A1 - Modal Verb - can

I can play the piano.

can, can’t – ability, possibility, permission

Infinitive without 'to'

We use can + infinitive without to.

I can swim. (NOT I can to swim.) We can’t come.(NOT We can’t to come.) No -s after he/she/it

don’t add -s after he/she/it. We use can for all persons.

He can swim. (NOT He cans swim). No do/don’t

Can is an auxiliary verb and has a negative and interrogative form. We don’t use do/don’t to make questions and negatives.

Can you swim? (NOT Do you can swim?) He can’t swim. (NOT He don’t can swim.) can, can’t – use

Ability

We use can/can’t to talk about ability in the present (=things that we know how to do).

Laura can sing very well. I can’t speak Chinese.

Possibility

We use can/can’t to ask for permission or to say if something is possible or not.

Can I sit here? You can’t vote if you aren’t 18 years old. I’m sorry but I can’t come to the party. Ask for something

We use can/can’t to ask for something and to order in bars, restaurants, shops, etc.

Can you lend me some money? Can I have some water, please? Can I have a burger and a soda?