Elementary Unit 5
Elementary · Grammar Reference
Unit 5 — can · was/were · could
can/can't · was/were · could/couldn't
5.1   can / can't

Can and can't have the same form in all persons.

There is no do or does.

Can is followed by the infinitive (without to).

She can swim.He can't dance.   NOT   He doesn't can dance.
5.2   was / were

Was / Were is the past of am / is / are.

Positive
Subject
I / He / She / Itwasin Paris yesterday.
We / You / Theywerein England last year.
Negative
Subject
I / He / She / Itwasn'tat school yesterday.
We / You / Theyweren'tat the party last night.
Question
Where were you yesterday?Was he at school?   Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't.
📌 Note
We use was/were with born, not am/is/are.
Where were you born? NOT Where are you born?
5.3   could / couldn't

Could is the past of can.

Could and couldn't have the same form in all persons.

Could is followed by the infinitive (without to).

Positive
Subject
I / He / She / It / We / You / Theycouldswim.
Negative
Subject
I / He / She / It / We / You / Theycouldn'tdance.
📌 Note
NOT  He didn't could dance.
Question
Q. wordAuxiliarySubjectVerb
WhatcouldI / he/she/it / we/you/theydo?
Yes / No questions and short answers
To beSubjectShort answers
Couldyou / she / they / etc.drive? / cook?Yes, she could. / Yes, they could. / No, we couldn't.
📌 Note
NOT  Do you could drive?