Two Nights by the Lake (can, could)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Two Nights by the Lake

Can I…? Could you…?

A2 · 60 minutes

Pack for the lake

Task A weekend by a lake. Your bag is small: choose five things. Then compare with a partner and agree on one bag.

a torch

a swimsuit

a hairdryer

a book

a phone charger

a warm jumper

playing cards

insect spray

a pillow

sunglasses

Before you read

Task At this campsite, is it OK or not OK? Guess. Then compare with a partner.

1

bring your dog

OK

not OK

2

drive in at 11 p.m.

OK

not OK

3

take your dog into the café

OK

not OK

4

pay by card

OK

not OK

5

the campsite picks you up at the station

OK

not OK

6

an 11-year-old swims in the lake alone

OK

not OK

The campsite page

Task Read the campsite's questions and answers and three messages to the host, Ilse. Check your guesses.

A small lakeside campsite with tents and three guest rooms.

Questions and answers

Messages

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, you can, but dogs can't come into the café.

Yusuf I tried to book on your website, but I couldn't choose the dates. Could you book two nights for us, please? Friday and Saturday, one tent. And can I pay by card?

Ilse: Of course! And yes, you can pay at reception.

Can you pick us up from the station?

Yes, we can, for a small fee.

Camille We stayed with you two years ago. My son couldn't swim then, but he can swim well now. He's eleven. Can he use the lake without an adult?

Ilse: Sorry, children under 14 can't swim without an adult.

Camille, later Thanks! Last time we could see the stars from our tent! This time we're in a guest room. Could I check in early, at 11?

Can we arrive after 10 p.m.?

Sorry, you can't drive in after 10, but you can park at the gate.

Ilse: Yes, you can, if the room is ready.

Talk about it

Task In pairs. Answer the questions, then tell the class.

1

Why did Yusuf write to Ilse?

2

Camille's son is eleven. What does Ilse say about the lake?

3

Where did Camille sleep last time? And this time?

A tent under the stars or a room with a bed: which do you choose? Why?

4

Three jobs

Task In pairs. Put each sentence from the text in the right box.

I know how

Is it OK?

Please do it for me

I can cook.

Can I sit here?

You can't park here.

Can you help me?

A. Could you book two nights for us?

B. Children under 14 can't swim without an adult.

C. He can swim well now.

D. Can I bring my dog?

E. My son couldn't swim then.

F. Can you pick us up from the station?

Two coulds

Task Past or now? Put each sentence on the line.

the past

now or soon

before

now

Could I check in early, at 11?

I couldn't choose the dates.

Last time we could see the stars from our tent.

Could you book two nights for us, please?

Look again

Task Which is correct? Choose. Then we check in the text. Then choose the rules.

1

FAQ Can I __________ my dog?

to bring

bring

After can and could, the verb has… __________.

2

Yusuf And __________ by card?

no to

to

do I can pay

can I pay

3

Camille My son __________ swim two years ago.

couldn't

can't

In questions with can and could, we… __________.

4

Camille Could I check in early? Ilse: __________

use do

don't use do

Yes, you could.

Yes, you can.

Grammar reference

I know how: ability

Is it OK? Asking and saying

Please do it for me: requests

Now: can / can't. He can swim well now.

Past: could / couldn't. My son couldn't swim two years ago. (not can't swim two years ago, not didn't can swim)

Ask: Can I / Can we / Could I + verb? Could I check in early?

Say: You can… / You can't… You can park at the gate. Dogs can't come into the café.

Can you / Could you + verb (+ please)?

Could you book two nights for us, please?

Please give me a towel.

Could you give me a towel, please?

Form

Replies

can + verb

can / could + verb, the same for everyone: She can swim (not cans, not can to swim). Questions: no do: Can I pay by card? (not Do I can…?)

Could you…? – Of course. / Sure. / Sorry, I can't.

Could I…? – Yes, you can. / Sorry, you can't.

I can speak English (not I can English).

When you ask for something or ask if it's OK, could is a little more polite than can. Both are fine.

CAREFUL

Could you book…? (asking for help) is not past: it's about now. Could I…? – Yes, you can (not Yes, you could). can't is always strong.

Which reply?

Task At the campsite. Choose the best reply.

1

Yusuf Could you show us our place, please? Ilse: __________

Yes, I could.

Yes, you can.

Of course. Follow me.

2

Yusuf Could I leave the car here? Ilse: __________

Yes, you can.

Yes, you could.

Sure, I can.

Ilse Was it easy to find us? Yusuf: __________

3

No, we didn't can find the road.

No, we couldn't find the road at first.

No, we can't find the road.

4

Yusuf Can you help me with the tent? Ilse: __________

Sure, no problem.

Yes, you could.

Sorry, you can't.

5

Camille Can my son swim in the lake with me? Ilse: __________

No, he can't swim.

Yes, he could.

Yes, he can, if you're with him.

6

Ilse Could you swim when you were eleven, Camille? Camille: __________

Yes, I did.

Yes, I could.

Yes, I can.

Ask it nicely

Task Write the sentence again. Use the word in brackets. Use two to four words.

1

Please send me a map.

COULD

4

Is it OK if I check out at 12?

COULD

__________ a map, please?

__________ at 12?

2

My son didn't know how to ride a bike last year.

COULDN'T

5

It isn't OK to make a fire on the beach.

CAN'T

My son __________ a bike last year.

You __________ a fire on the beach.

3

Is it OK if we put our tent near the water?

CAN

6

I tried to open the gate, but it didn't open.

COULDN'T

__________ our tent near the water?

I tried, but I __________ the gate.

Call 1: the guest

Task Call 1. A is the guest: read your card and phone the campsite. B is the host and has a different card.

Guest · Call 1

You're coming by bus on Friday at 9 p.m. Two nights, in a tent.

Is it OK? play your guitar in the evening · make a fire · swim in the lake at night

Please do it for me: pick you up at the bus stop · give you a quiet place for your tent

Tell the host: at your last campsite, there was loud music until 2 a.m. You tried to sleep, but… no!

Call 2: the guest

Task Call 2. Change roles. B is the guest now: read your card and phone the campsite. A is the host and has a different card.

Guest · Call 2

You're coming by car on Saturday, with a friend and your dog. One night, in a guest room.

Is it OK? your dog sleeps in the room · check in at 10 a.m. · use the guest kitchen

Please do it for me: book a table at the café for dinner · send you a map

Tell the host: last year you came here at night. It was dark, and you didn't find the gate: you slept in the car!

Homework

Task A Camille writes to Ilse after the weekend. Write can, can't, could or couldn't in each gap.

Task B A guest wrote to a city hotel, and this is the hotel's reply. Write the guest's first message (40–60 words): four questions, and one problem at the guest's last hotel.

Camille

The hotel's reply

Hi Ilse, thank you for a lovely weekend! On Saturday morning it was very foggy, and we (1) __________ see the lake from our room. But in the evening the sky was clear, and we (2) __________ see the stars again. My son loved the lake. Two years ago he (3) __________ swim at all. Now he (4) __________ swim to the little island and back. But the rule is: children under 14 (5) __________ swim without an adult. So I always went in with him. One small problem: the Wi-Fi was slow, and I (6) __________ send my photos. (7) __________ you send me the recipe for your apple cake, please?

Thank you for your message! Yes, you can: our car park is behind the hotel, and it's free. Sorry, we can't: the kitchen opens at 7 a.m. Of course: a taxi will wait for you at the airport at 9 p.m. And yes, no problem: room 12 is very quiet, far from the street. We're sorry about your last hotel!

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key (1)

BEFORE YOU READ / THE CAMPSITE PAGE

1 OK (Yes, you can.)

2 not OK (You can't drive in after 10, but you can park at the gate.)

3 not OK (Dogs can't come into the café.)

4 OK (You can pay at reception.)

5 OK (Yes, for a small fee.)

6 not OK (Children under 14 can't swim without an adult.)

TALK ABOUT IT

1 He tried to book on the website, but he couldn't choose the dates. He wants Ilse to book two nights for him.

2 He can't swim in the lake without an adult: the rule is for children under 14.

3 Last time in a tent (they could see the stars); this time in a guest room.

4 Open.

THREE JOBS

I know how C (He can swim well now.), E (My son couldn't swim then.)

Is it OK? B (Children under 14 can't swim without an adult.), D (Can I bring my dog?)

Please do it for me A (Could you book two nights for us?), F (Can you pick us up from the station?)

TWO COULDS

The past I couldn't choose the dates. · Last time we could see the stars from our tent.

Now or soon Could I check in early, at 11? · Could you book two nights for us, please?

LOOK AGAIN

Which is correct? 1 bring; 2 can I pay; 3 couldn't; 4 Yes, you can.

The rules no to · don't use do

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key (2)

WHICH REPLY?

1 Of course. Follow me.

2 Yes, you can.

3 No, we couldn't find the road at first.

4 Sure, no problem.

5 Yes, he can, if you're with him.

6 Yes, I could.

HOMEWORK (A)

1 couldn't

2 could

3 couldn't

4 can

5 can't

6 couldn't

7 Can or Could (both are right)

HOMEWORK (B): A POSSIBLE MESSAGE

Hello! I'm arriving next Friday. Can I park my car at the hotel? Could you make breakfast for me at 6 a.m.? My plane arrives at 9 p.m.: could you send a taxi to the airport, please? And could you give me a quiet room? At my last hotel, I couldn't sleep because of the traffic. Thank you!

(Any four questions that fit the four answers are right; Can and Could are both fine in every question.)

ASK IT NICELY

1 Could you send me (a map, please?)

2 couldn't ride

3 Can we put

4 Could I check out

5 can't make

6 couldn't open