26/9/2020 Test English - Prepare for your English exam

Can, could, be able to – ability and possibility

 Exercises  Explanation

Exercises: 1 2 3

Exercise 1
Choose the correct form of can, could, be able to (affirmative or negative). Use a form of be able to only if a form of
can or could is not possible.

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Grammar lessons and exercises » Can, could, be able to – ability and possibility
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1 Can you read this for me? I [no answer] see without my glasses.

Correct answer: can't ('m not able to is also possible)

 We can use can't or not be able to to talk about absence of ability.

2 I've never [no answer] speak Spanish as well as my brother.

Correct answer: been able to

 In this sentence, we need the present perfect form. The verb can has only two forms: present (can), and
past (could). We use be able to for all the other verb forms: present perfect, future, infinitive, gerund, etc.

3 After 2 years in China, I [no answer] speak quite fluently now.

Correct answer: can ('m able to is also possible)

 We can use both can and be able to to talk about general ability in the present, although can is more common.

4 I hate [no answer] understand my French neighbours.

Correct answer: not being able to

 In this sentence, we need a gerund. The verb can has only two forms: present (can), and past (could). We use
be able to for all the other verb forms: present perfect, future, infinitive, gerund, etc.
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5 I agree
When he was 40, he [no answer] speak six languages.

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26/9/2020 Test English - Prepare for your English exam

Correct answer: could (was able to is also possible)

 We can use both could or was/were able to to talk about general ability in the past.

6 After 6 hours climbing, we [no answer] reach the top of the mountain.

Correct answer: were able to

 We use was/were able to or managed to (NOT could) to say that someone did something in a specific
situation.

7 When I was a child I used to [no answer] stand on my head.

Correct answer: be able to

 In this sentence, we need an infinitive form. The verb can has only two forms: present (can), and past (could).
We use be able to for all the other verb forms: present perfect, future, infinitive, gerund, etc.

8 Yesterday I lost my keys and I looked for them everywhere, but I [no answer] find them.

Correct answer: couldn't (wasn't able to is also possible)

 The negative form couldn't can be used for all situations, general ability or permission in the past, and also
when somebody didn't do something in a specific situation. In this sentence both couldn't and wasn't able to are
correct.

9 Sally wasn't at home, but I [no answer] contact her at her office.

Correct answer: was able to

 We use was/were able to or managed to (and not could) to say that someone did something in a specific
situation.

10 If you tell him your problem he might [no answer] help you.

Correct answer: be able to

 After a modal verb (must, might, should, will, etc.) we need a verb in the infinitive form. The verb can has
only two forms: present (can), and past (could). We use be able to for all the other verb forms: present perfect,
future, infinitive, gerund, etc.

Exercises: 1 2 3

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26/9/2020 Test English - Prepare for your English exam

can, can’t – ability,

possibility, permission

have to, must, should

– obligation,
prohibition, necessity,
advice

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