Can vs. Could – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are posting videos and photos on Facebook and Instagram to show your friends the new skills you have learned (like riding a bike, swimming, or playing the guitar). Read the social media posts carefully and choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “Look at this video, guys! After two weeks of falling down, I ______ finally ride a bike!”
(A) can
(B) could
(C) cans
(D) am can
2 “Just one month ago, I ______ even balance on the seat for two seconds.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) didn’t can
(D) wasn’t could
3 “Now, I ______ pedal all the way to the park without stopping once!”
(A) could to
(B) can
(C) cans
(D) do can
4 “When I was a little kid, I ______ ride a bike because I was way too scared to try.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) don’t can
(D) not could
5 “I am so proud of myself today. Look at my swimming video! I ______ swim across the whole pool!”
(A) can
(B) could
(C) can to
(D) am can
6 “I am so happy because last summer, I ______ even put my head underwater.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) didn’t could
(D) wasn’t can
7 “Thanks to my amazing swimming teacher, I ______ float perfectly now.”
(A) could
(B) can
(C) cans
(D) do can
8 “Friend commenting: Wow, great job! ______ you swim when you were a teenager?”
(A) Can
(B) Could
(C) Do you can
(D) Did you could
9 “Listen to this audio clip! I ______ finally play my favorite song on the guitar!”
(A) can
(B) could to
(C) cans
(D) can to
10 “Two weeks ago, my fingers hurt so much and I ______ remember any of the chords.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) didn’t can
(D) don’t can
11 “But after practicing every single night, I ______ play three full songs from start to finish.”
(A) could to
(B) can
(C) do can
(D) are can
12 “My older brother ______ play the guitar perfectly when he was ten, but I am glad I finally learned!”
(A) can
(B) could
(C) cans
(D) is can
13 “Dinner is ready! Look at this photo. I ______ finally cook a perfect, delicious steak.”
(A) can
(B) could
(C) can to
(D) do can
14 “Before I took this online cooking class, I ______ even boil an egg properly!”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) didn’t could
(D) wasn’t can
15 “Now, I ______ make amazing, healthy meals for my whole family every weekend.”
(A) can to
(B) could to
(C) can
(D) cans
16 “Great news, everyone! I ______ hold a basic conversation in Spanish now. ¡Hola!“
(A) can
(B) could
(C) cans
(D) am can
17 “When I traveled to Spain last year, I ______ understand anyone in the shops.”
(A) can’t
(B) don’t can
(C) couldn’t
(D) not could
18 “But today, I ______ order food and ask for directions easily without using a translator app.”
(A) could to
(B) can
(C) do can
(D) cans
19 “In the very beginning, I ______ say a single word without looking at the dictionary.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) didn’t can
(D) wasn’t can
20 “Never give up on your goals! If you practice hard, you ______ achieve anything you want!”
(A) could to
(B) cans
(C) can
(D) do can
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Key: (A) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: You are proudly declaring a present ability (“Look at this video!”). “Can” shows what you have the power to do right now.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “Could” is for the past. (C) “Cans” is invalid (modals never take “-s”). (D) “Am can” is an invalid combination of verbs.
2 Key: (A) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Just one month ago” is a past time marker. You are describing your past inability to balance to show how much you’ve improved.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “Can’t” is present tense. (C) “Didn’t can” and (D) “Wasn’t could” are major grammatical errors.
3 Key: (B) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Now” shifts the timeline to your current, newly learned ability.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “Could to” has an illegal “to”. (C) has an illegal “-s”. (D) uses “do”.
4 Key: (B) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “When I was a little kid” clearly places this inability in the past.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) uses “don’t”. (D) is the wrong word order (must be could not / couldn’t).
5 Key: (A) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Today” highlights the present achievement of swimming across the pool.
- Why others are wrong: (B) is past. (C) has an illegal “to”. (D) uses “am”.
6 Key: (B) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Last summer” points to a past inability.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) and (D) use invalid auxiliary verbs (“didn’t/wasn’t”).
7 Key: (B) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Now” indicates you have gained this physical ability in the present.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is past. (C) has an illegal “-s”. (D) uses “do”.
8 Key: (B) Could
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The friend is asking a question about your past ability (“when you were a teenager”). We put “Could” at the front.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) and (D) incorrectly use “Do/Did” to form a modal question.
9 Key: (A) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A proud present declaration: “I can finally play!”
- Why others are wrong: (B) and (D) use an illegal “to”. (C) has an illegal “-s”.
10 Key: (B) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Two weeks ago” sets the past context where the struggle happened.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) and (D) use invalid auxiliaries.
11 Key: (B) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Contrasting the past struggle with the present success (“I can play three full songs”).
- Why others are wrong: (A) has “to”. (C) uses “do”. (D) uses “are”.
12 Key: (B) could
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Describing the brother’s past ability (“when he was ten”).
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) has “-s”. (D) uses “is”.
13 Key: (A) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Announcing a present skill (“Look at this photo. I can finally cook”).
- Why others are wrong: (B) is past. (C) has “to”. (D) uses “do”.
14 Key: (B) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Before I took this class” marks the past period of inability.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) and (D) use invalid auxiliaries.
15 Key: (C) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Now” shifts the focus to the new, present ability.
- Why others are wrong: (A) and (B) have “to”. (D) has “-s”.
16 Key: (A) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A present declaration of a new language skill (“now”).
- Why others are wrong: (B) is past. (C) has “-s”. (D) uses “am”.
17 Key: (C) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Last year” places the language struggle in the past.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (B) uses “don’t”. (D) is the wrong word order.
18 Key: (B) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Today” highlights the current fluency and ability.
- Why others are wrong: (A) has “to”. (C) uses “do”. (D) has “-s”.
19 Key: (B) couldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “In the very beginning” refers to the past state of learning.
- Why others are wrong: (A) is present. (C) and (D) use invalid auxiliaries.
20 Key: (C) can
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Stating a general, present/future truth to motivate others. “You have the ability to achieve anything.”
- Why others are wrong: (A) has “to”. (B) has “-s”. (D) uses “do”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The “Tada!” Moment (Present Ability with CAN):
- When you want to show off a new skill that you have right now, you use can. It acts as a proud announcement of your ability.
- Example: “I practiced for a month, and now I can ride a bike!”
- The “Struggle” (Past Inability with COULDN’T):
- The best way to make your new skill look impressive is to talk about how bad you were in the past! Use couldn’t to describe what you lacked the ability to do before.
- Example: “Last year, I couldn’t even balance.”
- The Grammar Rules (The “Never Do This” List):
- Rule 1: No “TO”. Never put “to” after can or could. (Say: I can swim, NEVER I can to swim).
- Rule 2: No “-S”. Modal verbs never change form. Do not add “-s” for he, she, or it. (Say: He can cook, NEVER He cans cook).
- Rule 3: No “DO/DID/WAS”. Modals are strong enough to make their own negatives.
- Say: I couldn’t swim.
- NEVER say: I didn’t could swim.