Can is a modal verb (An auxiliary verb, such as “can” or “will)
Can is used to express ability or to say that something is possible.
Can is the same for all subjects. We don’t add an “s” in the third person (like other verbs)
The verb that comes after can is in the infinitive without to:
Examples:
- I can speak Spanish. (It is possible for me to speak Spanish. OR I have the ability to speak Spanish.)
- He can swim well.
- We can see my neighbor in the garden.
- They can play the guitar.
Negative
To form the negative sentence, we add “not” after can to form one word ‘cannot’. We can also contract the negative to form can’t. (can’t=cannot)
Examples
- I cannot play the piano.
- We can’t go to the cinema tonight.
- She cannot speak French very well.
- He can’t drive a car.
Questions
To form the question we change the position of the subject and the auxiliary verb.
The main verb is still in the infinitive without to.
Examples
- Where can I buy an ice-cream?
- Can I go to the party, please?
- Can you speak Japanese?
- What can we do on Saturday?
Remember that you can use short answers.
- Can I sit here please? Yes, you can.
- Can you speak Japanese? No, I can’t.
Impersonal can
Sometimes you can and can you…? are impersonal and refer to people in general.
See an example,
- You can see many stars at night from here. (=people in general can see many stars)
It doesn’t necessarily refer to you but people in general.
Now look at another,
- You can’t run naked in the middle of the street.
Not necessarily saying YOU can’t run naked in the middle of the street but in general it is not possible for anyone.