English grammar
Can / can't
Say what you can and cannot do.
From the scene I can / I can't
In short
Can never changes and takes the verb with no to: she can open it. Say can't, and ask Can you…?
Your turn
Which one goes with negative?
Options: Can you? (not Do you can?) · I can't. (not I don't can) · I can open the box. (not can to open)
Show answer
negative → I can't. (not I don't can)
How it works
Can never changes: I can, she can (not she cans). Put the verb straight after it, no to: I can open it (not I can to open).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
You (blank), Don Ramón?
Options: no can · not can · can't
Show answer
You can't, Don Ramón?
¿No puede, Don Ramón?
Good to know
The negative is I can't (not I don't can), and questions start with can: Can you? (not Do you can?).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Doña Elena (blank). And she's eighty!
Options: can · cans · canning
Show answer
Doña Elena can. And she's eighty!
Doña Elena puede. ¡Y tiene ochenta años!
can + verb I can open the box. (not can to open)
Nuria
Yes, of course. I can open the box.
Sí, claro. Yo puedo abrir la caja.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes, of course. (blank).
Options: I can't · Can you · I can open the box
Show answer
Nuria
Yes, of course. I can open the box.
Sí, claro. Yo puedo abrir la caja.
negative I can't. (not I don't can)
Ramón
I can't open the box.
No puedo abrir la caja.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) open the box.
Options: I can open the box · Can you · I can't
Show answer
Ramón
I can't open the box.
No puedo abrir la caja.
question Can you? (not Do you can?)
Ramón
No. My back hurts. Can you?
No. Me duele la espalda. ¿Puedes tú?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No. My back hurts. (blank)?
Options: Can you · I can open the box · I can't
Show answer
Ramón
No. My back hurts. Can you?
No. Me duele la espalda. ¿Puedes tú?
he / she She can. (not She cans)
Your turn
What goes with She can. (not She cans)?
Options: negative · he / she · can + verb
Show answer
She can. (not She cans) → he / she
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| can + verb | I can open the box. (not can to open) |
|---|---|
| negative | I can't. (not I don't can) |
| question | Can you? (not Do you can?) |
| he / she | She can. (not She cans) |
More lines from the story
- NuriaYou can't, Don Ramón?¿No puede, Don Ramón?
- NuriaDoña Elena can. And she's eighty!Doña Elena puede. ¡Y tiene ochenta años!
- RamónElena? No, no, no! I can do it myself!¿Elena? ¡No, no, no! ¡Yo puedo solo!