Expressing

Capabilities
 Study the dialogue
below!
Valet : Laundry, may I help you?
Guest : I need a button sewn on a shirt. Can you do it
for me?
Valet : Yes, Sir. We will be able to have it done for you.
Guest : Thank you. By the way, can I get it back before
5 p.m.?
Valet : Certainly, Sir. Ill send someone up for it
immediately.
Interviewer : I wonder if you can operate Microsoft
Windows.
Interviewee : Yes, Maam. I can operate Word, Excel,
and
Power Point as well. Besides, Im
able
totake short hands.
Interviewer : Good. Can you speak Japanese or
Chinese?
Interviewee : Im sorry, Maam. I cant either speak
Japanese or Chinese.
Customer : My motorcycle cant run more than 60
kilometers per hour. It could run to110
kilometers before. What can you do?
Mechanic : Let us check the engine and find out
what is
wrong with it.
Customer : Can you fix it if the problem is major?
Mechanic : Well see what we can do and let you
know
the result
N
EXAMPLES EXPLANATION
O
Canexpressescapabilityin the
1. Icanswim very well
present.
Icanteither speak Japanese or Cantis the negative form of Can.
2.
Chinese It may be writtencantorcannot.
Couldexpressesability in the
The carcouldspeed up to 200
3. past.
km/hour before it was broken.
Could is the past form of Can.
Icouldntride motorbike when I Couldntis the negative form of
4.
was a child. could.
Be able tois another term
Iam able tooperate Microsoft expresses capabilityin the present.
5.
Power Point quite well. Be: am, is, are, have been, has
been
Iwas abletorun 12 kilometers Be able tois also used in the past.
6.
before I got twisted ankle. Be: was, were
Marywill be able totake a make Be able tois also used in future.
7.
up exam. Be: will
Mr. and Mrs. Millerwere unable Be unable tois the negative form
8.
tofind an inexpensive apartment. ofbe able to.
 Read the text below then answer the questions!

A TEENAGE GENIUS
Ivan Mirsky was born in Russia but now lives in
America with his father, Vadim. They live in a one-
room flat in Brooklyn.
Ivan doesnt go to school and his father doesnt
have a job. They practice chess problem all day,
every day.
Ivan was different from a very young age: he
could ride a bike when he was eighteen months old,
and read before he was two. He could play cards at
three and piano at four. When he was twelve, he
was the under-20 chess champion in Russia.
His father cant speak English and cant play
chess either.
Ivan translates for him. Vadim says, I know that
I cant play chess, but I can still help Ivan. We dont
find what Ivan and his father can
do, cant do, could do. Number
one is done for you
1. Ivan could ride bicycle when he was eight
months.
2. ....
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .