Unit 8 :  Can - I can cook Thai Food.




1. How to Use Can, Can’t, Could, Couldn’t and to be able to
1.1. - We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something. We use can + infinitive (can do/can see etc.):
Example: - Can you speak any foreign languages?
- I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
1.2. The negative is can`t (= cannot):
+ I`m afraid I can`t come to the party on Friday.
2. How to use “be able to “
- To (Be) able to ... is possible instead of can, but can is more usual:
Example: - Are you able to speak any foreign languages?
- But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to... Compare:
Example: - I can`t sleep.
but I haven`t been able to sleep recently. (can has no present perfect)
Example: - Tom can come tomorrow.

but Tom might be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)
3. Could and was able to...
- Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with: see hear smell taste feel remember understand
Example: - When we went into the house, we could smell burning.
+ She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.
4. We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something:
Example: - My grandfather could speak five languages.
- We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do ...)
We use could for general ability. But if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use was/were able to... or managed to... (not could):
* The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape.
or ... everybody managed to escape. (but not `could escape`)
* They didn`t want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them.
or ... we were able to persuade them. (but not `could persuade`)
Compare:
- Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. he had the general ability to beat anybody)
but
- Jack and Alf had a game of tennis yesterday. Alf played very well but in the end Jack managed to beat him. or ... was able to beat him. (= he managed to beat him in this particular game)
6. The negative couldn`t (could not) is possible in all situations:
Example: - My grandfather couldn`t (could not) is possible in all situations
+ We tried hard but we couldn`t persuade them to come with us.
+ Alf played well but he couldn`t beat Jack.
Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA9eIeJylKI&feature=youtu.be
Link: http://englishgoonline.com/1/lesson-english-online/english-idioms/572-unit-8-some-common-english-idioms-about-qvegetableq


Link : http://nttp.org/english/flv/bai8.flv

Unit 8 : Can - Can she cook Italian food?

Dialogue 8

- Hello
- Hello

- How are you today?
- I’m fine, thanks. And you?

- I’m very well
- Where are you from?

- I’m from Portland. And you?
- I’m from Medford

- Oh, Medford is very beautiful.
- Yes, it is

Can

- I can cook Thai food
- You can swim

- He can play tennis
- She can write very beautifully

- We can play the guitar
- They can speak Chinese

- I can’t jump high
- You cannot cook Italian food

- He cannot play snooker
- She can’t drive

- We cannot sing
- They can’t speak Japanese

- Can you swim?
- Yes, I can

- Can they speak German?
- No, they can’t

- Can he play tennis?
- Yes, he can

- Can she cook Italian food?
- No, she can’t

- Can John use a computer?
- Yes, he can

- Can Susan drive?
- No, she can’t