Modals of Ability/Permission: Can, Could – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Your friends are inviting you out, but you have a big exam coming up. You need to politely tell them that you are unable to join them. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “I would love to go to the cinema tonight, but I ______.”
(A) don’t can
(B) couldn’t
(C) can’t
(D) am not can
2 “Thanks for the invitation, but I ______ come to your party tomorrow.”
(A) cannot
(B) can’t to
(C) shouldn’t
(D) don’t can
3 “I ______ join you for dinner because I have a huge math test in the morning.”
(A) haven’t can
(B) not can
(C) couldn’t
(D) can’t
4 “Sorry, I ______ hang out this weekend. I really need to stay home and study.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) don’t can
(D) can’t to
5 “I really want to see that new movie with you, but I ______ leave my desk right now.”
(A) shouldn’t
(B) am not can
(C) can’t
(D) couldn’t to
6 “My parents said I ______ go out with my friends until I finish my history essay.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) don’t can
(D) shouldn’t to
7 “I ______ make it to the café later because my study group is meeting at the library.”
(A) don’t can
(B) couldn’t
(C) am not able
(D) can’t
8 “Unfortunately, we ______ meet up tonight. I have too much homework to do.”
(A) shouldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) don’t can
(D) haven’t
9 “I wish I could go to the concert with you, but I ______ afford the time. I must study!”
(A) not can
(B) couldn’t
(C) cannot
(D) don’t can
10 “I ______ play basketball this afternoon. I have to prepare for my science presentation.”
(A) can’t
(B) am not can
(C) couldn’t to
(D) shouldn’t
11 “Sorry, but I ______ accept your invitation. My final exams start on Monday.”
(A) don’t can
(B) couldn’t
(C) am not can
(D) cannot
12 “I ______ go to the mall with you guys. I am totally busy reviewing my notes.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) don’t can
(D) shouldn’t
13 “I ______ spend any time playing video games today. I have a big project due tomorrow.”
(A) don’t can
(B) couldn’t to
(C) can’t
(D) am not can
14 “Do you want to grab some pizza tonight?” – “I ______, sorry. I have to memorize these vocabulary words.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) don’t can
(D) can’t to
15 “As much as I’d love to grab a burger, I ______ possibly take a break right now.”
(A) am not can
(B) couldn’t
(C) shouldn’t
(D) cannot
16 “I thought I would finish my reading early, but I still have 50 pages left, so I ______ join you after all.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) don’t can
(D) haven’t can
17 “I ______ be there at 7 PM. I will still be in my evening study class.”
(A) don’t can
(B) shouldn’t
(C) can’t
(D) couldn’t
18 “If I don’t finish this assignment today, I ______ go anywhere this weekend.”
(A) can’t
(B) am not can
(C) couldn’t
(D) don’t can
19 “I’m afraid I ______ make it to your house tonight. My tutor is coming over.”
(A) shouldn’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) don’t can
(D) can’t
20 “I ______ say yes to your movie invitation, even though I really want to take a break.”
(A) don’t can
(B) cannot
(C) couldn’t
(D) cannot to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) can’t
- Why it’s right: “Can’t” expresses a present/future inability to do something due to external circumstances.
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake (using the auxiliary ‘do’ with a modal verb). (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (wrong tense; refers to the past). (D) am not can is a Structural Error.
2 (A) cannot
- Why it’s right: “Cannot” is the formal/full form of “can’t” and is grammatically perfect for stating inability.
- Error Analysis: (B) can’t to is a Structural Error (modals are never followed by ‘to’). (C) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap (means “I advise myself not to go”, which doesn’t directly address the physical inability). (D) don’t can is a Common Mistake.
3 (D) can’t
- Why it’s right: Correctly states an inability to join for dinner.
- Error Analysis: (A) haven’t can is a Structural Error. (B) not can is a Common Mistake (wrong negative formation). (C) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (past tense).
4 (B) can’t
- Why it’s right: Accurately refuses a future invitation (“this weekend”).
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (past tense trap). (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) can’t to is a Structural Error.
5 (C) can’t
- Why it’s right: Shows a present inability (“right now”).
- Error Analysis: (A) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap (changes the meaning from “unable to leave” to “it is a bad idea to leave”). (B) am not can is a Structural Error. (D) couldn’t to is a Structural Error.
6 (A) can’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses a lack of permission from parents in the present/near future.
- Error Analysis: (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (students might see “said” and try to use past tense, but the rule applies to the present “until I finish”). (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) shouldn’t to is a Structural Error.
7 (D) can’t
- Why it’s right: “Can’t make it” is a very natural English phrase for declining an invitation.
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (C) am not able is a Structural Error (missing the word ‘to’).
8 (B) can’t
- Why it’s right: Refusing an invitation for “tonight”.
- Error Analysis: (A) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) haven’t is a Structural Error (wrong auxiliary).
9 (C) cannot
- Why it’s right: “Cannot afford the time” means you do not have the time available.
- Error Analysis: (A) not can is a Common Mistake. (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (D) don’t can is a Common Mistake.
10 (A) can’t
- Why it’s right: Simple statement of inability due to a schedule conflict.
- Error Analysis: (B) am not can is a Structural Error. (C) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (D) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
11 (D) cannot
- Why it’s right: A strong, polite refusal.
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (wrong tense). (C) am not can is a Structural Error.
12 (B) can’t
- Why it’s right: Refusing due to being “totally busy”.
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
13 (C) can’t
- Why it’s right: Present inability (“today”).
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (B) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (D) am not can is a Structural Error.
14 (A) can’t
- Why it’s right: The most natural short response to an invitation you must decline.
- Error Analysis: (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (only used if declining an invitation that already happened in the past). (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) can’t to is a Structural Error.
15 (D) cannot
- Why it’s right: “Cannot possibly” is a strong collocation used to emphasize that something is completely impossible.
- Error Analysis: (A) am not can is a Structural Error. (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor (wrong tense). (C) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
16 (B) can’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses the final result: a present inability to join them.
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) haven’t can is a Structural Error.
17 (C) can’t
- Why it’s right: States an inability regarding a scheduled time (“7 PM”).
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (B) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (D) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor.
18 (A) can’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses future inability based on a present condition.
- Error Analysis: (B) am not can is a Structural Error. (C) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (D) don’t can is a Common Mistake.
19 (D) can’t
- Why it’s right: “I’m afraid I can’t make it” is the standard polite formula for declining an event.
- Error Analysis: (A) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (B) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (C) don’t can is a Common Mistake.
20 (B) cannot
- Why it’s right: Expresses the sad reality of not being able to say yes.
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (C) couldn’t is a Strong Distractor. (D) cannot to is a Structural Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Polite Refusals: When a friend invites you to do something and you want to say no politely, using “I can’t” or “I cannot” is the most natural way. It shows that it is an issue of ability or time, not a lack of desire. (e.g., I’d love to, but I can’t.)
- The “Couldn’t” Trap: Many students try to use “couldn’t” to sound more polite when saying no. However, “couldn’t” refers to the past. If the movie is tonight or tomorrow, you must use can’t/cannot.
- Useful Collocations: Memorize phrases like “I can’t make it” (I cannot attend) and “I can’t possibly” (It is 100% impossible for me). These are authentic phrases used by native English speakers every day.
- Forming the Negative: The negative of can is always cannot (one word) or can’t. You never use auxiliary verbs like do or am to make it negative (never say don’t can or am not can). Furthermore, modal verbs are never followed by “to” (never say can’t to go).