Can and could

Use the correct form of "can or could" to complete each of these

sentences. Use contractions where possible
1. I

sleep last night. It was so hot!

2. When I was five or six, I

I ___________

do a handstand, but
now.

3. My late grandfather

speak French and my

father

say

I
4.

few

words

of

Spanish.

speak anything but English.

We're

having

Roger

dinner

party

next

Saturday,

but

come.

5. When I met Darren last year, he

swim. He was

terrified of the water. Now he______________ swim like a fish!

6. I

finish my lunch today. I just wasn't hungry at

all.
7.

There

are

so

many

different

ice

creams

to

choose

from.

decide. You choose for me.

8. I

find Ben and then I found him in the garden.

Now I

find him again. He keeps disappearing!

Use the correct form of "can, could or we able to" to complete

each of these sentences. Use contractions where posible

1. ___ you hear the fireworks from your house last night?
_

Can't

Could

Can
2. Do you think you ___ write that report by Tuesday? I know youre very busy.

have been able to

will be able to

couldn't
3. I ___ touch my toes. See!

will be able to

could

can
4. I ___ spend another moment in that restaurant. It was too noisy.

can't

couldn't

have been able to

5. I ___ never seem to get the temperature right.

can

to be able to

can't
6. ___ play professional tennis, you must be extremely fit.

Will you be able to

To be able to

Couldnt
7. ___ you play an instrument?

Couldn't
Can
Able to
8. I'm afraid I ___ attend the meeting, Im on business in Japan.

wont be able to

can

will be able to
9. ___ you have brought it to me at work?

Cannot

Couldn't

Will be able to

10. They ___ save the men from the sinking ship.

was able to

were able to

could to

Could - polite questions

Open the window! - Could you open the window, please? (polite)
Buy me a cup of coffee! - Could you buy me a map, please?
(polite)
Could: Form polite questions.
1.
show
me
photos
_________________________________________________________________
2.
give
me
the
exercise
book
_____________________________________________________________
3.
help
mum
_____________________________________________________________
4.
open
the
window
_____________________________________________________________
5.
buy
me
a
map
_____________________________________________________________

Questions with can

1. The
trumpet/play/can/she
___________________________________________________________
2. Emails/write/can/they_______________________________________________
____________
3. I/watch/TV/can____________________________________________________
_______
4. climb/can/the
tree/the
cat/__________________________________________________________
5. your/draw/brother/pictures/can____________________________________
________________
6. can/the/parrot/talk________________________________________________
__________
7. come/you/when/can_______________________________________________
___________
8. what/can/we/do___________________________________________________
_______
9. can/lunch/have/where/our
friends________________________________________________

10.
can/your/how/sister/sing/so
fast__________________________________________________

Exercise : Comma
Add commas as needed in the sentences below. If the sentence is correct as it is, write C on the
line and refer to the appropriate rule in parentheses after the sentence.
_____ He left the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened.
_____ Oil which is lighter than water rises to the surface.
_____ Madame de Stael was an attractive gracious lady.
_____ Nice is a word with many meanings and some of them are contradictory.
_____ The contractor testified that the house was completed and that the work had been done
properly.
_____ Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of pity for creatures that must live in small
cages.
_____ Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some cities.
_____ The closet contained worn clothes old shoes and dirty hats.
_____ The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed suit.
_____ After surviving this ordeal the trapper felt relieved.
_____ Mark Twain's early novels I believe stand the test of time.
_____ December 7 1941 will never be forgotten.
_____ The field was safe enough wasn't it?

_____ Write the editor of the Atlantic 8 Arlington Street Boston Massachusetts 02116.
_____ He replied "I have no idea what you mean."
_____ After a good washing and grooming the pup looked like a new dog.
_____ Because of their opposition to institutions that force creatures to live in captivity some
people refuse to go to the zoo.
_____ Men who are bald are frequently the ones who are the most authoritative on the subject
of baldness.
_____ Vests which were once popular have been out of vogue for several years.
_____ As a celestial goddess she regulated the course of the heavenly bodies and controlled the
alternating seasons.
_____ I hope that someday he will learn how to be polite.