CAN and “BE ABLE TO” EXERCISES

CAN and “BE ABLE TO” EXERCISES1.. I have to go to a business dinner tomorrow night so I ________ not come to the party... + Be able to … is possible instead of can, but can is more usual

CAN and “BE ABLE TO” EXERCISES

1 She was very strong She swim all day and dance all night

2 The car fell into the river The workers _ get it out but the driver was dead

3 When I was younger I _ stay up all night and not get tired

4 We had no keys, so we open the door (negative)

5 I looked very carefully and I _ see a car in the distance

6 A boy fell into the sea but luckily we help him

7 My son will never to play the piano

8 At four years old he _ read quite well

9 I am sorry I come to the meeting next week

10 Before he had the car accident, he _ run very fast

11 I remember his name

12 Diana the piano

13 She will come on holiday next month if her parents give her permission

14 They go The weather was too bad

15 A: Can you lend me some money? B: Sorry I I haven't got any either

16 Sorry, Teacher I do it yet

17 The fishing boat sank but luckily all the crew save themselves

18 Kemal afford this watch It’s too expensive

19 She _ swim She learnt how to swim when she was

20 Sinan _ find the password after three attempts

21 I open the door since my hands were full

22 Linda is a practical girl She _ do every housework very quickly

23 When I was a child, I _ skateboard

24 As soon as I saw the boy in front of my car, I _ step the brake

25 Because it was foggy, Tim _ see clearly

26 Larry Bird score 30 points in the last match

27 In the last Olympic games in Beijing Usain Bolt _ run 100 meters in 9.69 seconds and he broke the world record

28 My grandfather _ walk without any help last night

29 I'll help you later

30 you play the piano when you were a child?

31 George is absent from class today He be sick

32 I watch the football match in your house?

33 I told my son that it was too late and he not go to the party

34 If I continue training I will to run the marathon next summer

35 If you continue drinking you won´t to drive home

36 He (not) go to France because he had lost his passport

37 Fred (speak) Russian when he was six years old

38 When you (come) tomorrow?

39 She (not/understand) the question yesterday

40 I haven't concentrate recently at work I don't know what it is

41 My brother cook very well He is a chef in a French restaurant

42 I have to go to a business dinner tomorrow night so I (not) come to the party I'm very

Note:

+ We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something

• We can see the lake from our bedroom window.

• Can you speak any foreign languages?

• I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.

+ The negative is can't (= cannot):

• I'm afraid I can't come to the party on Friday.

+ Be able to … is possible instead of can, but can is more usual:

• Are you able to speak any foreign languages?

+ But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past) So sometimes it is necessary to use (be)

able to … Compare:

• I can't sleep

but I haven't been able to sleep recently (can has no present perfect)

• Tom can come tomorrow

but Tom might be able to come tomorrow (can has no infinitive)

+ Sometimes could is the past of can We use could especially with: see, hear, smell, taste, feel,

remember, understand

• When we went into the house, we could smell burning.

• She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.

+ We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something:

• My grandfather could speak five languages.

• We were completely free We could do what we wanted (= we were allowed to do …)

We use could for general ability But if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use was/were able to … or managed to … (not could):

• The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape

or … everybody managed to escape (but not could escape)

• They didn't want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them

or … we were able to persuade them (but not could persuade)

Compare:

• Jack was an excellent tennis player He could beat anybody (= he had the general ability to beat

anybody)

but

• Jack and Alf had a game of tennis yesterday Alf played very well but in the end Jack managed to

beat him or … was able to beat him (= he managed to beat him in this particular game)

+ The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations:

• My grandfather couldn't swim.

• We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.

• Alf played well but he couldn't beat Jack.

MULTI CHOICE

1 speak a foreign language is always useful when you go abroad

A Be able to B Being able to C Can D I can

2 I touch my toes since I started drinking beer

A can't B am not able to C couldn't D haven't been able to

3 You must swim if you want to come on the boating holiday with us

A can B be able to C to be able to D will be able to

4 There was a fire in his office but he escape through a window

A can B could C could to D was able to

5 My grandfather was an excellent athlete He run a mile in just over four minutes

A can B could C couldn't D was able to

6 The doctor says he will never play tennis again after his accident

A can B could C be able to D to be able to

7 After his car crashed he was so confused that he tell the police who he was or where he was going

A could B couldn't C didn't could D wasn't able to

8 I live alone because I like come and go as I please

A I can B to can C being able D to be able to

9 I had saved up enough money so I gone on holiday, but I decided to paint my flat instead

A can have B was able to C could have D was able to have

10 The police ran after the burglar, but she get away from them

A was able to B could C has been able to D was being able to

11 The car fell into the river The workers _ get it out but the driver was dead

A was able to B could C has been able to D was being able to

12 When I was younger I _ stay up all night and not get tired

A could B was able to C can D am not able to

13 My son will never to play the piano

A is able to B be able to C could D can

14 Before he had the car accident, he _ run very fast

A could B can C were able to D didn't could

15 They _ go The weather was too bad

A couldn't B wasn't able to C can't D didn’t able to

16 We _ go to the party We're going to a wedding

A couldn't B won't be able to C will can't D be able to

17 The fishing boat sank but luckily all the crew _ save themselves

A were able to B could C wasn't able to D can

18 I would like to _ play the piano

A be able to B could C am able to D can

19 He pass the exam if he studied harder

A can B will be able to C would be able to D was able to

20 I haven't concentrate recently at work I don't know what it is

A could B been able to C can D am able to