Your taskFill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.cancouldn'tcan'tCancan'tcouldcan'tcouldn'tCouldcancouldcouldn'tcancan'tcouldn't0 / 15 answeredYour score0 / 150%Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.1My brother play the piano really well — he practises every day.Correct answer: can▸ Why?"Can" expresses present ability. "Could" would shift meaning to past ability or polite possibility.2I swim when I was five, but now I can.Correct answer: couldn't▸ Why?"Couldn't" expresses past inability. "Can't" would wrongly describe present, contradicting "now I can".3She drive yet — she's only fourteen years old.Correct answer: can't▸ Why?"Can't" (or "cannot") shows present inability. Age makes it clear this is a current limitation.4 you help me carry these bags, please?Correct answer: Can▸ Why?"Can" asks about present ability/willingness. "Could" is also possible but the A2 form expected here is "Can".5They lift that box — it weighs over 100 kg!Correct answer: can't▸ Why?"Can't" states present inability. "Couldn't" would make this past, but no past context exists.6He run very fast when he was young — he won every school race.Correct answer: could▸ Why?"Could" expresses past ability. "Can" is wrong because "when he was young" places the action in the past.7We hear you — please speak a little louder!Correct answer: can't▸ Why?"Can't" shows present inability to hear. "Couldn't" would be past, inconsistent with the present imperative "speak".8I speak French before I moved to Paris, but now I'm fluent.Correct answer: couldn't▸ Why?"Couldn't" correctly marks past inability, contrasted with present fluency. "Can't" contradicts the current result.9 your grandfather speak any other languages when he was alive?Correct answer: Could▸ Why?"Could" asks about a past general ability. "Can" asks about the present, but the person is no longer alive.10The baby walk already — she's only nine months old!Correct answer: can▸ Why?"Can" expresses a present ability that surprises the speaker. The exclamation confirms this is happening now.11She speak three languages by the time she was twelve.Correct answer: could▸ Why?"Could" describes a past general ability acquired by a point in time. "Can" would shift to the present.12They believe what they saw — the magician's trick was incredible.Correct answer: couldn't▸ Why?"Couldn't believe" is a fixed expression of surprise; "can't believe" works in present narration but "couldn't" anchors the past story.13My dog open the fridge door — he's very clever!Correct answer: can▸ Why?"Can" shows a current, surprising ability. "Could" here would suggest past or hypothetical rather than a real present fact.14We finish the whole project by tomorrow — we need at least two more days.Correct answer: can't▸ Why?"Can't" states present inability/impossibility. "Couldn't" here would read as past or conditional, losing the strong present statement.15Before smartphones, people get real-time directions from their phones.Correct answer: couldn't▸ Why?"Couldn't" expresses past inability; the time marker "before smartphones" makes clear this is historical.Check AnswersPlease answer at least one question first.Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.