Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Grammar #7: Modals of Ability (Can, Cannot, Could, Couldn't) (due Wednesday)

Expressing ABILITY with CAN, COULD, CAN'T, and COULDN'T
1. Physical ability: Can,and Can't
Ex: I can lift my t.v. by myself, but I can't lift my refrigerator.

2. We frequently use CAN and CAN'T with the five senses.
Ex:  Can you see the board? Can you hear the birds singing? No, I can't.

3. Acquired skill\: Can and Can't
Sarah can play the piano. She can't play the guitar.

4.  Possibility: Can, Can't, and Could
Ex: Can you pick up the kids from school today? Is it possible?
Could you pick up the kids from school today? I can't do it.
You can/can't/could get your prescription filled at Walmart. It is (or isn't) possible.

5. To give permission in informal situations: Can and May
Ex: You can leave early if you need to.
You may leave early if you need to (more formal).

The past tense of can is COULD and COULDN'T. It works in the following examples.
1. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the box. I needed help. (Physical ability)
2. Yesterday, I couldn't see the board, but today I can. (5 senses)
3. Last year, Sarah couldn't play the piano, but now she can. (Acquired skill)


 Answer the following questions:
1. Name a physical ability that you have and a physical ability you don't have.

 2. Name an acquired skill that you have and an acquired skill that you don't have.

 3. What is something that a woman can do that a man cannot?

 4. What is something that a man can do that a woman cannot?

 5. What is something you could do as a child that you can't do now?
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47 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 8:57 AM

    1.I can run 800 meters, but I can't swim 1 mile.
    2.I can dance, but I cannot draw a picture.
    3.Woman can pregnant, but man cannot.
    4.Man can lift thing very heavy, woman cannot.
    5.I could jump very high as a child, but I cannot now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 8:59 AM

      3. become pregnant
      4. A man can lift something very heavy, but a woman cannot. REALLY?

      Delete
  2. ZhangDayuanSeptember 21, 2016 at 8:57 AM

    1.I can swim, but I could not play the piano.
    2.I can ride bike, but I can not write a perfect article.
    3.A woman can go to the woman's bathroom, but the man can not.
    4.A man can have a wife, but the woman can not.
    5.I can not cry whenever I want, but when I was a child, I could.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 8:59 AM

    1) I can walk, but I can't make cookies.

    2) I can play the piano, but I can't play the guitar.

    3) A woman can feed the baby with their breast, but a man can't.

    4) A man can love himself, but the woman can't.

    5) I can go through the tiny hole as a child, but now I can not.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ninnaSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:01 AM

    1-i can walk for a long distance , but i can't run
    2-i can swim but i can't play football
    3- the women can be pregnant but the men cannot
    4-in these days the women can do everything as the men do
    5-when i was a child i could practice taekwondo but now i can not

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:01 AM

    1. Name a physical ability that you have and a physical ability you don't have.
    I can understand people, I can not accept my mistakes.
    2. Name an acquired skill that you have and an acquired skill that you don't have.
    I am able to learn new things very fast, I am not able to memorize numbers and special days.
    3. What is something that a woman can do that a man cannot?
    Woman can have children, man can not.
    4. What is something that a man can do that a woman cannot?
    Man can hit harder, woman can not.
    5. What is something you could do as a child that you can't do now?
    I could climb trees, I couldn't climb trees now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:04 AM

      1. Are these physical abilities?
      2. Is this an acquired skill?
      3. Women...men
      4. harder than what?
      5. incorrect

      Delete
    2. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:27 AM

      1) I can run long distances, but I can't swim.
      2) I can sing, but I can not dance.
      3) Women can be pregnant, but men can not.
      4) Men can hit harder than women, woman can not hit.
      5) I could climb trees, but I can not now.

      Delete
    3. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:32 AM

      correct

      Delete
  6. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:01 AM

    2. one mistake
    4. A woman cannot have four wives?

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:02 AM

    Answer-1: I can drive a car, but I can't ride a bike.

    Answer-2: I can play guitar, but I can't play piano.

    Answer-3: A women can feed her baby with her breast, but a man can not.

    Answer-4: A man can spend all his money at women, but a woman can't.

    Answer-5: When i was a child i can be a child, but I can't be now .

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:02 AM

    1. I can climb a tree but I can't move the table.
    2. I can play a guitar but I can't play the violin
    3. A woman can have pregnant but a man can't have pregnant.
    4. A man can relax after working, but the woman cannot.
    5. When I was a child, I could ride a small bike, but now I can't ride that bike.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:05 AM

      3. be pregnant, get pregnant, or become pregnant
      a man can't be pregnant, get pregnant or become pregnant
      4. This is funny (I think)

      Delete
  9. shihanSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:02 AM

    1-I can ride bike, but i can not swim.
    2-I can play guitar, but i can't play piano.
    3-A woman can have baby, but a man can not.
    4-A man can be a father, but a woman can't.(if there is a father..)
    5-I could sit in shopping cart in walmart when i was a kid, but i can not do it anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:05 AM

    1- I can ride a horse,but I cannot drive a car.
    2- I can cook,but I can't play any musical instruments.
    3- woman can be pregnant,but man cannot.
    4- In my country man can drive a car,but woman cannot.
    5- I could Sit on my brother's shoulders and pull his hair,but now i can't

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:08 AM

      3. A woman... but a man...
      4. men...women

      correct

      Delete
  11. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:06 AM

    1-i can play teakwendo but i can t played boxing.
    2-I CAN cook Moroccan dishes but i can t cook American dishes.
    3-the women can take care of children but the man cannot.
    4-the man can marry four wifes but the women cannot .
    5- i could ride the bike as a child but now i cannot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:08 AM

      1. 1 mistake
      3. really?
      4. the woman cannot marry 4 wives?

      Delete
  12. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:07 AM

    1. I can run fast, I cannot swim.
    2. I am able to cook many types of desserts, I am not able to play any instrument.
    3. A woman can do many things at the same time, a man cannot
    4. A man can lift heavy things, a woman cannot.
    5. When I was a child, I could play with my dolls, Now I cannot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:10 AM

      3. I like this one
      5. You can still pay with your dolls. I give you permission :)

      Delete
  13. Jafar Al WuhaybSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:08 AM

    1.
    I can walking for an hour but I can't running
    2.
    I can handle with graphic design but i can't with 3D design
    3.
    women can live five to ten years longer than men
    4.
    In Saudi Arabia, women cannot driving a car.
    5.
    Wear my dad's shoes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:10 AM

      1. 2 mistakes
      2. handle?
      3. can?
      4. 1 mistake
      5. ???

      Delete
  14. duyguSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:08 AM

    1. Name a physical ability that you have and a physical ability you don't have.
    I can swim very well, but I can't fly.

    2. Name an acquired skill that you have and an acquired skill that you don't have.
    I can play flute, but I can't play piano.

    3. What is something that a woman can do that a man cannot?
    A woman can be pregnant, but a man cannot.

    4. What is something that a man can do that a woman cannot?
    A man can be a father, but a woman cannot.

    5. What is something you could do as a child that you can't do now?
    I could play outside with my friends all day, but I can't do it now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:13 AM

    1. As a physical ability I can wash dishes, cook, and manage everything from my house. But I can't work out for a long time.
    2. As an acquired skill I can communicate and share knowledge with a group of people concerned critical thinking, but I can't do figures. I'm not good at it.
    3. a man can fight, he can make a woman pregnant, he can be charged of taking care of his family financially.
    4. A woman can get pregnant, she can deliver a baby, she can cook and manage think in the house, she can feed a baby.
    5. as a child I could be naked in front of people without being shy, I could cry if my mom left the house without me but now I can't because I grow up.

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:15 AM

    1. I can walk long distance but I can't run long distance.
    2.I can speak a little bit English but I can't speak French.
    3. Women can do many things in the same time but men can not.
    4. Man can do hard exercise but woman can not.
    5. When i was a kind could swim very fast but now I Couldn't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:35 AM

      2. more than a little!
      3. at the same time
      4. A man (or men)... a woman (or women)
      5. try again

      Delete
    2. UnknownSeptember 24, 2016 at 8:54 AM

      1. I can walk long distance but I can't run long distance.
      2.I can speak a little bit English but I can't speak French.
      3. Women can do many things at the same time but men can not.
      4. Men can do hard exercise but women can not.
      5. When i was a child could swim very fast but now I Can not .

      Delete
    3. Holly CinSeptember 25, 2016 at 8:09 PM

      When I was a child, I could swim...

      Delete
  17. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:16 AM

    as ability to do .i can cook in my free time,but i can not cook when i am busy.2 i can share money with friends if they need ,but i can not ask people help.3 woman can have a baby, but man can not have a baby.4 Man can be Imam ,but woman can not be Imam in Muslim culture.5 I could be a bad child,but now i could not because i am responsible

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:16 AM

    2. I am able to fix computer, but I am not able to sing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:32 AM

    correct

    ReplyDelete
  20. Holly CinSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:34 AM

    3. be pregnant, get pregnant, or become pregnant
    4. Oh my!

    Correct

    ReplyDelete
  21. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:17 PM

    1. I can swim 3 hours a day, but I can't run 3 hours a day.
    2. I can play piano, but I can't compose songs.
    3. A woman can be a witch, but a man cannot.
    4. A man can be a wizard, but a woman cannot.
    5. I could extract a tooth by using silk thread on my own, but now I cannot.

    ReplyDelete
  22. UnknownSeptember 21, 2016 at 9:48 PM

    1. I can run 5 miles per day but, I can't lift a lot weight over my shoulder.
    2. I can write with my left hand, but I can't kick the ball with my left foot.
    3. I can play soccer but I can't play american football
    4. A few years a go I can run 10 miles per day now I cannot run that miles.
    5. when I was kid I can play 5 soccer games per day now I can't my knee doesn't resistance that game.

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownSeptember 24, 2016 at 5:43 AM

    1. I can walk for many hours but I can't run for many hours.
    2. I can cook but I can not play any musical instruments.
    3. Women can give birth but man can not.
    4. Man can grow a beard but women can not.
    5. I could go swimming in cold waters when I was a child but now I can not.

    ReplyDelete
  24. UnknownSeptember 25, 2016 at 5:40 PM

    1 I can play soccer,but I can not play basketball.2 I can help people if they ask me for helping,I can not ask for helping if I need people.3 Women can not lift some heavy things but man can lift .4 women can take good care of kids,but man can not.5 when I was young I could spend a lot of time in soccer field,but now I can not.5 m

    ReplyDelete

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