English Beginners Course Lesson 9
Introduction
This tutorial is focusing on the modal verb can and modal like expressions.
Dialogue
1/Sentence Practice
Can I help you? Yes, you can help me. How can I help you?
You can help me with my workload. My workload is very heavy
You are quick and I am slow. Thank you.
I am thirsty.
What can I have? You can have a cup of tea. We can have a break.
Can Janet have a cup of tea? No, she can’t. Why can’t she?
She is not here. She can have a cup of tea this afternoon.
I can’t help you now. When can you help me?
You can send an email. I can see the email. No, you can’t yet
Can you now? No I still can’t. Now I can thank you.
Can you sit? no, I can’t. I can now.
you can; you can’t; you can not. he can; she can, it can; we can; you can they can
Vocabulary
2/Vocabulary Practice
- To help
- To work
- A cup of tea – cups of tea
- Busy
- A workload – workloads
- To send
- To see
- An email – emails
- A seat – seats
- To sit
- Quick
- Slow
- A break – breaks
- To have a break
- Now
- To speak
- To drive
- A car – cars
- To come
- A party – parties
Grammar
3/Can
“Can” is a very useful verb. It is a modal verb which means that it is used to denote the mood of a verb, giving it more nuance, more subtle meaning(s).
“Can” can be used to express:
- general ability: I can speak English and Spanish.
- a request: Can you pass me the salt?
- an offer: Can I help you?
- possibility: I can come to your party. or impossibility: It can’t be Fred’s car. His car is red.
- permission: You can use my pen (you are allowed to use my pen).
- prohibition: You can’t do that! (you are not allowed to do that)
“can” has two negative forms:
- cannot
- can’t
“CAN” in the present simple
I can
you can
he / she / it can
we can
you can
they can
Examples:
Affirmative > Negative > Question
I can speak English and Spanish > I can’t speak Portuguese and Chinese > Can you speak several languages?
You can drive my car. > You can’t drive my car. > Can I drive your car?
I can come to your party. > I can’t come to your party. > Can you come to my party?
Questions and Answers
4/Questions and Answers
Can I have a cup of tea?
No, you cannot have a cup of tea.
What can I have?
You can have a cup of coffee because I have no tea.
Can you help me please?
Yes, I can help you.
How can I help you?
Can you send an email for me?
Can you send it now?
No, I cannot send it now. I have a break.
Can you send it now?
No, I still can’t send it.
Can Janet send the email?
No, she cannot but I can, I can send it now.
Are you quick?
No I am slow.
Can you help me this afternoon?
No, I cannot, I am not here this afternoon.
Can you help me tomorrow morning?
Yes, I can help you tomorrow morning.