Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 27 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 6: Town and Places

What is the busiest street in the world?

Some streets are full of people, cars and shops. In this lesson you say what you can and can't do in a city. You use can and can't.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Busy streets

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is your street busy or quiet?
  2. Is there a lot of traffic near your home?
  3. Can you walk to a shop from your home?
  4. Can you park your car near your home?
  5. Do you like busy streets?
  6. What can you buy in your street?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say one sentence with the word.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. On Saturday many people go shopping, so the street is .
  2. A large group of people in one place is a .
  3. People walk on the next to the road.
  4. A lot of cars and buses on the road is called .
  5. A car with a driver that you pay to take you somewhere is a .
  6. You can't your car here.
  7. A on the road shows information, for example "No parking".
  8. People use a to cross the road safely.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a crowd is a large group of
  2. a pavement is for
  3. traffic means cars, buses and
  4. a taxi has got a
  5. a sign shows
  6. a tourist is a person on
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to say what you can and can't do.

  • You can...Можна... / Ти можеш...You can walk here.
  • You can't...Не можна...You can't park here.
  • Can I...?Можна мені...?Can I take a photo?
  • Yes, you can.Так, можна.Can I sit here? Yes, you can.
  • No, you can't.Ні, не можна.Can I park here? No, you can't.
  • Can you help me?Ти можеш мені допомогти?Can you help me, please?
  • I can't hear you.Я не чую тебе.It is noisy. I can't hear you.
  • You can buy...Можна купити...You can buy a coffee here.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Busy streets

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What is the busiest street in the world?

What is the busiest street in the world? Nobody knows for sure, because it depends on what you count: people, cars or shops. But some places are very famous for being busy.

One example is Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. At this crossing, all the traffic lights turn red at the same time, and then a very big crowd of people walks across from every side. Sometimes hundreds of people cross at the same time. Tourists often stand and take photos. You can watch it from a shop or a café above the street.

Another example is Oxford Street in London. It is often called one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe. You can find a lot of shops there, but the pavement is often full of people, and cars can't drive fast.

In a busy street, you can't always hear a friend, and you can't always park a car. But you can take a taxi, use a crossing, or walk on the pavement. Many people like busy streets, but other people prefer a quiet street.

What can you do in your street?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Nobody knows exactly which street is the busiest.
  2. At Shibuya Crossing, all traffic lights turn red at the same time.
  3. Oxford Street is in Paris.
  4. You can always park a car in a busy street.
  5. Every person likes busy streets.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is a busy street fun or tiring?
  2. Do you want to see Shibuya Crossing?
  3. Is it better to live in a busy street or a quiet one?
  4. What can't you do in a busy street?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Can and can't

Can means it is possible or allowed. Use can / can't + the base verb for all persons. Do not add -s and do not use to.

I can walk here. She can park here. You can't park here. We can't hear. They can't cross.

Questions with can

Put can before the person. Short answers: Yes, I can. / No, I can't. Use Can I...? to ask permission and Can you...? to ask for help.

Can I take a photo? Yes, you can. Can you help me? Yes, I can. Can she walk? No, she can't. Where can I park?

Block 6 review

Use the grammar from this block.

directions and imperatives (L26)

Common mistakes: after can / can't use the base verb, with no -s and no to. ✗ She cans walk here → She can walk here. ✗ You can to park here → You can park here. ✗ Can I to take a photo? → Can I take a photo?

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. She
    walk here.
  2. You
    park here.
  3. I take a photo?
  4. We can
    here.
  5. They
    hear.
  6. you help me?
  7. Where
    I park?
  8. He can't
    here.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. She cans walk here. →
  2. You can to park here. →
  3. Can I to take a photo? →
  4. He can't parks here. →
  5. Do I can cross? →
  6. We can not to go in. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use can and can't.

  1. Can you walk to a shop from your home?
  2. Can you park near your home?
  3. What can you buy in your street?
  4. What can't you do in your street?
  5. Can you speak English fast?
  6. Where can tourists take photos in your city?
5

Three people in a busy street, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people in a busy street

Three people are in a busy street. Compare them. Who can't hear? Who can buy a coffee? What can you do in your street?

Person 1

Yuki, 25

  • Is from Tokyo
  • Crosses at Shibuya Crossing
  • Can't hear her friend
  • Takes a photo
Person 2

Tom, 40

  • Is a tourist in London
  • Walks on Oxford Street
  • Can buy a coffee
  • Can't park his car
Person 3

Lena, 50

  • Lives in a quiet street
  • Can hear the birds
  • Can walk to the shop
  • Doesn't like traffic
5.2

Mini-talk: what you can and can't do

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say what you can do in your street.
  3. Part 2: say what you can't do there.
  4. Part 3: ask your teacher two questions with Can...?
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Is your street busy?
  2. Can you walk to a shop from your home?
  3. Can you park near your home?
  4. What can you buy near your home?
  5. What can't you do in your street?
  6. Is there a lot of traffic?
  7. Can you hear cars at night?
  8. Do you take a taxi?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family can drive a car?
  2. Who can park well?
  3. Who can't park well?
  4. Who can speak English?
  5. Who can cook well?
  6. Who can walk fast?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is a busy street fun?
  2. Are taxis better than buses?
  3. Should cars drive in the centre of a city?
  4. Can tourists be a problem in a city?
  5. Is it better to live in a quiet place?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Asking permission

You

Visitor

You are in a museum (your teacher is a guard):
  • ask if you can take a photo
  • ask if you can sit here
  • ask where you can buy a ticket
  • say thank you
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use Can I...?
Your teacher

Guard

Says things like:
  1. No, you can't.
  2. Yes, you can.
  3. You can buy it there.
  4. You are welcome.
7.2

Talking about my street

You

Speaker

A visitor (your teacher) asks about your street:
  • say what you can buy
  • say what you can do
  • say what you can't do
  • ask the visitor a question with can
You do most of the talking. Use: You can... · You can't... · Can you...?
Your teacher

Visitor

Says things like:
  1. What can I buy here?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Can I park here?
  4. Yes, I can.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

busycrowdpavementtraffictaxiparksigncrossing
  1. On Saturday many people go shopping, so the street is .
  2. A large group of people in one place is a .
  3. People walk on the next to the road.
  4. A lot of cars and buses on the road is called .
  5. A car with a driver that you pay to take you somewhere is a .
  6. You can't your car here.
  7. A on the road shows information, for example "No parking".
  8. People use a to cross the road safely.
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. She walk here.
  2. You park here.
  3. I take a photo?
  4. We can now.
  5. They hear.
  6. you help me?
  7. Where I park?
  8. He can't here.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. She can walk here.
  2. She cans walk here.
  3. You can't park here.
  4. You can to park here.
  5. Can I take a photo?
  6. Can I to take a photo?
  7. He can't park here.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. You can
  2. You can't
  3. Can I
  4. Yes,
  5. No,
  6. Can you
  7. I can't

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.