Grammar Lesson Auxiliary Verbs

Instructor: Lauren Mosca Date: November 11, 2011

Lesson Plan

Objectives: After this lesson, students will be able to: 1. Talk about the differences between can,

could and be able to. 2. Correctly use can, could, and be able to, in

their own sentences.

Lesson Introduction

Warm-Up

GAME!

Review Objectives

Reflection

Procedure

Let’s think about the difference between: “can you help me?” & “could you help me?”

Thinking

Warm up

Introduction-

Can is a model of auxiliary verb. We can use can to:

• Talk about possibility and ability • Make requests • Ask for or give permission

Can

Structure of can Subject + can + main verb

Can is invariable. There is only one form of can.

The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

subject auxiliary verb

  main verb

+ I can play baseball.

- He cannot play baseball. can't

? Can you play baseball?

Possibility &

ability

• Can I smoke in this room? • You can't smoke here, but you can smoke in the garden.

• Can you put the TV on? • Can you come here a minute? • Can you be quiet!?

• Nancy can drive a car.

• Can you hear me?

•  Talk about past possibility and ability

• Make formal requests Could

subject + could + main verb subject auxiliary verb main verb

+ My grandfather

could swim.

- My grandmother could not

swim. couldn't

? Could your grandmother swim?

Could is invariable. There is only one form of could.

The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

Past Possibility &

Ability  I could swim when I was 5 years old.  When She arrived home, she could not open the door.  Could you understand what he was saying?.

Request

Use of could

 Could you tell me where the bank is, please?

 Could you please close the window?

General

+ My grandmother could speak Spanish.

A man fell into the river yesterday. The police were able to save him.

- My grandmother couldn't speak Spanish.

A man fell into the river yesterday. The police couldn't save him.

Be able to •  Talk about ability subject + be + able + infinitive

subject

be Main

verb Able adjective Infinitive

+ I am able to drive.

- She is not able to drive.

isn't

? Are you able to drive?

Use of Be able to

Tense Example

Past I was able to drive.

Future simple You will be able to speak perfect English very soon.

Present perfect I have been able to swim since I was five.

Infinitive I would like to be able to fly an airplane.

Let’s Practice!

1.  I’m sorry but we can’t come to your party tomorrow. 2.  I like this restaurant- you _________ extra desserts for free! 3.  The music is too loud! I __________ your voice clearly. 4.  Have you seen my notebook? I ________ it. 5.  Miranda has a job at foreign trade company because she

_________ English very well. 11.  I went to bed very early yesterday, but I _______ __________. 7. Benjamin ____________ to the party because he had a cold.

Come go order hear find speak fall asleep

can order can’t hear

can’t find

can speak wasn’t able

couldn’t go

Complete these sentences using can /can’t/ could/ couldn’t/ be able+ one of these verbs:

to fall asleep