Mastering the Verb 'Can' for Abilities and Permissions

Objectives

1. Understand the use of the verb 'can' to express abilities and permissions.

2. Apply the verb 'can' in practical and everyday contexts.

3. Recognize the difference between the use of the verb 'can' for abilities and permissions.

4. Develop confidence in using the verb 'can' in complete sentences.

Contextualization

The verb 'can' is an essential tool in English communication, allowing people to express their abilities and request or grant permissions. Imagine the importance of being able to say 'I can swim' during a job interview for a lifeguard, or 'Can I use your phone?' in an emergency situation. Clarity and precision in communication are key skills both in daily life and in the job market.

Relevance of the Theme

The verb 'can' is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English, essential for expressing capability and permission. In the job market, the correct use of 'can' can be crucial in job interviews, performance evaluations, and daily communication among colleagues. Customer service professionals, for example, often use 'can' to offer help and request information politely and efficiently.

Using the verb 'can' to express abilities

The verb 'can' is used to describe abilities or capacities that a person possesses. It is fundamental for effective communication, allowing people to share what they are capable of doing. For example, in a job interview, saying 'I can use Excel' informs the interviewer that you possess this specific skill.

• Allows expressing abilities clearly.

• Essential for job interviews and performance evaluations.

• Facilitates communication of skills in professional and personal contexts.

Using the verb 'can' to request and grant permissions

In addition to expressing abilities, the verb 'can' is often used to ask for and grant permissions. This is crucial in various everyday and professional situations, ensuring that communication is polite and respectful. For example, 'Can I leave early today?' is a polite way to ask for permission at work.

• Essential for maintaining good interpersonal relationships.

• Facilitates polite and respectful communication.

• Important for professional and personal scenarios, such as asking for permissions at work or at home.

Structure of affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences with 'can'

To use the verb 'can' correctly, it is important to master the structure of affirmative ('I can swim'), negative ('I cannot swim'), and interrogative ('Can you swim?') sentences. Each structure has its specific application and is crucial for clear and effective communication.

• Affirmative sentences: used to state abilities or capacities.

• Negative sentences: used to deny abilities or capacities.

• Interrogative sentences: used to ask questions about abilities or permissions.

Practical Applications

• In a job interview, you can use 'can' to highlight your skills: 'I can manage a team effectively.'
• In the workplace, use 'can' to ask for permissions politely: 'Can I take a day off next week?'
• During an informal conversation, use 'can' to offer help: 'Can I help you with that?'

Key Terms

• Modal verb 'can': Verb used to express abilities and permissions.

• Affirmative sentence: Structure that states an ability, e.g., 'I can swim.'

• Negative sentence: Structure that denies an ability, e.g., 'I cannot swim.'

• Interrogative sentence: Structure that asks about an ability or permission, e.g., 'Can you swim?'

Questions

• How can the ability to express skills with 'can' influence a job interview?

• Why is it important to use 'can' politely when requesting permissions?

• In what ways can clarity in communicating abilities and permissions impact your personal and professional interactions?

Conclusion

To Reflect

In this lesson, we explored the use of the verb 'can' to express abilities and request permissions, essential skills both in everyday life and in the job market. Understanding and applying 'can' correctly allows for clear and assertive communication, fundamental for job interviews, performance evaluations, and personal interactions. Reflecting on how these language skills can influence your opportunities and relationships is crucial for your ongoing development.

Mini Challenge - Practical Challenge: Skills and Permissions Journal

To consolidate your understanding of the use of the verb 'can', you will create a journal where you record real situations from your daily life using 'can' to describe abilities and request permissions.

• For one week, write down at least three situations each day where you used 'can' to express an ability or ask for permission.
• Briefly describe each situation and the sentence you used.
• At the end of the week, review your notes and reflect on how the use of 'can' helped in the communication of those situations.
• Share your reflections and examples with the class in the next lesson.