This lesson plan is a great introduction to modal verbs. It is designed for beginner students and focuses on the use of can and can’t to discuss ability, possibility, and permissions. Throughout this lesson, students can practice both the positive and negative forms of can and could. In addition, students will study common questions and short answer prompts used in spoken English.
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M1.1 – Ability, can, and could
Off2Class Lesson Plan
Lesson 1/3
ESL Lesson Plan
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© 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
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Match pictures to sentences
B
C
A squirrel
can climb
trees.
The baby
can’t walk.
I can
play
chess.
A
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Using can with other verbs
subject
can / can’t
verb
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
can
can’t (cannot)
play
read
paint
work
cook
run
play
subject
can / can’t
verb
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1. A cheetah can run fast.
2. Kangaroos __________ high across
the grass.
run
jump
Use can or can’t + verbs below
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3. Humans __________ underwater.
4. This man __________ on his hands.
stand
live
Use can or can’t + verbs below
© 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
Can for ability and possibility
Some turtles
can live for
hundreds of
years. ✔
He can run
10km in one
hour. ✔
Pigs can’t fly.
✖
We also use can to show
that we know how to do
something.
We use can’t to show that
something is not possible,
or that we don’t know how
to do it.
We use can to show that
something is possible.
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Make sentences with can/can’t
can
can’t
…hunt small animals.
1
…climb trees.
2
C Snakes…
B
Cats…
A
Dogs…
D Humans…
E Sharks…
F Monkeys…
…swim.
3
…read and write.
4
…hide in the grass.
5
…bark and growl.
6
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5. Yes, I __________ to the cinema with you tonight.
6.
I’m from Paris. I __________ Fren