I can . . .

Expressing Ability in English

We will learn about:
• Present Ability
• Future Ability
• Past Ability
 Modals are special auxiliaries that have
meaning. Can & could are used in English
to describe our abilities.

• Use can to talk about present or

future abilities
• Use could to talk about past abilities
Examples . . .
Present Abilities:
1. Melissa can type very quickly.
2. My friends know how to play the
piano. They can play very well.

3. I can’t speak Italian, but I’d

like to learn.
 Future abilities:
1. The teacher can assist you after class
if you have any questions.

2. We can help you move

this weekend if you’d like.

3. You can improve your computer

skills if you practice a lot this semester.
 Past Abilities:
1. Two years ago, they couldn’t buy a house in San
Diego, but now they can.

2. The test was difficult. I couldn’t figure out

some of the answers.

3. Sara couldn’t attend the party

because she already had plans.
 Use ___________ or _____________ to
talk about:
• Present (current) abilities
• Future abilities

Use ______________ or
______________ to talk about:

•Abilities in the Past

What FORM of the main verb
comes after CAN or COULD?

She can ____________ many languages.

When I was a child, I could ____________

very well.
 Final Note . . .
Because CAN and COULD are auxiliaries,
they are used with ALL subjects in English.
For example:

CAN
learn
English.
COULD
 Practice!
 What are some abilities or skills that
you currently have? What can you do?
I can speak English very well.

 What were some abilities or skills that you

had when you were a child? What things
could you do?
When I was child, I couldn’t ride a bike.
• Another way to talk about abilities in
English is by using the expression:
BE ABLE TO.

• This expression can be used to talk about

present, future or past abilities. To change
the tense, you must change the verb BE to
the appropriate form.
What are the present tense forms of the verb BE?

I
He, she, it
(person You, We, They
singular) (person plural)

What are the past tense forms of the verb BE?

I
He, She, It You, We, They
(person (person plural)
singular)
 For the future form, use:

Notice that it’s much easier to use WILL for

the future.
Present Tense:
1. I am able to give you a ride today.
2. Sandra is able to work overtime at her job.

3. The students are able to

study English.

To make these sentences negative, simply put NOT after

the verb “BE.” To practice, say these sentences in the
negative form with your classmates.
Past Tense:
1. I was able to buy my new DVD
player at a discount at Costco.

2. The students were able to practice the

spelling and vocabulary words last week
on the computer.

Now, say these sentences in the negative

form with your classmates.
 Future Tense:
1. Next Friday, you will be able to sleep late
because it’s a holiday and we won’t have class.

2. They will be able to take a vacation next

year if they start saving their money now.

3. The counselor is going to be able to meet

with you later this afternoon.

Now, say these sentences in the negative

form with your classmates.
 Exercise
1. When we were younger, we … (see) very well,
but now we need glasses. (Could)
2. Unfortunately, they …(attend) the party.
(Couldn’t)
3. When Marta was child, she … (speak) three
languages. But now, she speak just two.(Could)
4. She … (help) you. She has a lot of information.
(Be able to)
5. I … (call) u yesterday, because I was so busy.
(be able to, negative)
6. She…. (help) me, so I asked someone else to
help. (Couldn’t)
7). I …. (believe) the news when I heard it. (Couldn’t)
8). You ….. (learn) to speak English well if you practice
frequently. (Can)
9). My friend…… (come) to my home. (Can’t)
10). I……( understand) why I did so poorly on my test. I
studied hard!! (can’t)
11). They…. (meet) with me next week. (Be able to)
12). When I was a child, I….. (play) tennis well. (Could)
13). My friend …. (play) the guitar. (Can)
14). We… (relax) more when we were younger. (be able to)
15). She…. (buy) the dress because it was too expensive.
(be able to, negative)
 I used to think that I ……… not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I’m leaning on the everlasting arms
If I ……… it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it
[1]
I believe I ……. fly
I believe I ………….. the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I …… soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh
If I ……. see it, then I ……. it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it
[Repeat 1]
Hey, cuz I believe in me, oh
If I can see it, then I …….. it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it
[Repeat 1]
Hey, if I just spread my wings
I ….. fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly
Fly-eye-eye
Go to the following website address to practice
the grammar:
www.quia.com/quiz/725567.html