{"id":272767,"date":"2026-07-18T03:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=272767"},"modified":"2026-07-18T03:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:00:11","slug":"can-questions-ability-a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.us\/fr\/blog\/can-questions-ability-a1\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask About Ability: Can Questions (A1 English Grammar)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\">\n<p><strong>To ask about someone&#8217;s ability in English, we use <span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> at the beginning of the question.<\/strong> This word helps us talk about what people know how to do, like <span data-no-translation>Can you swim?<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>Can she speak English?<\/span> The structure is simple: <span data-no-translation>Can + subject + base form of the verb<\/span>. For example, <span data-no-translation>Can he play the guitar?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>When you answer these questions, you use short answers. For a positive answer, you say <span data-no-translation>Yes, subject + can<\/span>, such as <span data-no-translation>Yes, I can.<\/span> For a negative answer, you say <span data-no-translation>No, subject + can&#8217;t<\/span>, like <span data-no-translation>No, they can&#8217;t.<\/span> Remember, <span data-no-translation>can&#8217;t<\/span> is the short form of <span data-no-translation>cannot<\/span>. This makes it easy to talk about skills and talents in everyday conversations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What Does &#8216;Can&#8217; Mean in English?<\/h2>\n<p><span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> is a special verb in English. We use it to talk about ability. Ability means what you know how to do or what you are able to do.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For example, if you know how to cook, you can say, <span data-no-translation>I can cook.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>If you are able to run fast, you can say, <span data-no-translation>I can run fast.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-blended\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0E63C4,#0A2540);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83c\udf93 Apprenez l'anglais gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 la m\u00e9thode mixte<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;opacity:.95;\">Petits groupes \u00b7 Tuteur IA disponible 24 h\/24, 7 j\/7 \u00b7 Pr\u00e9paration aux examens de Cambridge<\/p><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:18px;\">Plans provenant de <strong><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\">$<\/span>39<\/bdi><\/span><\/strong> <s style=\"opacity:.6;\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\">$<\/span>79<\/bdi><\/span><\/s> par mois<\/p><a href=\"\/fr\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#0E63C4;\">R\u00e9servez votre cours<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>How Do We Make Questions with &#8216;Can&#8217;?<\/h2>\n<p>To ask about someone&#8217;s ability, we change the word order. We put <span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> before the subject.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First, start with <span data-no-translation>Can<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Next, add the subject (like <span data-no-translation>you<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>he<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>she<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>they<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>it<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>we<\/span>, or a name).<\/li>\n<li>Then, add the base form of the main verb (the verb without <span data-no-translation>to<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>).<\/li>\n<li>Finally, add any other information and a question mark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The pattern is: <span data-no-translation>Can + Subject + Base Verb + &#8230;?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How Do We Answer &#8216;Can&#8217; Questions?<\/h2>\n<p>We usually give short answers to <span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> questions. This makes conversations quick and natural.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Positive Answer:<\/strong> Use <span data-no-translation>Yes, + subject + can.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Negative Answer:<\/strong> Use <span data-no-translation>No, + subject + can&#8217;t.<\/span> (<span data-no-translation>can&#8217;t<\/span> is short for <span data-no-translation>cannot<\/span>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<caption>How to Ask and Answer &#x27;Can&#x27; Questions for Ability<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Yes\/No Question<\/th>\n<th>Positive Answer<\/th>\n<th>Negative Answer<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Can you swim?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Yes, I can.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>No, I can&#8217;t.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Can she swim?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Yes, she can.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>No, she can&#8217;t.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Can they swim?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Yes, they can.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>No, they can&#8217;t.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Exemples<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Can you speak Spanish?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Yes, I can.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Can he play the piano?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>No, he can&#8217;t.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Can she drive a car?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Yes, she can.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Can they cook Italian food?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>No, they can&#8217;t.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Can we meet tomorrow?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Yes, we can.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Entra\u00eenement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-291\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"291\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"B04 L5 GRAMMAR can: questions\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-whatsapp\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#3DB16A,#1f8a4c);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83d\udcac Vous avez besoin de conseils personnalis\u00e9s ?<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">En tant que centre de pr\u00e9paration agr\u00e9\u00e9 par Cambridge, nous pouvons vous aider \u00e0 choisir la formation et la certification qui vous conviennent. Discutez-en d\u00e8s aujourd'hui avec nos conseillers.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/51980473286\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#1f8a4c;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Discutez avec un conseiller sur WhatsApp<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones<\/h2>\n<p>Spanish speakers sometimes make these mistakes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Incorrect word order:<\/strong> You might say <span data-no-translation>You can swim?<\/span> This is incorrect for a question. Remember to put <span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> first: <span data-no-translation>Can you swim?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Using only the main verb in short answers:<\/strong> You might say <span data-no-translation>Yes, I swim.<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>No, I not swim.<\/span> This is incorrect. Always use <span data-no-translation>can<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>can&#8217;t<\/span> in short answers: <span data-no-translation>Yes, I can.<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>No, I can&#8217;t.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Forgetting the base form:<\/strong> After <span data-no-translation>can<\/span>, always use the base form of the verb, without <span data-no-translation>to<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>. For example, <span data-no-translation>Can you to sing?<\/span> is wrong. It should be <span data-no-translation>Can you sing?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Questions fr\u00e9quemment pos\u00e9es<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the difference between &#8216;can&#8217; and &#8216;can&#8217;t&#8217;?<\/h3>\n<p><span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> means you have the ability to do something. <span data-no-translation>Can&#8217;t<\/span> (or <span data-no-translation>cannot<\/span>) means you do not have the ability to do something. For example, <span data-no-translation>I can swim<\/span> but <span data-no-translation>I can&#8217;t fly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Do I need to change the verb after &#8216;can&#8217;?<\/h3>\n<p>No, you always use the base form of the verb after <span data-no-translation>can<\/span>. You do not add <span data-no-translation>-s<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>-ed<\/span>, or <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>. For example, <span data-no-translation>Can she sing?<\/span> (not <span data-no-translation>sings<\/span> ou <span data-no-translation>singing<\/span>).<\/p>\n<h3>Can I use &#8216;can&#8217; for other things besides ability?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, <span data-no-translation>can<\/span> also expresses possibility or permission, but for A1 level, we focus on ability. For example, <span data-no-translation>Can I go to the party?<\/span> (permission) or <span data-no-translation>It can be cold in winter.<\/span> (possibility).<\/p>\n<h2>Le\u00e7ons associ\u00e9es<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=272761\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can \/ can&#x27;t for ability<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=272765\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can \/ can&#x27;t for ability<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To ask about someone&#8217;s ability in English, we use Can at the beginning of the question. This word helps us talk about what people know how to do, like Can you swim? or Can she speak English? The structure is simple: Can + subject + base form of the verb. For example, Can he play [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":272872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Can \/ can't for ability","langcom_cefr":"A1","langcom_type":"grammar","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"What is the difference between 'can' and 'can't'?\", \"a\": \"<span data-no-translation>Can<\/span> means you have the ability to do something. <span data-no-translation>Can't<\/span> (or <span data-no-translation>cannot<\/span>) means you do not have the ability to do something. For example, <span data-no-translation>I can swim<\/span> but <span data-no-translation>I can't fly.<\/span>\"}, {\"q\": \"Do I need to change the verb after 'can'?\", \"a\": \"No, you always use the base form of the verb after <span data-no-translation>can<\/span>. You do not add <span data-no-translation>-s<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>-ed<\/span>, or <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>. For example, <span data-no-translation>Can she sing?<\/span> (not <span data-no-translation>sings<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>singing<\/span>).\"}, {\"q\": \"Can I use 'can' for other things besides ability?\", \"a\": \"Yes, <span data-no-translation>can<\/span> also expresses possibility or permission, but for A1 level, we focus on ability. For example, <span data-no-translation>Can I go to the party?<\/span> (permission) or <span data-no-translation>It can be cold in winter.<\/span> (possibility).\"}]","rank_math_title":"A1 English: Ask About Ability with 'Can' Questions","rank_math_description":"Learn how to ask 'Can' questions in English to talk about abilities. This A1 guide explains the simple structure and common answers for daily conversations.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"can questions ability","rank_math_canonical_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[604],"tags":[763,651],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-272767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a1-beginner-english","tag-can-questions","tag-grammar"],"dsm_author":{"name":"Ra\u00fal","avatar_url":"https:\/\/cdn.langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/05230819\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.us\/fr\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"A1 Beginner 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