Can / Can't: Ability, Possibility, Permission 💪

Can and can't are modal verbs. They are very useful in English and have several meanings. The good news is that the form never changes, no matter what the subject is! 🎯

1. Form: Positive, Negative, Question 📋

Form	Structure	Example
Positive	subject + can + base verb	I can swim.
Negative	subject + can't + base verb	She can't drive.
Question	Can + subject + base verb?	Can you speak French?
Short answer	Yes, I can. / No, I can't.	Can she cook? Yes, she can.

2. Three main uses of can 🎯

Use	Meaning	Example
Ability	Someone knows how to do something	She can play the piano.
Possibility	Something is possible	You can park here for free.
Permission	Asking for or giving permission	Can I use your phone?

3. Ability: knowing how to do something 🏊

• I can ride a bike. ✅ (I know how to do it)
• He can't cook very well. ✅ (he doesn't have the skill)
• Can you speak any other languages? ✅

4. Possibility: something is possible 🚗

• You can take the number 12 bus from here. ✅
• We can't get there by train. There is no station. ✅

5. Permission: asking or giving permission 🙏

• Can I sit here? (asking for permission) ✅
• Yes, you can. (giving permission) ✅
• You can't park here. (refusing permission) ✅

6. Key rules to remember ⚠️

✅ Correct	❌ Wrong
She can swim.	She cans swim. (no -s with can)
He can drive.	He can to drive. (no 'to' after can)
They can't come.	They cannot to come. (no 'to' after can't)
Can she sing?	Does she can sing? (no do/does with can)

Ready to practice? Let's go! 🚀