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Can, could and (be) able to - exercises

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences using can or (be) able to. Use can if possible; otherwise use (be) able to.

1. Gary has traveled a lot. He ........................... speak five languages.

2. I haven't ............................... sleep very well recently.

3. Nicole ............................. drive, but she hasn't got a car.

4. I used to ............................... stand on my head, but I can't do it now.

5. I can't understand Martin. I've never ...................................... understand him.

6. I can't see you on Friday, but I .................................. meet you on Saturday morning.

7. Ask Catherine about your problem. She might .................................. help you.

Exercise 2

Write sentences about yourself using the ideas in brackets.

1. (something you used to be able to do)

..............................................................................................................................

2. (something you would like to be able to do)

..............................................................................................................................

3. (something you have never been able to do)

..............................................................................................................................

ZAPRASZAMY WSZYSTKICH ZAINTERESOWANYCH PODNOSZENIEM SWOICH KOMPETENCJI JĘZYKOWYCH DO ROZWIĄZANIA ZADAŃ A NASTĘPNIE SPRAWDZENIA ICH POPRAWNOŚCI NA ZAJĘCIACH W FUNDACJI "WARTO ŻYĆ" ZGODNIE Z HARNOMOGRAMEM ZAJĘĆ.

Can, could and (be) able to

1. We use can to say that something is possible or allowed, or that somebody has the ability to do something. We use can + infinitive (can do / can see etc.).

The negative is can't (= cannot)

2. You can say that somebody is able to do something, but can is more usual.

3. Could

Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:  see, hear, smell, taste, feel, remember, understand.

We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something.

4. Could and was able to

We use could for general ability. But if you want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, use was/were able to or manage to (not could).

5. The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations.

"Will be doing" vs "will have done"

Exercise 1

Put the verb into the correct form, will be (do)ing or will have (done).

1. Don't phone between 7 and 8. ...................................... (we / have) dinner then.

2. Phone me after 8 o'clock. ..................................... (we / finish) dinner by then.

3. Tomorrow afternoon we're going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4:30. So at 4 o'clock, ............................. (we /play) tennis.

4. A: Can we meet tomorrow?

    B: Yes, but not in the afternoon. ........................................ (I / work).

5. Bob has to go to a meeting which begins at 10 o'clock. It will last about an hour.

    A: Will you be free at 11:30?

    B: Yes, ............................................. (the meeting / end) by then.

6. Ben is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like this, ............................................. (he / spend) all his money before the end of his holiday.

7. Do you think ................................................. (you / still / do) the same job in ten years' time?

8. Lisa is from New Zealand. She is traveling around Europe at the moment. So far she has traveled about 1000 miles. By the end of the trip, .................................... (she / travel) more than 3000 miles.

ZAPRASZAMY WSZYSTKICH ZAINTERESOWANYCH PODNOSZENIEM SWOICH KOMPETENCJI JĘZYKOWYCH DO ROZWIĄZANIA ZADAŃ A NASTĘPNIE SPRAWDZENIA ICH POPRAWNOŚCI NA ZAJĘCIACH W FUNDACJI "WARTO ŻYĆ" ZGODNIE Z HARNOMOGRAMEM ZAJĘĆ.