pouvoir/savoir – exercises

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Exercises

Choose the correct option.

  1. Mon petit frère ne pas encore faire du vélo.[My little brother still can’t ride a bike.]|Use savoir to refer to abilities that are learned.
  2. Est-ce que tu m’aider à faire la vaisselle ?[Can you help me with the washing up?]|Use pouvoir to talk about abilities that are situation dependent or related to physical or mental qualities.
  3. Une fourmi porter jusqu’à 60 fois son poids ![An ant can carry up to 60 times its own body weight.]|Use pouvoir to talk about abilities that are situation dependent or related to physical or mental qualities.
  4. Grâce à ma grand-mère, je tricoter.[Thanks to my grandma, I know how to knit.]|Use savoir to refer to abilities that are learned.
  5. Nous ne pas aller par là, c’est un sens interdit.[We can’t go over there, it’s forbidden.]|Pouvoir also expresses the idea of permission. In negative sentences, it expresses that something is not allowed.

Complete the sentences by conjugating savoir or pouvoir in présent.

  1. Beaucoup de jeunes français   parler anglais.[Lots of young French people can speak English.]|Use savoir to refer to abilities that are learned.
  2. Olivier   reconnaître les étoiles et les constellations dans le ciel.[Olivier knows how to recognise the stars and constellations in the sky.]|Use savoir to refer to abilities that are learned.
  3. Tiphaine a le vertige, elle ne   pas monter en haut de la Tour Eiffel.[Tiphaine is afraid of heights, she can’t go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower.]|Use pouvoir to talk about abilities that are related to physical or mental qualities.
  4. Maman, est-ce que je   t’emprunter ton collier ?[Maman, can I borrow your necklace?]|In negatives and questions pouvoir can also express permission.
  5. Chloé   jouer de l’accordéon.[Chloé can play the accordion.]|Use savoir to talk about abilities that are learned.