Learn ‘Can’ and ‘Can’t’ for Ability (Pre-A1 English)

Q: How do I make a negative sentence with 'can'?

To make a negative sentence, you use can't (or cannot). For example, I can't sing.

Рауль Магинья

Основатель Langcom | Экзаменатор по экзаменам Cambridge и SIELE

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Июль 19, 2026

PRE-A1✏️ Грамматика⏱️ Время чтения: 3 мин.

Can и can’t are essential English words to talk about abilities. Вы используете can to say what you are able to do, like I can speak English. It means you have the skill or the possibility to do something. To express what you are not able to do, you use can’t, which is short for cannot. Например, I can’t fly. When you ask about someone’s ability, you start the question with Can, например Can you swim? These words are very simple to use because they do not change form for different subjects.

What is Can?

Can is a modal verb. We use it to talk about ability. Ability means what you are able to do.

Вы используете can to say you have the skill or the possibility to do something.

The structure is always: Subject + can + base form of the verb.
The verb after can does not change.

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What is Can’t?

Can’t is the negative form of can. It means ‘not able to do something’.

Can’t is a short form of cannot. Both are correct, but can’t is more common in everyday speaking.

The structure is always: Subject + can’t + base form of the verb.
Например, can, the verb after can’t does not change.

How to Ask Questions with Can?

To ask about someone’s ability, you put Can at the beginning of the question.

Структура выглядит следующим образом: Can + subject + base form of the verb?

For short answers, you use Yes, subject + can. или No, subject + can’t.

Forms of <span data-no-translation>Can</span> и <span data-no-translation>Can't</span>
Тема	<span data-no-translation>Can</span> (Positive)	<span data-no-translation>Can't</span> (Negative)
I	I can speak.	I can’t speak.
You	You can speak.	You can’t speak.
He / She / It	He can speak.	He can’t speak.
We	We can speak.	We can’t speak.
They	They can speak.	They can’t speak.

Примеры

I can swim.
She can speak French.
We can play football.
He can’t sing.
They can’t dance well.
Can you cook?
Yes, I can.
No, I can’t.
Can a cat fly? No, it can’t.

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Распространенные ошибки у носителей испанского языка

Many Spanish speakers might say I can to swim. This is incorrect. In English, after can, you use the base form of the verb directly, without to. The correct form is I can swim.

Another common mistake is changing can for different subjects, like He cans swim. Remember, can is a modal verb. It never changes. It is always can for all subjects: I can, you can, he can, she can, it can, we can, they can.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What does ‘can’ mean in English?

Can means you have the ability or skill to do something. For example, I can read.

Does ‘can’ change for ‘he’ or ‘she’?

No, can never changes. It is the same for all subjects: I can, you can, he can, she can, it can, we can, they can.

How do I make a negative sentence with ‘can’?

To make a negative sentence, you use can’t (или cannot). For example, I can’t sing.

Связанные уроки

Об авторе: Рауль Магинья

Рауль Магинья является директором образовательной ассоциации «Langcom» — официального центра подготовки к экзамену Cambridge English в США. Имея более чем десятилетний опыт работы в сфере языкового образования и международной сертификации, он помог тысячам студентов, преподавателей и образовательных учреждений в 25 странах получить сертификаты по английскому языку: Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL и Michigan.

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