Unit 12A

In Units 12A, 12B and 12C you will learn:

• how to use can, could and be able to
• too + adjectives
• the reflexive pronouns
• how to use verbs with two objects
• the expression in case
• stative verbs
• responses to expressions

Lesson 1:    Can

I can play the piano.

Can is used to express ability or possibility. It is a modal verb so 
there is no conjugation.

I can cook Japanese food.  She can type very fast.  We can't speak Russian.

Lesson 2:    Could

I couldn't go to the meeting because I was busy.

Could is the past tense of can. And therefore it also
is not conjugated.

It is interesting to note, however, that could is rarely used 
positively in the past tense unless talking about an ability once performed in the past.

I could play basketball when I was young. I could dance many years ago.

But it would sound strange, for example, to say I could call you yesterday. As a perfect modal, no. But in general people would simply say I called you yesterday. If we say I couldn't call you yesterday it is more natural.

Lesson 3:    Be Able to

They were able to catch the plane.

Be able to is a problem for students. Basically it is simply another way of expressing ability and possibility (but usually less often in the present), and overcoming a problematic situation. While could isn't often used in the past tense when expressing possibility in a positive way, be able to is.

They were able to help me.  I was able to go. She was able to take the exam.

Do the exercise below and notice that sometimes more than
one answer is used.

Exercise 1    Use can, could or be able to and their negative forms below.

Look at the chart below:

Lesson 4:    Short Answers

Can you speak French? No, I can't.

Again short answers are used.

Can Mark swim? No, he can't. Can Lucy play tennis? Yes, she can.

Exercise 2    Answer with the correct short answer. SPEAK!

1. Can Alfred cook? (no) 2. Can you sew? (yes) 3. Can Ms. Smith type? (no) 4. Can Igor fix cars? (yes) 5. Can you knit? (no) 
6. Can Patricia play the guitar? (yes) 7. Can your wife swim? (no)
8. Can Ruta program computers? (yes) 9. Can Samantha bake? (yes) 10. Can Mr. Mason speak Italian? (yes)

Answers

1. No, he can't. 2. Yes, I can. 3. No, she can't. 4. Yes, he can. 5. No, I can't.
6. Yes, she can. 7. No, she can't. 8. Yes, she can. 9. Yes, she can. 10. Yes, he can.

Lesson 5:    What Can You Do With It?

You can open a can with it.

What is it?

1.	2.	3.
4.	5.	6.

Exercise 3    Say what the objects are above.

Exercise 4    Say what you can do with the objects.