Skills: good at and the ing form

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Notice the word order in three English sentences.

Be good at

The pattern has three parts: a subject, a form of be, then good at. I am good at chess. She is good at drawing. They are good at dancing. Do not leave out am, is, or are.

A noun or an ing form

After at, use a noun such as chess or an activity such as drawing. Swim becomes swimming, and dance becomes dancing. Double the m in swimming; drop the final e before ing in dancing.

Compare the patterns

Can swim describes ability. Is good at swimming describes skill. Answer Are you good at drawing? with Yes, I am., because the question uses are. Answer Can you draw? with Yes, I can.

Worked examples

I can dance. I am good at dancing.

After can use dance; after good at use dancing.

Is Noah good at chess? No, he isn’t yet.

The question and answer use is. Yet leaves room for learning.

Try it yourself

Your turn

Type the missing word, number, or sign. Spaces in large numbers are allowed. Try first, then open the explanation.

For two activities, write a pair of sentences: one with can and one with good at. You may use an imaginary character.

See an example answer

Aya can paint. She is good at painting. Aya can skate. She is good at skating.