TEACHER'S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES What's missing?

Activity Type Introduction

Reading, writing, In this enjoyable worksheet activity, students complete sentences
listening and speaking with the correct form of 'be able to' and a verb.
activity, pairwork
Procedure
Language Focus Demonstrate the activity by writing the following on the board:
Be able to
Kate is really kind. She will ................................ you with your
homework.
Aim
Elicit the missing form of 'be able to' and the verb (be able to
To complete sentences help).
with the correct form of
'be able to' and a verb. Tell the students that they are going to complete sentences in the
same way.

Preparation Divide the students into pairs (A and B).

Make one copy of the
Give each student a corresponding worksheet. Tell the students
worksheet for each pair
not to show their worksheet to their partner.
of students and cut as
indicated.
Explain that half the sentences on the worksheet are incomplete.

Level The students' task is to complete the sentences in bold with the
correct form of 'be able to' and a verb.
Low Intermediate
Their partner has the completed sentences on their worksheet.

Time Student A begins by reading the first sentence to Student B,

25 minutes adding in the appropriate form of 'be able to' and the verb.

Student A must say the exact sentence that Student B has on

their worksheet.

If the guess is correct, Student A moves onto the next sentence.

If not, Student A tries again.

When Student A has completed all the sentences correctly, the

students swap roles.

Afterwards, the pairs discuss how they would reply to each

sentence.

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 MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY

ESL / EFL RESOURCES What's missing?

Student A
A. C
 omplete the sentences in bold with the correct form of 'be able to' and a verb.
B. Tell Student B your guesses. You must say the exact sentence that your partner has on their
worksheet. If your sentence is not the same, try again until you get it right.

1. I hope ............................................. English really well by the end of this course.

2. I've been looking for a new car, but I haven’t been able to find one I like.
3. I'd like ............................................. an airplane.
4. We won’t be able to go to the concert. The tickets are sold out.
5. When I was a child, I used ............................................. my toes, but I can't now.
6. I love being able to help people in need.
7. Will you ............................................. me on Friday afternoon?
8. Although the snow was really deep, the teacher was able to get to school.
9. It must be fantastic ............................................. around the world.
10. You should be able to finish this activity. It's not that hard.
11. I've never ............................................. balls in the air.
12. Despite the heavy rain, they were able to finish the football match.
C. Now, listen to Student B's guesses. If a guess is incorrect, ask him or her to try again.

Student B
A. C
 omplete the sentences in bold with the correct form of 'be able to' and a verb.
B. L
 isten to Student A's guesses. If a guess is incorrect, ask him or her to try again.

1. I hope to be able to speak English really well by the end of this course.
2. I've been looking for a new car, but I haven’t ....................................... one I like.
3. I'd like to be able to fly an airplane.
4. We won’t ............................................. to the concert. The tickets are sold out.
5. When I was a child, I used to be able to touch my toes, but I can't now.
6. I love ............................................. people in need.
7. Will you be able to meet me on Friday afternoon?
8. Although the snow was really deep, the teacher .................................... to school.
9. It must be fantastic to be able to travel around the world.
10. You should ............................................. this activity. It's not that hard.
11. I've never been able to juggle balls in the air.
12. Despite the heavy rain, they ............................................. the football match.
C. Now, tell Student A your guesses. You must say the exact sentence that your partner has on
their worksheet. If your sentence is not the same, try again until you get it right.

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