“Can” – 23 Common Grammar Topics in the Cambridge Starters Exam
The verb “can” is a special word we use to talk about abilities, give offer/help someone or to ask for permission. We use “can” to say what we are able to do. For example, “I can swim” means you know how to swim. When you want to be helpful, you can say, “Can I help you?” or “Can I carry your bag?” This shows that you are offering to do something for someone. It’s a friendly way to show that you care. You can also use polite words like “please” to sound nicer, like “Can I get you some water, please?” Using “can” in this way makes your offer sound kind and thoughtful! “Can” is also used to ask for permission. For example, “Can I play outside?” means you are asking if it’s okay to play outside. We can say “please” to be polite, like “Can I use your pencil, please?” Remember, “can” is used for things we can do now, not in the future.
1. Using “Can” to Express Ability – Cách sử dụng “Can” để thể hiện khả năng
“Can” is a common modal verb used to express someone’s ability to do something. It doesn’t change its form for tense or subject (whether singular or plural).
🔖Structure:
(+) Affirmative: Subject + can + base verb
🏊 She can swim very fast.
🎸 He can play the guitar.
📖 I can read this book in English.
🍳 They can cook delicious meals.
🚴 We can ride bikes in the park.
(-) Negative: Subject + cannot (can’t) + base verb
🚫 He can’t run quickly.
❌ They can’t speak English fluently.
🛑 I can’t finish the homework easily.
⚠️ She can’t sing beautifully.
⛔ We can’t solve the problem properly.
(?) Question: Can + subject + base verb?
🌟 Can you swim fast?
🎤 Can she sing beautifully?
🏃♂️ Can they run quickly?
📚 Can we study quietly?
🚗 Can he drive safely?
🔖 Notes:
✔️ “Can” doesn’t have different forms like regular verbs (no “canned” or “cans”).
✔️ It expresses ability in the present, not the future.
🌟 She can dance very well. (She has the ability to dance well now.)
🏊♂️ He can swim across the lake. (He is currently able to swim across the lake.)
🖋️ I can write in English and Spanish. (I have the ability to write in both languages now.)
2. Using “Can” to Make Offers or Ask Permission
When “can” is used to make offers or ask for permission, it is polite but less formal than “may.”
Khi “can” được dùng để đưa ra lời đề nghị hoặc xin phép, nó mang tính chất lịch sự, nhưng không quá trang trọng như “may.”
🔖Structure:
📌Make Offer/Ask for permission: Can + subject + base verb?
➡️Make Offer
☕ Can I get you a cup of coffee? (Offering to bring someone coffee.)
🛠️ Can I help you fix that? (Offering assistance with fixing something.)
📝 Can I write that down for you? (Offering to write something for someone.)
🚗 Can I give you a ride to the station? (Offering to drive someone to the station.)
🍽️ Can I serve you more food? (Offering to serve more food.)
➡️Ask for permission/Make a request
🧂 Can you pass me the salt, please? (Politely asking for the salt.)
🙋♂️ Excuse me, can I leave early?
📞 Can I use your phone, if you don’t mind?
🍽️ Can we sit here, if it’s okay with you?
✏️ Can I borrow your pen, would it be alright?
🎮 Can we play video games now, if possible?
📌Give permission/Denying permission: Subject + can/annot (can’t) + base verb
➡️Give permission
🍽️ Yes, you can have the salt, here you go.
✅ Yes, you can leave early, please take care.
📞 You can use my phone, feel free.
🍽️ Sure, you can sit here, please make yourself comfortable.
✏️ You can borrow my pen, no problem.
🎮 Yes, you can play video games now, just don’t stay up too late.
➡️Denying permission
🚫 I’m sorry, but you can’t leave early today.
📞 Sorry, you can’t use my phone right now. Maybe later.
🍽️ Unfortunately, you can’t sit here, this table is reserved.
✏️ I’m afraid you can’t borrow my pen today, I need it.
🎮 Sorry, you can’t play video games right now. You need to finish your homework first.
🔖Notes:
📌 When asking for permission using “can,” it’s important to use the right tone to avoid sounding too demanding.
📌 “Can” in this context is informal, suitable for friendly situations.
3. Polite words
Besides “please,” there are many other words and phrases that can be used to express politeness with CAN when asking for permission or making a offer, including: Ngoài “please”, có nhiều từ và cụm từ khác có thể được dùng để thể hiện tính lịch sự trong câu với CAN khi xin phép hoặc yêu cầu, bao gồm:
📌 Excuse me (dùng để mở đầu câu xin phép)
🙋♂️ Excuse me, can I borrow your pen?(Xin lỗi, tôi có thể mượn bút của bạn không?)
🚶♀️ Excuse me, can I pass through here? (Xin lỗi, tôi có thể đi qua đây không?)
🍽️ Excuse me, can I have the menu, please? (Xin lỗi, tôi có thể xin thực đơn được không?)
🏫 Excuse me, can you tell me where the library is? (Xin lỗi, bạn có thể cho tôi biết thư viện ở đâu không?)
🙋♀️ Excuse me, can I ask you a question? (Xin lỗi, tôi có thể hỏi bạn một câu không?)
🛒 Excuse me, can I use this shopping cart? (Xin lỗi, tôi có thể sử dụng xe đẩy này không?)
📌 If you don’t mind
🖥️ Can I use your computer for a minute, if you don’t mind? (Tôi có thể dùng máy tính của bạn một lát nếu bạn không phiền không?)
☕ Can I have another cup of coffee, if you don’t mind? (Tôi có thể uống thêm một tách cà phê nữa nếu bạn không phiền không?)
🎒 Can I leave my bag here, if you don’t mind? (Tôi có thể để túi xách ở đây nếu bạn không phiền không?)
📄 Can I take a look at your notes, if you don’t mind? (Tôi có thể xem qua ghi chú của bạn nếu bạn không phiền không?)
🎧 Can I listen to music while working, if you don’t mind? (Tôi có thể nghe nhạc khi làm việc nếu bạn không phiền không?)
📌 If it’s okay with you
🍽️ Can I order for both of us, if it’s okay with you? (Tôi có thể gọi món cho cả hai chúng ta nếu bạn thấy ổn không?)
🚗 Can I drive your car, if it’s okay with you? (Tôi có thể lái xe của bạn nếu bạn thấy ổn không?)
🎬 Can we watch this movie, if it’s okay with you? (Chúng ta có thể xem bộ phim này nếu bạn thấy ổn không?)
📖 Can I change the topic, if it’s okay with you? (Tôi có thể thay đổi chủ đề nếu bạn thấy ổn không?)
📝 Can I submit my work tomorrow, if it’s okay with you? (Tôi có thể nộp bài vào ngày mai nếu bạn thấy ổn không?)
📌 Would it be alright if
📘 Can I borrow your book, would it be alright if I did today?
📅 Can I change the meeting time, would it be alright if we did it earlier? (Tôi có thể thay đổi giờ họp, có được không nếu chúng ta làm sớm hơn?)
🎂 Can I bring a friend to the party, would it be alright if I did? (Tôi có thể dẫn một người bạn đến bữa tiệc, có được không?)
🏠 Can I visit your house, would it be alright if I came this weekend? (Tôi có thể đến thăm nhà bạn, có được không nếu tôi đến vào cuối tuần này?)
📚 Can I join your study group, would it be alright if I joined next week? (Tôi có thể tham gia nhóm học của bạn, có được không nếu tôi tham gia vào tuần tới?)
🎥 Can I borrow your camera, would it be alright if I return it next Monday? (Tôi có thể mượn máy ảnh của bạn, có được không nếu tôi trả lại vào thứ Hai tới?)
📌 If possible
📅 Can we meet tomorrow, if possible? (Chúng ta có thể gặp nhau vào ngày mai, nếu có thể được không?)
🚗 Can you give me a ride home, if possible? (Bạn có thể cho tôi đi nhờ về nhà nếu có thể không?)
📧 Can you send me the report today, if possible? (Bạn có thể gửi cho tôi báo cáo hôm nay nếu có thể không?)
🎒 Can we finish our homework early, if possible? (Chúng ta có thể làm xong bài tập sớm nếu có thể không?)
🕒 Can we start the meeting at 3 PM, if possible? (Chúng ta có thể bắt đầu cuộc họp lúc 3 giờ chiều nếu có thể không?)
🛒 Can you buy some milk on the way home, if possible? (Bạn có thể mua sữa trên đường về nếu có thể không?)
