ABILITY IN THE PAST

To talk about abilities in the past we use COULD and BE ABLE TO.

General ability

We use could to talk about general abilities in the past.

 He could speak fluent French when he was 5.

 I could read before I started school.
 My grandma could swim.

Ability on one occasion

However, when we talk about ability on one particular occasion, we can’t use
could

 The burglar was able to get in through the bathroom window.

 My grandma was able to win a marathon.
 The burglar managed to get in through the bathroom window.

We have to use was able to or managed to. We can’t use could.

 The burglar could get in through the bathroom window.

Ability on one occasion - negative

When we talk about a particular occasion when something wasn’t possible, we

can use wasn’t/weren’t able to, didn’t manage to, or couldn’t

 The burglar wasn’t able to get in through the window.

 The burglar didn’t manage to get in through the window.
 The burglar couldn’t get in through the window.

Write sentences with the same meaning using the word in brackets.

I tried to open the door but it was too difficult. (able)

It was easy for me to play the piano when I was 7. (could )
I had a chance to steal the necklace but I didn’t. (could)
It was difficult but they escaped. (able )

1. _____ he understand what you were talking about?

USE
2. My sister _____ play tennis now. CAN,COULD OR
3. I _____ walk when I was less than a year old. BE ABLE TO
4. My grandfather ________ walk without any help last night.
5. Will people ________ live forever one day?