SIMPLE QUESTIONS WITH “CAN”

Conversation

Teacher: Good morning, class! Today, we will learn how to ask simple questions with “can.”
Amina: What does can mean, teacher?
Teacher: Can means to have the ability to do something. For example:
Ali, can you swim?
Ali: Yes, I can swim.
Teacher: Very good! Sara, can you ride a bike?
Sara: No, I can’t ride a bike.
Teacher: That’s okay! You can learn.
Omar, can you speak English?
Omar: Yes, teacher! I can speak English and Somali!
Teacher: Wonderful! Everyone can do something. Let’s learn more examples!

 

Story: What Can You Do?

It is a sunny day at school. The students are playing in the yard.
Amina says, “I can jump very high!”
Ali says, “I can run fast!”
Sara says, “I can draw a house.”
Omar says, “I can sing a song.”

The teacher smiles and says,
“You all have different skills. You can do many things if you try!”

 

Vocabulary Table

Word	Meaning
Can	To be able to do something
Ability	The power or skill to do something
Swim	To move in water
Ride	To sit and control a bicycle or animal
Speak	To use words to talk
Jump	To move quickly off the ground
Run	To move fast on your feet
Draw	To make a picture with a pencil
Sing	To make music with your voice
Skill	Something you can do well

 

Word Families

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
Can	—	Able	Can / Be able to	—
Ability	Ability	Able	—	Ably
Swim	Swimmer	—	Swim	—
Ride	Rider	—	Ride	—
Speak	Speech	Speaking	Speak	—
Jump	Jump	Jumping	Jump	—
Run	Runner	Running	Run	—
Draw	Drawing	Drawn	Draw	—
Sing	Song / Singer	Singing	Sing	—
Skill	Skill	Skilled	—	Skillfully

 

Exercises

Exercise 1: True or False

1.     “Can” means to be able to do something.

2.     Amina can run fast.

3.     Ali can swim.

4.     Sara can draw a house.

5.     Omar can dance.

6.     The teacher says, “You all can do something.”

7.     “Can’t” means cannot.

8.     Omar can speak two languages.

9.     “Can you ride a bike?” is a question.

10.                        The story happens in a park.

 

Exercise 2: Cross-Matching

A	B
1. Can	a. To make pictures
2. Swim	b. A thing you can do well
3. Ride	c. To move fast on your feet
4. Speak	d. To talk with words
5. Jump	e. To move in water
6. Run	f. To go on a bicycle or horse
7. Draw	g. To move off the ground
8. Sing	h. To make music with your voice
9. Skill	i. To be able to do something
10. Ability	j. The power to do something

 

Exercise 3: Circle the Correct Word

1.     Can you (run / sit) fast?

2.     I can (fly / swim) in the pool.

3.     Omar can (speak / sleep) English.

4.     Sara can (draw / eat) a house.

5.     I can (ride / wash) a bike.

6.     We can (jump / listen) very high.

7.     Ali can (sing / write) a song.

8.     The teacher can (read / dance) a story.

9.     Amina can (write / swim).

10.                        You can (speak / drink) English.

 

Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks

Use these words: can, swim, run, draw, sing, ride, jump, speak, skill, ability

1.     “______” means to be able to do something.

2.     Amina can _______ very high.

3.     Ali can _______ in the pool.

4.     Sara can _______ a picture.

5.     Omar can _______ English.

6.     We can _______ songs together.

7.     I can _______ a bike.

8.     Running is a _______.

9.     Speaking English is an _______.

10.                        We all _______ learn new things.

 

✅ Answer Keys

Exercise 1

10. F 9. T 8. T 7. T 6. T 5. F 4. T 3. T 2. F 1. T

Exercise 2

10–j 9–b 8–h 7–a 6–c 5–g 4–d 3–f 2–e 1–i

Exercise 3

10. speak 9. swim 8. read 7. sing 6. jump 5. ride 4. draw 3. speak 2. swim 1. run

Exercise 4

10. can 9. ability 8. skill 7. ride 6. sing 5. speak 4. draw 3. swim 2. jump 1. Can