Can means a putea. It is a special verb (a "modal verb") — and it comes with wonderful news: it never changes. No -s for he/she/it, no do/does in questions. One form for everyone.
| Subject | Verb | Example | Romanian |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | can | I can swim. | Eu pot să înot. |
| You | can | You can cook. | Tu poți să gătești. |
| He / She / It | can | She can drive. | Ea poate să conducă. |
| We | can | We can help. | Noi putem să ajutăm. |
| They | can | They can sing. | Ei pot să cânte. |
💡 The Golden Rule
After can, the verb is always in its base form — no to, no -s, no -ing.
✅ She can swim.
❌ She can swims. ❌ She can to swim. ❌ She can swimming.
Three Uses of Can
"I can play the guitar."
"She can speak English."
"You can park here."
"You can't smoke in the hotel."
"Can you help me?"
"Can you open the window?"
Negative & Questions
| Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I can drive. | I can't drive. | Can I drive? |
| She can come. | She can't come. | Can she come? |
| They can wait. | They can't wait. | Can they wait? |
Can't is short for cannot (one word!). In writing, both are correct; in speaking, everyone says can't.
✏️ Practice – Can or Can't? Use logic!
Fill in can or can't. Think about what is really possible.
✏️ Practice – Choose the correct sentence
Click the sentence that is grammatically correct.
In fast speech, can /kən/ is weak and quick, but can't /kɑːnt/ is strong and long. Click ▶ Play, listen carefully, then click what you hear. You can listen as many times as you want.
✏️ Dictation – Type what you hear
Play each sentence and type it exactly. Small differences in punctuation are OK.
How often do you do something? These six little words answer that question. Click any word to hear it. 🔊
Where does the adverb go?
"I never eat fish."
adverb + verb
"They are usually at home."
am / is / are + adverb
💡 One Negative Is Enough
In Romanian you say "Nu întârzii niciodată" — two negative words. In English, never is already negative, so the verb stays positive:
✅ "I am never late." ❌ "I am not never late."
✅ "She never eats meat." ❌ "She doesn't never eat meat."
✏️ Practice – Build the sentence
Click the words in the correct order. Click a placed word to remove it. Watch the adverb position!
To ask about frequency, use How often…? (Cât de des…?)
| Question | Answer | Romanian |
|---|---|---|
| How often do you exercise? | I sometimes exercise. | Uneori fac sport. |
| How often is he late? | He is never late. | El nu întârzie niciodată. |
| How often do they travel? | They travel twice a year. | Ei călătoresc de două ori pe an. |
✏️ Practice – Translate the adverb
🎲 My Week – Answer honestly!
Choose an adverb for each activity. English sentences about you appear below — then click 🔊 to hear yourself described!
Do you remember Ana, the teacher from Cluj-Napoca? Her family is full of talent. Ana can play the piano very well. She usually practises in the evening, after work. Her neighbours never complain — they say the music is beautiful!
Her brother Radu can fix almost anything: bicycles, computers, even washing machines. But he can't cook at all. His kitchen is always clean because he never uses it! He often eats at Ana's flat.
Their mother in Sibiu can cook wonderful traditional food. She always makes sarmale in December. Their father can speak three languages: Romanian, German, and a little English. He is rarely at home in summer — he loves fishing at the lake.
And Mici, the orange cat? She can't open the fridge — but she can open every door in the flat. She is sometimes naughty, but Ana can't be angry with her. Cats are always forgiven.
Comprehension Questions – Answer in English
2. Radu can fix bicycles, computers, and washing machines. He can't cook.
3. Because he never uses it — he often eats at Ana's flat.
4. He can speak three languages: Romanian, German, and a little English.
5. Mici can open every door in the flat, but she can't open the fridge.
Translation – English → Romanian
Translate each sentence. Careful with adverb position and with can + base verb (no "to"!).
2. He can't come today. / He cannot come today.
3. Can you help me?
4. She is always late.
5. We often go to the mountains.
6. They never eat meat.
7. I usually drink coffee in the morning.
Topic: What can you do? How often do you do things?
Write at least 80 words about your abilities and your weekly habits. The checklist below ticks itself as you write — try to turn everything green!
Lesson Complete!
Here is your final score for the graded exercises:
correct answers