Can and Cannot to Express Ability

Learn how to use can and cannot to express ability in English. Simple rules, clear examples, and practice exercises for A1 beginners.

  • المسار: اللغة الإنجليزية
  • القسم: القواعد
  • المستوى: A1
  • وقت القراءة: 2 دقيقة
  • آخر تحديث: 20 أغسطس 2026

Do You Make These Mistakes? Look at these three sentences written by real learners. Can you spot what is wrong? ❌ She cans swim very well. ❌ He can to play the guitar. ❌ They not can drive a car. Every sentence has a mistake. Do not worry — these errors are very common. By the end of this lesson, you will know exactly why they are wrong and how to fix them. The Rule: How to Use Can and Cannot Use can to say that someone is able to do something. Use cannot (or the short form can't ) to say that someone is NOT able to do something. The structure is always: Subject + can / cannot + base verb The…

الأسئلة الشائعة

Do I add -s to 'can' when I use he or she?
No. 'Can' never changes. You always say 'he can', 'she can', 'it can' — never 'he cans' or 'she cans'.
What is the difference between 'cannot' and 'can't'?
They mean exactly the same thing. 'Can't' is simply the short form of 'cannot'. Both are correct — 'can't' is more common in everyday speaking.
Can I say 'I can to swim'?
No. Never put 'to' after 'can'. The correct form is 'I can swim' — just the base verb, with nothing in between.
How do I make a question with 'can'?
Move 'can' to the front of the sentence. For example: 'She can drive.' becomes 'Can she drive?' — it is that simple.