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Can and Can't (ability) – Test 1

A1 Beginner GrammarEnglish

This A1 grammar test practises can and can't to talk about ability. It covers affirmative and negative sentences, questions, short answers and word order, and ends with a short reading text. It is for beginner learners and their teachers.

Questions
30
Time
25 min
PDF
4 pages
Answer key
Included
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Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) for each question. Choose your answers, then press “Check my answers”.

Part 1: Affirmative and negative sentences

Choose the correct word or sentence.

  1. My sister _____ swim. She is a good swimmer.

  2. Tom _____ drive. He is only ten.

  3. I can _____ the guitar.

  4. Choose the correct sentence.

  5. Birds can fly, but fish _____.

  6. We _____ cook. We always eat at a restaurant.

  7. Find the mistake: My brother can to ride a bike very well.

  8. Ana is only two months old. She _____ walk.

  9. I can sing, _____ I can't dance.

  10. Choose the correct negative of "He can read."

Part 2: Questions and short answers

Choose the correct question, answer or word.

  1. _____ you speak Spanish?

  2. "Can your dad cook?" "Yes, he _____."

  3. "Can you ski?" "No, I _____."

  4. Choose the correct question.

  5. "What _____ you do?" "I can draw and paint."

  6. "Can they come to the party?" "No, they _____."

  7. Put the words in order: the piano / can / play / your friend / ?

  8. "Can Lucy and Omar speak Chinese?" "Yes, _____ can."

  9. Find the mistake: Can your cat climbs trees?

  10. Choose the correct response: "Can you ride a horse?"

Part 3: Reading and review

Read the text. Then choose the correct answer.

My name is Kenji. I am twelve years old. I can do many things, but I can't do everything! I can swim very well, and I can run fast. I can't play football, but I can play basketball.

My best friend is Maria. She can speak three languages: English, Spanish and Italian. I can only speak English and a little Japanese. Maria can't swim, so on Saturdays I help her at the swimming pool.

My little brother, Leo, is four. He can't read or write, but he can count to twenty. My grandmother is seventy, and she can use a computer! She can't ride a bike, but she can drive a car.

  1. Kenji _____ play football.

  2. Can Maria swim?

  3. How many languages can Maria speak?

  4. Leo can _____.

  5. Which sentence is true?

  6. What can Kenji do?

  7. My grandmother is seventy, and she _____ a computer.

  8. Which sentence means the same as "Leo is not able to read"?

  9. I _____ hear you. The music is very loud!

  10. Choose the correct sentence.

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About this test

This A1 grammar test practises can and can't to talk about ability. It covers affirmative and negative sentences, questions, short answers and word order, and ends with a short reading text. It is for beginner learners and their teachers.

Topics covered

can for abilitycan't (negative)Questions with canShort answersWord orderCommon errors

How to use this test

  1. Download the PDF and print it, or take the test online below.
  2. Answer every question without a dictionary or time pressure.
  3. Check your answers and note the topics you need to review.

Notes for teachers

Use this test after introducing can/can't for ability, or as a quick review. It targets typical A1 errors: adding -s to can or the main verb (cans, can speaks), using to after can, and using do/does with can (don't can, Does she can...?). As a follow-up, ask students to write five sentences about what they and a friend can and can't do, then interview each other with Can you...? questions.