TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Can you or can't you?

Activity Type Introduction

Vocabulary and Speaking This can and can't worksheet helps to teach students how to talk
Activity: sentence about their abilities.
completion, asking and
answering questions Procedure
from prompts, controlled
practice (pair work) Give each student a copy of the worksheet.

Go through the language on the worksheet and make sure the

Focus students understand each ability.
Modal verbs of ability
Students then write about their abilities by completing the
I can and I can't sentences on the worksheet with I can or I can't.

Can you...? Next, divide the students into pairs.

Yes, I can. Students then take it in turns to ask about their partner's abilities
by asking questions with Can you...?, e.g. 'Can you snap your
No, I can't.
fingers?'

Their partner replies Yes, I can or No, I can't accordingly.

Aim
To write about abilities If their partner replies 'Yes, I can', the student asks their partner
by completing sentences to demonstrate the ability if possible.
with I can or I can't and
to then ask and answer
questions about abilities
with a partner.

Preparation
Make one copy of the
worksheet for each
student.

Level
Elementary (A1-A2)

Time
20 minutes

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 MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Can you or can't you?

A. Write about your abilities by completing the sentences with I can or I can't.

.......................... snap my fingers. .......................... swim 50 meters.

.......................... play the guitar. .......................... speak English.

.......................... fly. .......................... run fast.

.......................... make toast. .......................... play chess.

.......................... sing well. .......................... wiggle my ears.

.......................... play football. .......................... fly a kite.

.......................... eat with chopsticks . .......................... ride a horse.

.......................... play the piano. .......................... ride a bicycle.

.......................... ski. .......................... scuba dive.

.......................... dance. .......................... hop on one leg.

.......................... raise one eyebrow. .......................... use a computer.

.......................... tell a joke. .......................... play tennis.

.......................... read a map. .......................... drive a car.

.......................... juggle. .......................... point to North.

.......................... say the alphabet backwards. .......................... make a funny face.

.......................... wink. .......................... whistle.

.......................... say "hello" in three languages. .......................... do the splits.

B. Now, work with a partner. Take it in turns to ask your partner about their abilities.
If your partner replies 'Yes, I can', ask them to demonstrate the ability if possible.

Example:

Question: Can you snap your fingers?

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

Teach-This.com © 2021 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.