Can , could, be able to

“can” or “am-is-are “could” or “was / were “Will be able to”

able to” able to”
To express ability, To express ability, To express ability,
possibility, request possibility, request and possibility, request
and permission in permission in the past. and permission in
the present. Examples: the future.
Examples:  She could find her Examples:
 I can / am able to keys last night.  I will be able to do
speak three  Could you please show all math’s activities
languages. me the nearest hotel by myself.
 Can I take your here?  Will you be able to
umbrella? help me later?
 Can you lend me
your book?
Note:
“was/were able to” can be replaced by “managed to”
Managed to do something means succeeded to do something

Can/can’t
1. I ____ swim very quickly, I’m the best swimmer.
2. Bob ____ help you, he must clean his room.
3. Liz ____ take you to the zoo, she is free today.
4. They ____ take part in this festival, it’s great.
5. Sam ____ surf well, he is only learning to do it.
6. We __ take you with us, we have a vacant seat.
7. You ____ be late, it is very important to you.
8. Ben ____ draw wonderful pictures, they are
nice.
9. I ____ sleep, it is very hot here.
10. Tim ____ play his new guitar well.
11. Polly ____ swim, she is afraid of swimming.
12. We ____ arrive in time and go to the stadium.
13. He __ run fast, he is very little.
Could/Couldn’t
1. I ____ skate last year, I was afraid of skating.
2. Tom ______ win the medal, but he fell down.
3. We ______ play football, the weather was rainy.
4. Mona ____ arrive in time, but she missed the bus.
5. My mom ____ play tennis, but now she plays well.
6. I ____ write my report, my computer had broken.
7. He ____ sing at all yesterday, he had no voice.
8. Bill ____ skateboard well, he trained much.
9. Liz ____ play the piano, she had cut her finger.
10. The_____ play chess very well last year.
11. I __ dive last month, I was afraid to dive.
12. Sam __ ski, he always fell down.
13. Pam __ dance all the dances, she was a star.

Will be able to/ won’t be able to General questions/ yes – No questions

1. I ___ to arrive tomorrow, I’ll be busy.
2. Kate ___ to buy tickets for you, she’ll be free.
3. I ___ to play the piano, I practise much.
4. Lena __ to help you, she knows this material well
5. Bill ___ to lift this weight, he trains much.
6. I ___ to cook this cake, I don’t know the recipe.
7. Liz ___ to lend you money, she has some savings.
8. She ___ to take you to the club, she is late.
9. We ___ to jog, it is raining awfully.
10. I ___ to arrive to you in 2 months.
11. They ___ run faster, they are good runners.
12. Helen __ to lend you money, she hasn’t it.
13. He ___ ride his bike well in three days.
1. ___ you ski well now?
2. ___ you ___ to visit us in a week?
3. ____ they clean their flat yesterday?
4. ___ he help me to solve this problem?
5. ___ Polly ___ to draw such a picture?
6. ___ he play chess last year?
7. ___ you surf well?
8. ___ Kate knit a doll’s dress last week?
9. ___ she __ to take part in this festival tomorrow?
10. ___ you win this competition yesterday?
11. ___ Dan ride his motorbike well?
12. __ Liz draw pictures when she was two?
13. ___ Bob ___ to hold the conference next month?
 Wh questions
1. What ____ you do for me now?
2. Where ____ they skate last year?
3. How long ____ you ____ to stay here?
4. Who ____ to help me with maths tomorrow?
5. When ____ they come to the gym?
6. What ____ she do when she was five?
7. How ____ you win this competition yesterday?
8. When ____ she ____ to rewrite the test?
9. How ____ you play the piano now?
10. How____ long ____ Liz rollerblade
yesterday?
11. What ____ you say about it?
12. Where ____ he stay in Paris last year?
13. What ____ you ____ to cook for the party?
can, could, be able to
1. Tom is a clever boy and he ……………. solve any problem
very easily.
2. Andrew…………….phone you yesterday.
3. She ……………. send us a parcel next week.
4. She…………….do difficult exercises when she was
young.
5. I ……………. write this report right now.
6. Helen…………….take part in this competition tomorrow.
7. Alec …………….skate better when he was twelve.
8. She…………….dance quite well in a month.
9. Bill …………….play chess quite well now.
10. You …………….rewrite your test two days ago.
11. I…………….arrive in London next weekend.

Task 02: Match the in sentences column A with their functions in column b

Sentences “A” Functions “B”

1- He can speak Chinese perfectly. a- Formal request
2- I cannot type very fast on my computer’s b- Suggestion
keyboard c- Offer
3- Can I ask a question, please? d- Ability
4- Could you take a message, please? e- Formal permission
5- Can you tell me the way to the museum? f- Possibility
6- They could come by car. g- Informal request
7- That can't be true. h- Informal permission
8- It is so sunny today, we could go for hike. i- Impossibility
9- Can I do that for you j- inability
10- Could I use your umbrella, please?

Task three: write 10 sentences using can, could and be able to

1- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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8- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10-……………………………………………………………………………………………………..