

You can do many things with the new computer.

2. A fireman / help / can / people in accidents

A fireman can help people in accidents

3. You / learn / English well / if you study a lot / can.

You can learn English well if you study a lot.

4. ? / I / use / telephone / your / can / please.

Can I use your telephone , please?

5. In any country in the world / can’t / consume steroids / Athletes.

Athletes can’t consume steroids in any country in the world.

6. Jerry / catch / in any episode / can’t / Tom .

Tom can’t catch Jerry in any episode.

7. An adult / many things / can’t / that children can do / do.

An adult can’t do many things that children can do.

8. Where / buy / I / can / something for a headache. / ?

Where can I buy something for the headache?

9. Open / please / can / the window / you / ?

Can you open the window, please?

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What can you do with a computer?

You can type documents / play games / work / create programs / etc. with a computer

2. Where can you buy cars?

You can buy cars at the car dealer.

3. What can an Architect do?

An architect can design buildings / make plans.

4. What languages can you learn at Tronwell?

You can learn English, German, Portuguese, French and Mandarin Chinese at Tronwell.

5. Can Santiago reduce its levels of pollution?

No, it can’t / Yes, it can.

6. What country can put men in Space?

The USA can put men in Space.

7. What country can people dance Samba in?

People can dance Samba in Brazil.

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8. What food can you eat in Italy?
You can eat pasta, pizza, lasagna, prosciutto, etc.

III. Make the appropriate question according to the answer.

1. Yes, I can speak German.

Can you speak German?

2. You can find cheap restaurants downtown.

(Where) Where can I find cheap restaurants?

3. No Sir, you can’t take photographs (at the museum).

Can I take pictures?

4. This machine can scan and photocopy documents, and it can print documents.
(What…) What can this machine do?

5. (the doctor) You can eat vegetables, fruit, and seafood. You can’t eat sweets, pasta and meat.
(What…) What things can I eat?

6. In Santiago? You can visit Santa Lucia and San Cristóbal Hills, the Civic Center, etc.
(What places…) What places can I visit in Santiago?

7. Sorry, You can’t use the car, son. You drink too much.
Can I use the car, dad?

8. Yes, Sir. You can pay with any credit card.

Can I pay with a credit card.

9. You can call for Room Service round the clock (24 hours a day).
(Until what time…) Until what time can I call for Room Service?

10. Go to Aisle 24. You can find all types of chocolates and sweets there.
(Where…) Where can I find chocolates?