Modal verbs: CAN / CAN’T

We use ‘can’ to talk about ‘possibility’.

Can you do that?
I can’t manage to do that.
You can leave your car in that parking space.
You cannot smoke in here.

We use ‘can’ to talk about ‘ability’.

I can speak French.
I can’t drive.

We use ‘can’ to ask for and give permission.

Can I speak to you or are you too busy?
You can use my phone.
You can’t come in.

Modal

Example

Uses

Can

They can live where they want .

We can’t fix it. No podemos arreglarlo

Can I smoke here?

Can you help me?

Ability / Possibility

Inability / Impossibility

Asking for permission

Request

Add can or can't to the following sentences.

Example: You can speak English.

1. Monkeys talk.

2. Pigs fly.

3. I play the piano., but Cory can't.

4. You go on vacation. It's too expensive.

5. I borrow some money?

6. I don't know the answer. you tell me?

7. Tony come tonight, he's too busy.

8. Jim makes great food. He cook really well.

9. Excuse me, we see the movie.

10. It's too noisy. We study well.

Correct answers:

1. can't

2. can't

3. can

4. can't

5. Can

6. Can

7. can't

8. can

9. can't

10. can't

a) I have (some/any) homework to do for tomorrow.
b) I don't see (some/any) ducks there!
c) Can I have (some/any) wine, please?
d) Are there (some/any) vegetables left?

e) There are (much/many) people in the cinema.
f) Don't eat (much/many) sugar.

ANSWERS

a) I have some homework to do for tomorrow.
b) I don't see any ducks there!
c) Can I have some wine, please.
d) Are there any vegetables left?

e) There are many people in the cinema.
f) Don't eat much sugar.

A few and few, a little and little

These expressions show the speaker's attitude towards the quantity he/she is referring to.

A few (for countable nouns) and a little (for uncountable nouns) describe the quantity in a positive way:

· "I've got a few friends" (= maybe not many, but enough)

· "I've got a little money" (= I've got enough to live on)

Few and little describe the quantity in a negative way:

· Few people visited him in hospital (= he had almost no visitors)

· He had little money (= almost no money)

Fill in the gaps with: little, a little, few or a few.

A) Look at the sky, there is _________ hope for bright and sunny weather tomorrow.

B) Is there? The weather forecast says there is still _________ hope.

C) _________ people attended the meeting. I counted only four.

D) _________ people asked me how to felt. That was nice.

E) I´m glad so many people have passed the test. In fact, there were _________ who haven´t.

F) “I will succeed, with _________ help from my friends”, she said.

G) She's gone already? And I am only _________ minutes late!

Answers:

A. little

B. a little

C. few

D. a few

E. few

F. a little

G. a few

Fill in the blanks with appropriate quantifiers: little / a little / few / a few.

1. We must be quick. We have  time.

2. Listen carefully. I'm going to give you  advice.

3. Do you mind if I ask you  questions?

4. This town is not a very interesting place to visit, very
tourists come here.

5. I don't think Jill would be a good teacher. She's got  patience.

6. 'Would you like milk in your coffee?' 'Yes, please .’

7. This is a very boring place to live. There's  to do.

8. 'Do you ever go to Atlantic City?' 'Yes, I go there  times
every year.'

B. Complete the following exercise with appropriate quantifiers: a / an, some or any.

1. Are there  computers in the library?

2. Are there  ripe cherries on the tree?

3. Excuses me, is this  English apple or  French apple?

Actually, it’s South African. We haven’t got  French or English

apples today.

4. Is there  lake in the middle of London?

5. Oh! These chips are horrible. There isn’t  salt on them.

Well, there’s  in the pot over there.

6. There are  people at the bus stop.

7. There is  bridge over the river.

8. There is  milk in the bottle.

9. There is  big airport in Holland.

10. There isn’t  furniture at home.

Answer Key

Fill in the blanks with appropriate quantifiers: little / a little / few / a few.

1. We must be quick. We have little time.

2. Listen carefully. I'm going to give you a little advice.

3. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

4. This town is not a very interesting place to visit, very few
tourists come here.

5. I don't think Jill would be a good teacher. She's got little patience.

6. 'Would you like milk in your coffee?' 'Yes, please a little .’

7. This is a very boring place to live. There's little to do.

8. 'Do you ever go to Atlantic City?' 'Yes, I go there a few times
every year.'

B. Complete the following exercise with appropriate quantifiers: a/an, some or any.

1. Are there any computers in the library?

2. Are there any ripe cherries on the tree?

3. Excuses me, is this an English apple or a French apple?

    Actually, it’s South African. We haven’t got any French or English

    apples today.

4. Is there a lake in the middle of London?

5. Oh! These chips are horrible. There isn’t any salt on them.

    Well, there’s some in the pot over there.

6. There are some people at the bus stop.

7. There is a bridge over the river.

8. There is some milk in the bottle.

9. There is a big airport in Holland.

10. There isn’t any furniture at home.

Wh Question Practise

1. They study (English) every Tuesday morning.
2. Romi goes to school (by bus).
3. The teacher explains the lesson (in front of the class).
4. (My brother) does his homework carefully
5. My daughter always washes her hair (twice a week).
6. John loves eating (pizza).
7. Fenny invites (Bimo) to come to her birthday party.
8. Olga sings a song (beautifully).
9. Shanti gets up (at five).
10. Harry doesn't go to school (because he is sick).
11. (Mother) cooks rice in the kitchen.
12. Tommy rides his bike (very fast).
13. Thalia always (has breakfast) before going to school.
14. I give (Mario) a birthday present.
15. Mario celebrates (his birthday) in September.

Answer Key

1. What do they study every Tuesday morning?

2. How does Romi go to school?

3. Where does the teacher explain the lesson?

4. Who does his homework carefully?

5. How often does your daughter wash her hair?

6. What does John love eating?

7. Who does Fenny invite to come to her birthday party?

8. How does Olga sing a song?

9. What time does Shanti get up?

10. Why doesn't Harry go to school?

11. Who cooks rice in the kitchen?

12. How does Tommy ride his bike?

13. What does Thalia do before going to school?

14. Who do you give abirthday present to?

15. What does Mario celebrate in September?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. .................... is your youngest son? he is 10.
2. .................... book did Jenny borrow? she borrowed Jane's.
3.  ...................... is your new roommate from? he is from Manchester.
4. ....................... did they find the solution to the exercise? they asked John.
5. ....................  did you visit London? ...many times.
6.  ......................  shall you pay the Browns a visit? I think we'll go and see them next week.
7. .................... did you stay abroad? I stayed for 3 months in France.
8. ...................... math equations did Ann solve? ...quite a lot !
9. ......................... is that tall young man over there? he is Mike's brother.
10. .....................  sugar do you put in your coffee? 1 lump of sugar is nice.
11. ...................  is London from Paris? sorry I 'd say 343 km.
12. ........................ didn't you attend the meeting yesterday? I was sick.
13. ......................... of these dresses will you put on tonight? the red one I think.
14. .....................  did they pay for accommodation? about 200 $.
15. ..................... is in that box? I'm curious! a lot of gorgeous little cakes.

Answer Key

1. How old

2. Whose

3. Where

4. How

5. How often

6. When

7. How long

8. How many

9. Who

10. How much

11. How far

12. Why

13. Which

14.How much

15.What

intro-nline

1 Aralık 2012 Cumartesi

Can/ Can not