Ability
Learn how to use the modal verb can to express ability in English, describing what someone is able or unable to do, with clear examples at A1 level.
What is ability?
Ability is about what someone can or cannot do.
We use the modal verb can to talk about ability (what someone is able to do).
Using “can” for ability
Positive form
Subject + can + base verb + rest of the sentence
Examples
- I can ride a bike.
- He can read a book.
- She can run fast.
- He can cook very well.
- I can solve simple puzzles.
Use can for ability in general or for something you can do right now.
- I can swim. = swimming is a general skill for me.
- I can help you now. = I am available to help at this moment.
We can say how well someone can do something.
- I can swim well.
- I can swim very well.
- I can't swim at all.
- I can speak a little English.
After can, always use the base form of the verb (no -s, -ing, or to).
- ❌ She cans swim. → ✅ She can swim.
- ❌ He can to cook. → ✅ He can cook.
- ❌ I can swimming. → ✅ I can swim.
In positive sentences, we often say can quickly and quietly. We say can't more strongly and for longer: I can swim / I can't swim. In British English, can't has the vowel in car; in American English, it often has the vowel in cat.
Negative form
Subject + cannot / can’t + base verb
Examples
- I cannot (can’t) drive a car.
- She cannot (can’t) speak French.
- We can’t go to the park today.
- I can’t answer the phone now.
Write cannot as one word. Can't is the short form. In normal writing, do not write can not as two words.
Can with see and hear
We often use can with see and hear to say what we notice now.
- I can see the bus.
- I can hear you.
We also often use can with smell, taste, and feel.
- I can smell smoke.
- I can taste the soup.
- I can feel the wind.
With these verbs, we do not normally use am/is/are + -ing for this meaning.
- We normally say I can see the bus, not I am seeing the bus, when we mean that we notice it now.
- We normally say I can hear the music, not I am hearing the music, when we mean that we notice it now.
Can can also be used for permission and requests, for example Can I sit here? and Can you help me? This lesson focuses only on its ability meaning.
Questions with can
Yes/no questions
Structure:
Can + subject + base verb?
Short answers are common and correct. Always match can / can’t.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Can you swim? | Yes, I can. | No, I can’t. |
| Can she cook? | Yes, she can. | No, she can’t. |
| Can they come? | Yes, they can. | No, they can’t. |
Do not use do or does with can in questions.
- ❌ Does he can cook?
- ✅ Can he cook?
Wh-questions
Put the question word at the beginning.
Wh-word + can + subject + base verb?
- What can you do?
- How well can you swim?
- Who can help me?
Quick check
Try one question now.
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Past ability with could (extension)
This short extension shows another way to talk about ability. The main A1 point on this page is can / can’t for ability now.
Use could to talk about general ability in the past.
Positive form
Subject + could + base verb
- I could swim when I was five.
- She could read when she was six.
Negative form
Subject + couldn’t + base verb
- My grandfather couldn’t read when he was young.
- I couldn’t ride a bike when I was five.
Questions
Could + subject + base verb?
- Could you ride a bike when you were six? → Yes, I could. / No, I couldn’t.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | subject + could + base verb | I could swim. |
| Negative | subject + couldn’t + base verb | I couldn’t swim. |
| Question | could + subject + base verb? | Could you swim? |
Be able to
We can also say be able to + base verb. In the present, use am / is / are able to.
- I am able to swim.
- She is able to come today.
- They are able to help us.
In everyday English, can is usually more natural: I can swim. Present forms with be able to often sound formal.
For one successful completed action in the past, use was / were able to: Yesterday, I was able to finish my homework. Use be able to when can has no form, for example I will be able to come.
Quick recap
- Can = able to do something
- Can’t = not able to do something
- Always use the base verb after can/can’t
- For yes/no questions: Can + subject + base verb?
- For wh-questions: Wh-word + can + subject + base verb?
- Be able to also means “can”; in the present, it often sounds formal.
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Ability
26 wordsLast updated October 14, 2026