Lesson 16: Skills and Abilities

Hello everyone! Welcome to our English lesson. Today, we’re diving into how to use ‘can’ and ‘could’. We’ll learn to express present and past abilities, ask for permission, and make polite requests. Let’s begin!

First, let’s talk about ‘can’. We use ‘can’ to express present abilities, things you are able to do right now. For example, ‘I can swim.’ This means I have the ability to swim today. It’s a current skill. Another example: ‘She can speak English.’ This indicates her current language proficiency. So, ‘can’ is for what you are capable of doing in the present.

Now, let’s move to ‘could’. ‘Could’ is the past form of ‘can’. We use it for abilities you had in the past. For instance, ‘When I was a child, I could ride a bike.’ This means you had the ability then, but maybe not now. It highlights a skill that existed at a specific time in the past.

Next, ‘can’ is also used for asking permission, especially in informal situations with friends or family. You might say, ‘Can I go to the bathroom?’ or, ‘Can we start now?’ Remember, ‘can’ for permission is best suited for informal settings.

Finally, ‘could’ is excellent for making polite requests, especially in professional or formal situations. You might say, ‘Could you help me with this report?’ This sounds much more respectful than ‘Can you help?’. Or, ‘Could I speak to the manager, please?’ ‘Could’ adds a layer of politeness and formality.

Now it’s your turn! Try making your own sentences. Think about what you can do and what you could do. Can you think of a skill you have right now? And could you recall something you were able to do as a child?

To recap: ‘Can’ for present ability and informal permission. ‘Could’ for past ability and polite requests. Great job! Thank you for joining today’s lesson! See you next time! ”