This document contains a lesson on the modal verb "can" and its different uses including ability, permission, and requests. It includes pictures to analyze, questions to consider, dialogues to listen to and comprehend, and explanations of when "can", "be able to", and other forms are used and what purpose they serve in language. Students are guided to look at examples, identify strong and weak forms of "can", and answer questions testing their understanding of the grammar concepts presented.

1. Good morning
and thank you
for being here

2. Wednesday, October
14th, 2015

3. File 02:
Listen and Consider

4. Look at the
picture and tell
me:
1. Why the girl
in this
picture
holding a
pick?
2. Is she
happy?why?

5. Look at the
picture:
1. What does it
represent?
2. Where does it
take place?
3. Why do they
honor the
pupil?

6. What do the two pictures have in common? And what
is the difference between them?
Physical ability Mental ability
1 2

8. « Can » and its different uses
Ability Asking for
permission
Make polite
requests

9. Act p 43: look at the pictures, then
ask and answer:
A: Can you sing?
B: No, i can’t. but i can
dance.

11. 1. What does the
picture show?
2. What do they
look for in
these shows?
3. Do you have
any talent and
would you
participate in
such shows?

12. In this dialogue, Bob forester is a reporter of a school
magazine. He is interviewing Wendy Klint, a student.

13. Act 2 p 43: read the questions carefully before
you listen. As you listen make notes for the
answer:
1. Bob politely requests Wendy to give him some of her
time. What did he say?
2. What does Wendy say to offer her help?
3. Can she sing?
4. Could she do anything she wanted with her free time
when she was a child?
5. Her parents accepted to let her play music
because…………

14. The answer
1. Bob politely requests Wendy to give him some of her time.
What did he say?
2. Can you spare a moment to answer a few questions, please.
3. What does Wendy say to offer her help?
4. Sure, what can i do for you?
5. Can she sing?
6. Yes, she can.
7. Could she do anything she wanted with her free time when she
was a child?
8. No, she couldn’t.
9. Her parents accepted to let her play music because…………
10. She was able to convince them that music would not interfere
with her studies.

15. Act 1 p 43: listen then try to identify the
form of « can » ( strong or weak form):
Snippets of the
dialogue
Strong form Weak form
Can you help me?
/ ᴷᵆᴺ/ / ᴷᵊᴺ/
I can play the guitar.
/ ᴷᵆᴺ/ / ᴷᵆᴺ/
Yes, i can. /ka:n/
No, i can’t. / ka:nt/

16. Grammar Window
 Consider these sentences and answer the questions:
a) can you spare a moment?
b) I can play the guitar.
c) Can i take part in the contest?
d) When i was a child, i couldn’t do anything i wanted
with my free time.
e) I was able to convince them.
f) When will you be able to come and register for the
contest?

17. The questions
1. Which sentence expresses present ability?
2. Which one asks for permission?
3. which one makes a request?
4. Do we use the same modal to ask for permission and
to make a request?
5. « To be able to » is a verb idiom. When is it used and
for what purpose?

18. The answers
1. Which sentence expresses present ability?
2. Sentence « b ».
3. Which one asks for permission?
4. Sentence « e »
5. which one makes a request?
6. Sentence « a »
7. Do we use the same modal to ask for permission and to make a
request?
8. Yes, we do.
9. « To be able to » is a verb idiom. When is it used and for what
purpose?
10. When we talk about ability in the future because can has no
future form.