I can sing!

Objective & content

This grammar sheet teaches can and can't to talk about what people can and can't do: one form for every person, no -s and no to before the verb, questions with Can you ...? and the short answers Yes, I can. / No, I can't. Pupils read Priya and Daniel's dialogue about the school show, then read the rule, given in a box, and use it. By the end, they can say what they and others can and can't do, and ask a classmate about it.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 is the dialogue: Priya can sing and play the guitar but can't dance; Daniel can stand on one leg for five minutes, and his dog can dance but can't come to school. Pupils write can or can't in seven sentences about it, then tick four short answers. Page 2: pupils read the rule, given in a box in short lines with the key words in bold, choose the right sentence out of three in seven items (She can swim., not She cans swim. or She can swims.), then write eight animal sentences from a tick or a cross (Penguins can't fly.). Page 3 has six questions to write from prompts (you / ride a bike), four sentences about the pupils themselves, then "Find someone who": pupils walk round the class asking "Can you ...?" and write a different classmate's name on each of the twelve lines. Activities 2, 3 and 5 to 7 each open with a worked example; the last two are open and have no key.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Tell the class two things you can do and one thing you can't; ask a few pupils "Can you sing?"
2. (8 min) Pupils read the dialogue in pairs, then write can or can't and tick the short answers.
3. (5 min) Read the rule in the box with the class; pupils find examples of it in the text.
4. (10 min) Page 2: pupils choose the right sentences, then write the animal sentences.
5. (7 min) Page 3: pupils write the questions, then four sentences about themselves.
6. (10 min) "Find someone who": pupils walk round the class and ask their questions.
7. (5 min) Check with the answer key on page 4.

Adaptations

[S] Before the game, the class mimes the abilities in the grid while you read them aloud.

[A] Pupils write four more sentences, this time about someone in their family or a pet ("My brother can cook.").

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil; space to move round the classroom for the game. Page 4 is the answer key and teacher notes: keep it. Cannot is also right for can't. Pupils need simple action verbs (swim, sing, dance, jump) and a few animal names. To take it further, pupils report to the class what they found ("Lina can stand on one leg for one minute!").