Can is a special type of verb that is called a ‘modal auxiliary verb’. It is an auxiliary verb, because it helps another verb. In this case, it tells us if the subject has the ability to do something or not.
For example, if I say ‘I can swim’, it means that I have the ability to swim.
It is a special type of auxiliary verb called a ‘modal’. Modal verbs are different in a few ways:
1. They don’t change, regardless of the subject. (They don’t need the ‘s’ for the 3rd person.)
2. They don’t use ‘to’ separate them from the following verb.
3. The subject and verb exchange places to form interrogatives.
Here is the structure to make affirmative (+), negative (-) and interrogative (?) sentences in the Present Simple:
We can contract ‘can’ and ‘not’ into ‘can’t’ to sound more natural and relaxed.
Drag and drop the correct words into the sentences:
What else can and can’t Tammy do?
Tell me about Tammy. Use this formula: Tammy can _____, but she can’t _____.