Lesson 15

Modal verb CAN (to be able to do something)

Lesson contents:

- The present, past, and future forms:
   Can, could and will be able to,
- Adverb placement,
- "Else" as adverb and adjective.

Always watch the video without subtitles first in order to train your ears! It's a good idea to watch several times until you feel the "music", before watching the version with subtitles. Your pronunciation will be much better if you follow this rule.

Exercises for this lesson:

• Music Vocabulary
• Which instruments can they play?
• Negative and Affirmative
• Can you cook? Part 1
• Can you cook? Part 2
• Pasta - Questions with "Who" as Subject
• A Great Italian Dish and a Mixed-Up Sentence Exercise
• Can, Past & Future 1
• Can, Past & Future 2
• Can, Past & Future 3
• What else can you do?
• Daina can shop!
• Three definitions
• Can, Past and Future 4
• Maria can speak 4 languages
• A different can, for polite requests
• Crossword Puzzle

How to do the lessons:

1. Watch the video without subtitles.
2. Do all the Exercises.
3. Come back to this page.
4. Watch the video with English Subtitles. Use the Pause button. People speak fast!

Problems? See general support, recording support or ask your question here.

Modal verb CAN (to be able to do something)
Watch this video, then click on Exercise 1

Same video with Precise Subtitles
Do the exercises before watching this video with subtitles.

Real English®

Teachers and Students:

There are three distinct parts to this video and the corresponding lessons:
1) Can you play a musical instrument?
2) Can you cook?
3) What else can you do?
As is often the case when a lot of new vocabulary is used in a video, the exercises begin with a vocabulary section to help prepare students for the videos.

"Can" (to be able to do something) is the most widely used modal verb. These types of verbs are special because they are used differently from other verbs in English: they are used together with the base form of another verb, the second verb placed directly after the modal verb, with no auxiliaries or other "interruptions". In the first example below, might is the modal verb, and come is the 2nd verb.
"He might come late."
"You may leave if you wish."
"We must finish this on time."
"You can do all the exercises in this lesson if you try!"