Sentence structure: Sentences with can and can't
can tells us what we are able to do, and we use it to ask for permission. Turkish uses an ending (yüzebilirim); English uses a separate word in front of the verb.
Bring the pieces togetherIn this chapter
What is it for?
Ability: I can swim. Permission: Can I go out? The negative is can't (= cannot): not being able to, or not being allowed to.
Formula
Positive: I can swim. · Negative: Fish can't climb trees. · Question: Can you whistle? · Short answer: Yes, I can. / No, I can't.
Color-coded examples
In Turkish -ebil- goes inside the verb; in English can stands alone in front of the verb.
Example: I can ride a bike.
Example: My grandma can speak three languages.
Questions and short answers
Statement: You can whistle. Question: Can you whistle? Only can moves to the front.
Example: Can you whistle?
Example: Can your brother swim?
Compare with Turkish
The ending -ebil- → can
Example: I can swim.
Example: Cats can't fly.
Tip
can is the same for everyone and is followed by the base verb: I can, she can, they can. No -s, no to: She can swim. (“She cans swim”, “She can swims” and “She can to swim” are wrong.)
Position 6 of 7 chapters at Pre-A1.