Modals of Ability/Permission: Can, Could – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete the conversation between you and your friend.
1 “______ you help me with this math problem, please? I’m completely stuck.”
(a) Do
(b) Are
(c) Can
(d) Cans
2 “I ______ understand this grammar rule at all. It’s too hard!”
(a) don’t can
(b) can’t
(c) shouldn’t
(d) am not can
3 “When we were kids, you ______ solve these puzzles so fast! What happened?”
(a) can
(b) could to
(c) would
(d) could
4 “______ I borrow your calculator? Mine just broke.”
(a) Am
(b) Must
(c) Do
(d) Can
5 “You ______ leave your books on my desk if you want. There is plenty of space.”
(a) can
(b) should
(c) are can
(d) do can
6 “I tried to finish the history essay last night, but I ______ stay awake.”
(a) didn’t can
(b) can’t
(c) couldn’t
(d) couldn’t to
7 “Look at this French sentence. ______ you translate it for me?”
(a) Can
(b) Do
(c) Have
(d) Cans
8 “I’m sorry, I ______ read your handwriting. What does this word say?”
(a) could not
(b) cannot
(c) not can
(d) don’t can
9 “Yesterday, we ______ use the library computers for our research, but today they are closed.”
(a) can
(b) could
(c) are able
(d) could to
10 “______ you hear that weird noise outside while we were studying?”
(a) Did you can
(b) Could to
(c) Could
(d) Can
11 “My older brother ______ speak three languages, so he usually helps me with my homework.”
(a) cans
(b) could
(c) can
(d) is can
12 “We ______ finish the science project early if we work on it together right now.”
(a) can to
(b) must
(c) can
(d) do can
13 “I left my textbook at school, so I ______ do the reading assignment tonight.”
(a) can’t
(b) shouldn’t
(c) haven’t can
(d) don’t can
14 “______ you pass me the dictionary, please?”
(a) Could
(b) Do
(c) Must
(d) Are
15 “I looked everywhere for the correct answer in the book, but I ______ find it.”
(a) wasn’t able
(b) didn’t could
(c) couldn’t to
(d) couldn’t
16 “______ I use your laptop to check my student email quickly?”
(a) Would
(b) Can
(c) Am
(d) Do
17 “When she was in middle school, she ______ get an A in math without even studying.”
(a) could
(b) can
(c) is able to
(d) could to
18 “I ______ come to your house tonight to study because my mom said no.”
(a) can’t
(b) don’t can
(c) mustn’t
(d) am not can
19 “You ______ use my notes for the test review, but please give them back tomorrow.”
(a) do
(b) can to
(c) can
(d) have
20 “I whispered the answers to you, so the teacher ______ hear us.”
(a) shouldn’t
(b) couldn’t
(c) didn’t can
(d) couldn’t to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (c) Can
- Why it’s right: “Can” is the correct modal verb for making an informal request to a friend.
- Error Analysis: (a) Do is a common mistake because students often use “Do” for all present questions, but it doesn’t express ability/request here. (b) Are is a structural error (wrong verb form). (d) Cans is a structural error (modal verbs never take an “s”).
2 (b) can’t
- Why it’s right: “Can’t” expresses a present inability to do something.
- Error Analysis: (a) don’t can is a common mistake (treating “can” like a normal verb). (c) shouldn’t is a strong distractor (grammatically correct, but it means “advice not to do something,” which makes no sense here). (d) am not can is a structural error.
3 (d) could
- Why it’s right: “Could” is the past tense of “can,” used here to express a past ability (“When we were kids”).
- Error Analysis: (a) can is a common mistake (using present tense for a past context). (b) could to is a structural error (modals are followed by the bare infinitive, without “to”). (c) would is a strong distractor, but “would” expresses past habits, whereas “could” expresses past ability.
4 (d) Can
- Why it’s right: “Can” is used to ask for informal permission from a peer.
- Error Analysis: (a) Am is a structural error. (b) Must is a strong distractor (meaning trap – “Must I borrow” sounds like an obligation, not a request). (c) Do is a common mistake.
5 (a) can
- Why it’s right: “Can” is used to give permission in the present.
- Error Analysis: (b) should is a strong distractor (it gives advice, but the context “if you want” implies giving permission, so “can” is a better fit). (c) are can is a structural error. (d) do can is a common mistake.
6 (c) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: “Couldn’t” expresses a past inability (“last night”).
- Error Analysis: (a) didn’t can is a common mistake. (b) can’t is a strong distractor (wrong tense). (d) couldn’t to is a structural error.
7 (a) Can
- Why it’s right: Asking for a favor/present ability.
- Error Analysis: (b) Do is a common mistake. (c) Have is a strong distractor (grammatically incorrect here without “to”, but confuses students with “have to”). (d) Cans is a structural error.
8 (b) cannot
- Why it’s right: Expresses present inability. “Cannot” is the formal/full form of “can’t”.
- Error Analysis: (a) could not is a strong distractor (past tense, but the context “What does this word say?” is present). (c) not can is a common mistake. (d) don’t can is a structural error.
9 (b) could
- Why it’s right: “Could” expresses permission or ability in the past (“Yesterday”).
- Error Analysis: (a) can is a common mistake (wrong tense). (c) are able is a strong distractor (missing “to” and is present tense). (d) could to is a structural error.
10 (c) Could
- Why it’s right: “Could” is used for past ability, especially with verbs of perception (hear, see, smell).
- Error Analysis: (a) Did you can is a common mistake. (b) Could to is a structural error. (d) Can is a strong distractor (wrong tense).
11 (c) can
- Why it’s right: Expresses a general present ability.
- Error Analysis: (a) cans is a common mistake (adding “s” for he/she/it). (b) could is a strong distractor (implies he no longer speaks them). (d) is can is a structural error.
12 (c) can
- Why it’s right: Expresses a present/future possibility based on a condition.
- Error Analysis: (a) can to is a structural error. (b) must is a strong distractor (changes the meaning to obligation rather than possibility). (d) do can is a common mistake.
13 (a) can’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses a logical present inability due to a past action.
- Error Analysis: (b) shouldn’t is a strong distractor (meaning trap: “I shouldn’t do it” means it’s a bad idea, not that you lack the ability). (c) haven’t can is a structural error. (d) don’t can is a common mistake.
14 (a) Could
- Why it’s right: “Could” is used to make a slightly more polite request, even with friends.
- Error Analysis: (b) Do is a common mistake. (c) Must is a strong distractor (meaning trap: sounds demanding). (d) Are is a structural error.
15 (d) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses past inability despite making an effort.
- Error Analysis: (a) wasn’t able is a strong distractor (missing “to”). (b) didn’t could is a common mistake. (c) couldn’t to is a structural error.
16 (b) Can
- Why it’s right: Used to ask for informal permission.
- Error Analysis: (a) Would is a strong distractor (students learn “Would you mind…”, but “Would I use” is unnatural and incorrect here). (c) Am is a structural error. (d) Do is a common mistake.
17 (a) could
- Why it’s right: Describes a general past ability.
- Error Analysis: (b) can is a common mistake (wrong tense). (c) is able to is a strong distractor (present tense instead of past). (d) could to is a structural error.
18 (a) can’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses a lack of permission extending into the future.
- Error Analysis: (b) don’t can is a common mistake. (c) mustn’t is a strong distractor (it means prohibition, but “can’t” is far more natural when explaining you don’t have permission from a parent). (d) am not can is a structural error.
19 (c) can
- Why it’s right: Used to grant permission.
- Error Analysis: (a) do is a common mistake. (b) can to is a structural error. (d) have is a strong distractor (meaning trap: “You have use my notes” is grammatically wrong, missing “to”).
20 (b) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Past inability with a perception verb (“hear”).
- Error Analysis: (a) shouldn’t is a strong distractor (meaning trap: advice vs. ability). (c) didn’t can is a common mistake. (d) couldn’t to is a structural error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Form: Modal verbs like can and could are never followed by “to” (e.g., I can do, NOT I can to do). They also never take an “-s” in the third person singular (e.g., He can, NOT He cans).
- Negatives: To make them negative, simply add “not” (cannot / can’t and could not / couldn’t). Never use “don’t” or “didn’t” with them (e.g., NOT didn’t could).
- Present vs. Past: Use Can/Can’t for abilities, possibilities, or permission right now or in the future. Use Could/Couldn’t for things you were able to do (or not able to do) in the past.
- Polite Requests: Even with friends, you can use Could to ask for a favor politely (“Could you pass me the book?”). Can is slightly more casual (“Can I borrow this?”).