Grammar · Modal Verbs
Can, Could & Be Able To (Ability)
Say what you can do now and what you could do before. Learn how with the film Dumbo, from 1941.
Grammar › Modal Verbs › Can, Could & Be Able To (Ability)
The rule in one sentenceUse can for things you are good at now, and could for things you were good at in the past.
About the film
Dumbo is a Disney film from 1941. A baby elephant lives in a circus with his mother, Mrs. Jumbo. His ears are very big, so he can’t walk well and he falls over them. The other elephants laugh at him, but a little mouse called Timothy wants to help him.
What does it do?
We use can to talk about what we are able to do now. We use could for what we were able to do in the past, for a long time.
After can and could, use the simple verb: read, talk, walk. Don’t add to, and don’t add s.
Look at the first two tiles. Timothy is able to talk now, so we say can. Dumbo is not able to talk, so we say can’t.
In speech, people usually use the short forms:
Dumbo can’t walk well because of his ears. Can an elephant fly? Watch the film and see!
Can’t is about now. The question with can asks what an elephant is able to do.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
can — able to now
Timothy can talk to Dumbo.
Dumbo can’t walk well.
can’t = can notCan an elephant fly?
Put can first. Don’t use do.could — able to in the past
When I was six, I could read.
The little elephant couldn’t walk well.
couldn’t = could notCould you ride a bike at five?
Put could first. Don’t use did.When to use each one
can — now
could — before
Words that help: now or before?
Some words tell you if the sentence is about now or the past.
can → now
could → in the past
Common mistakes
❌ Timothy cans talk.
✅ Timothy can talk.
Can never changes. No s, even with he or she.
❌ Timothy can to talk.
✅ Timothy can talk.
Don’t use to after can.
❌ When I was five, I can read.
✅ When I was five, I could read.
This is about the past, so use could.
❌ Do you can swim?
✅ Can you swim?
In questions, put can first. Don’t use do.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Be able to. Can has no future form, so we say will be able to. For one thing that went well on one day in the past, we often say was able to.
✅ Mrs. Jumbo will be able to see her baby soon. (the future)
✅ The stork was able to find the circus train. (one time in the past)
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. Timothy ___ talk.
Can never changes → can.
2. Dumbo ___ talk. He never says a word.
This is about now → can’t.
3. When I was ten, I ___ climb trees.
When I was ten is the past → could.
4. ___ you swim?
In questions, put can first → Can you swim?
5. Elephants can ___ heavy things.
No to after can → can carry.
6. I ___ read when I was three.
When I was three is the past → couldn’t.
7. Can an elephant ___?
After can, use the simple verb → fly.
8. Next year, I will ___ drive.
Can has no future form → will be able to.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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