This document is a lesson on expressing ability using modals like can, could, be able to, know how to, and very/too. It provides examples of how to use each modal correctly, including questions and negatives. Key points covered include: - Using can to express present ability and possibility - The pronunciation differences between can and can't - Forming questions using can - The equivalent meaning of can and know how to - Using could as the past tense of can - The equivalent meaning of be able to in present, future and past tense - The difference between very and too when used with adjectives to express ability or inability

1. Learn English With Les
Learn English With Les Grammar
Essentials Lesson

2. Modals. Part1, Expressing Ability
CONTENTS
1.Using Can
2.Pronunciation of Can and Can’t
3.Using Can: Questions
4.Using Know How To
5.Using Could: Past of Can
6.Using Be Able To
7.Using Very and Too + Adjective

3. 3
Tarifa is smart.
USING CAN
She can speak five languages.

4. 4
(a) Tarifa is smart.
She can speak five languages.
(b) I have some money.
I can buy a present for my mom.
(c) You are smart. You can fix cars.
can ability
possibility
USING CAN

5. 5
USING CAN
(d) CORRECT: Thelma can ride a bike.
simple form
can of main verb

6. 6
USING CAN
(d) CORRECT: Thelma can ride a bike.
(e) INCORRECT: Thelma can to ride a bike.
infinitive
can with to

7. 7
USING CAN
(d) CORRECT: Thelma can ride a bike.
(e) INCORRECT: Thelma can to ride a bike.
(f) INCORRECT: Thelma can rides a bike.
can main verb – final -s

8. 8
USING CAN
(g) Rajiv can not snowboard.
Rajiv cannot snowboard.
Rajiv can’t snowboard.
NEGATIVE:
can + not = can not or cannot
CONTRACTION:
can + not = can’t

9. 9
Let’s Practice
A dog c_a_n_ swim.
ca n
can’t

10. 10
Let’s Practice
A kitten _ca_n_’_t read.
ca n
can’t

11. A butterfly _ca_n_’_t dance.
11
Let’s Practice
ca n
can’t

12. 12
PRONUNCIATION OF CAN AND CAN’T
Jonas can come to school with us.

13. 13
PRONUNCIATION OF CAN AND CAN’T
(a) Jonas can come to school with us.
Can – pronounced “kun” /kən/
(b) Liv can’t come to school with us.
Can’t – pronounced as “ant” /kænt/

14. 14
Let’s Practice
can
can’t
can
can’t
Fish ____ swim.
Fish ____ fly.

15. 15
can
can’t
Lions ___ roar.
Let’s Practice
Giraffes ____ roar.
can’t
can

16. 16
USING CAN: QUESTIONS
Alia can speak Farsi.
Can you speak Farsi?

17. 17
CAN + SUBJECT + MAIN
VERB
(a) Can you speak Farsi?
Yes, I can.
No, I can’t.
(b) Can Ida drive?
Yes, she can.
No, she can’t.
USING CAN: QUESTIONS

18. 18
QUESTION + CAN + SUBJECT + MAIN
WORD VERB
(c) Where can I walk my dog?
In the park.
(d) When can we bake cookies?
On Saturday.
USING CAN: QUESTIONS

19. 19
`
Inga can jump rope.
Let’s Practice
Yes, she can
Can Inga
jump rope
_________
________? __________.

20. 20
Can Ari play
the violin
Ari can’t play the violin.
Let’s Practice
_________
________? No, __________.
he can’t

21. 21
I can bake a cake.
Let’s Practice
Can ___________
you bake
__________? a cake
_________.
Yes, I can

22. 22
USING KNOW HOW TO
They know how to dance very well.

23. 23
USING KNOW HOW TO
(a) They can dance.
(b) They know how to dance.
(c) Can you dance?
(d) Do you know how to dance?
same
meaning
same
meaning
know how to expresses ability

24. 24
Yes, I
do
.
Do you know
how to knit
Let’s Practice
know h ow to
knit
.
_________
_________
_?

25. 25
Yes,
I do
.
Let’s Practice
Do you know how
to play golf
play golf
.
______________
____________?

26. 26
Do you know
how to get to
the library
get to the library
Let’s Practice
No,
I don’t.
.
__________
__________
__________
__?

27. 27
USING COULD: PAST OF CAN
I was in Maine last summer.
I could eat lobster every day.

28. 28
USING COULD: PAST OF CAN
(a) I am in Maine.
I can eat lobster every day.
(b) I was in Maine last year.
I could eat lobster every day when
I was there.
could = past form of can

29. 29
USING COULD: PAST OF CAN
(c) I can’t watch TV this afternoon.
I have to do my laundry.
(d) I could not watch TV last Friday.
I couldn’t Iw haatdc hto T dVo lmasyt l aFurinddaryy..
NEGATIVE
could + not = couldn’t

30. 30
USING COULD: PAST OF CAN
(e) Could you get to class before 9:00?
QUESTION
could + subject + main verb

31. 31
Let’s Practice
could couldn’t
Last year we went to Thailand.
We _c_o_u_l_d_ _ go swimming every day

32. 32
Let’s Practice
I _______ couldn’t
fix the
heater because I didn’t
have the right tools.
could
couldn’t

33. 33
Let’s Practice
I _______ couldn’t
use the blue
blanket because it
was dirty.
could couldn’t

34. 34
USING BE ABLE TO
I am able to read very fast.

35. 35
USING BE ABLE TO
PRESENT
(a) I am able to read very fast.
(b) I can read very fast.
same
meaning

36. 36
USING BE ABLE TO
FUTURE
(c) You will be able to go
home Monday.
(d) You can go home Monday.
same
meaning

37. 37
USING BE ABLE TO
PAST
(e) I wasn’t able to watch a
movie last Saturday.
(f) I couldn’t watch a movie
last Saturday.
same
meaning

38. 38
Jen is deaf.
Let’s Practice
She can use sign language.
be able to
Jen is deaf.
She ________ use sign language.
is able to

39. 39
Let’s Practice
He couldn’t finish his work.
be able to
not
He ___________ finish his work.
wasn’t able to

40. 40
Let’s Practice
Goldfish can’t sing.
be able to
not
Goldfish ___________ aren’t able to
sing.

41. 41
USING VERY AND TOO + ADJECTIVE
The homework is very long,
but you can do it.

42. (a) The homework is very long, but you can do it.
(b) The homework is too long. You can’t do it.
(c) The line is very long, but I can wait.
(d) The line is too long. I can’t wait.
42
USING VERY AND TOO + ADJECTIVE
very ≠ too
very long = di f f ic u l t but possible
too long = impossible

43. 43
USING VERY AND TOO + ADJECTIVE
(e) The line is too long.
NEGATIVE RESULT:
I can’t wait.

44. 44
USING VERY AND TOO + ADJECTIVE
(f) These pants are too tight.
NEGATIVE RESULT:
I can’t wear them.

45. 45
The mountain is
____ high, but he
can climb it.
Let’s Practice
too very
That mountain
is ___ high. He
can’t climb it.
too very

46. 46
Let’s Practice
The race is ____
long, but he can
finish it.
very too
The race is ___
long. He can’t
finish it.
too
very

47. 47
The homework is
____ difficult, but
she ____ do it.
Let’s Practice
The homework is
___ too
difficult. She
____ do it.
too
very
very
can’t
can
can’t can

48. 48
The End
End of the Lesson