Abilities

Lead-in

  • Talk about how much you like these activities using the models given.

Example: I love skating!

  • I love …
  • I really like  …
  • I think … is ok.
  • I don’t really like …
  • I hate …

Example: I think singing is great!

  • I think … is great.
  • In my opinion, … is really nice.
  • … is OK.
  • Maybe … is not very cool.
  • Certainly, … is very bad.

Presentation

Pre

  • What sports do you like?
  • Do you know about any famous athletes?

Top Down

  • What does Jane Smith do? Read the text and find out.
  • She surfs.
  • She skates.
  • She cooks.
  • She cleans.
  • She does Judo.
  • She teaches.
  • She makes cakes.
  • She does yoga.
  • She surfs.
  • She skates.
  • She cooks.
  • She cleans.
  • She does Judo.
  • She teaches.
  • She makes cakes.
  • She does yoga.

Jane Smith is a 20-year-old professional surfer. She can surf big waves and do tricks in the water. She can also swim very fast. She just loves being in the water. Some say she is part fish, that’s funny!

When she is not surfing or swimming, she is in the kitchen. She can’t drink milk because she is lactose intolerant and she doesn’t eat meat but she can cook delicious vegetarian and vegan meals.

In her free time, she likes to volunteer and teach children to cook without using animal products. She loves animals and feels like she can make a difference in the world.

How can you contribute to make the world a better place?

Bottom Up

  • Read the text again and list her abilities.
  • What can she do?
  • What can’t she do? Why not?
  • What can she do? She can surf, cook and teach.
  • What can’t she do? Why not? She can’t drink milk because she is lactose-intolerant.

Post

  • What do you think of volunteering? Is it a good idea?
  • Do you volunteer?
  • Do you know people who volunteer?
  • What do you think about teaching children to cook without animal products?

Target Language

Affirmative

Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Verb

  • I can cook.
  • You can drive.
  • He can work.
  • They can dance.

Negative

Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT +  Verb

  • I cannot cook.
  • You can not drive.
  • He can‘t work.
  • They can‘t dance.

By the way: CAN + NOT = CANNOT or CAN’T

Interrogative

Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb

  • Can I cook?
  • Can you drive?
  • Can he work?
  • Can they dance?

Short Answers

  • Yes, ___ can.
  • No, ___ can‘t.

Controlled Practice

  • What can you do?
  • I can … / I can’t …
  • Can you _____?
  • Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.

Freer Practice

Model

  • How well can you ____?
  • I can ____

Affirmative

  • very well
  • well
  • fairly well

Negative

  • well
  • very well
  • at all

Examples

  • I can dance fairly well. I am still a beginner.
  • I can’t sing very well. I only sing in the shower.
  • I can’t play the piano at all. I have no musical talent.

Production

  • Write down 5 abilities you have and talk about them.

Homework

Look at the pictures and write down the abilities. There is one example.

Complete the sentences. Use can or can’t and the following verbs: ride | cook | walk | sing.

Example: I don’t know how to ____. I’m no good in the kitchen. > cook

  1. ____ your husband ____?
  2. Yes, he ____. French food is his specialty
  3. Peter ____ ____ a bike. That’s how he goes to school.
  4. Jane ____ ____. Even the cat complains!
  5. The baby ____ ____ yet. She’s only eight months old and her muscles are not strong enough.
  1. Can your husband cook?
  2. Yes, he can. French food is his specialty
  3. Peter can ride a bike. That’s how he goes to school.
  4. Jane can’t sing. Even the cat complains!
  5. The baby can’t walk yet. She’s only eight months old and her muscles are not strong enough.

Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

Example: I / you / can / help > I can help you.

  1. ride / can / a / I / bike
  2. piano / the / can / play / you
  3. sing / can’t / they / rock
  4. children / dance / my / can
  5. that! / can’t / do / you
  1. I can ride a bike.
  2. You can play the piano.
  3. They can’t sing rock.
  4. My children can dance.
  5. You can’t do that!

Change the sentences into affirmative, negative or interrogative.

Example: Can we go? (+) > We can go.

  1. Maria can sing like a pro. (?)
  2. Luke and I can’t dance. (+)
  3. Can Dave speak Italian? (-)
  4. Jane and John can’t sing opera. (?)
  5. We can talk. (?)
  1. Can Maria sing like a pro?
  2. Luke and I can dance.
  3. Dave can’t speak Italian.
  4. Can Jane and John sing opera?
  5. Can we talk?

Correct the sentences that are wrong.

Example: Do you can go with me? > Can you go with me?

  1. I’m can play basket ball very well.
  2. Can she run fast?
  3. They can’t sing for their lives!
  4. John can to swim.
  5. You can play the piano?
  1. I can play basket ball very well.
  2. Can she run fast?
  3. They can’t sing for their lives!
  4. John can swim.
  5. Can you play the piano?

Writing

Write a post for social media about your abilities.

Example: I can cook very well.