can could be able to

<span class='text_page_counter'>(1)</span>CAN/COULD/BE ABLE TO I. Underline the correct answer(s). 1. We could/were able to finish the football match before it started snowing too heavily. 2. Could you/Were you able to understand Professor Larsen’s lecture? I found it really difficult. 3. Look at me. I can/am be able to ride my bike without any help. 4. The air was so polluted in the city center, I could hardly/ was hardly able to breathe. 5. I knew John had been smoking. I could/ was able to smell the cigarettes when I came into the room. 6. No changes can/ are able to be made to this rail ticket after purchase. 7. She looked all over the house, but couldn’t/ wasn’t able to find her keys anywhere. 8. She swam strongly and could/ was able to cross the river easily even though it was swollen by the heavy rain. 9. – Do you want to play a game? - Sorry, I can’t /am not able to play chess. 10. When the fire officers arrived, they could/were able to put out the flames in a couple of minutes. 11. I was busy at work, but I could/was able to have a couple of days off last week. 12. Can/Are you able to drive without your glasses? 13. He could/was able to untie the ropes without the guards noticing. 14. No changes can/are able to be made to this rail ticket after purchase. 15. I know John had been smoking. I could/was able to smell cigarettes when I came into the room. II. Complete sentences, using can/could or (be) able to. Use can/could if possible; otherwise use (be) able to. 1. “_________ you stand on your head?” “I ___________ when I was at school, but I (negative)_________ now”. 2. When I’ve passed my driving test, I ___________ hire a car from our local garage. 3. “I (negative) ___________remember the dress”. “(negative) ___________ you even remember the street?” 4. When the fog lifts, we ___________ see where we are. 5. When I was a child, I (negative) ___________ understand adults, and now I am an adult, I (negative) ___________ understand children. 6. When I first went to Spain, I ___________ read Spanish, but I (negative) ___________ speak it. 7. Don’t try to look at all the pictures in the gallery. Otherwise when you get home, you (negative) ___________ remember any of them. 8. I’m afraid I (negative)______________ come to your party next week. 9. Can you speak up a bit? I (negative)______________ hear you very well. 10. George has traveled a lot. He ______________ speak five languages. III. Complete sentences, using could or was/were able to. Use could if possible; otherwise use was/were able to. 1. He was very strong; he ______________ ski all day and dance all night. 2. The car plunged into the river. The driver ______________ get out but the passengers were drowned. 3. I was a long way from the stage. I ____________all right but I (negative) __________hear very well. 4. We ______________ borrow umbrellas; so we didn’t get wet. 5. I knew the town so I______________ advise him where to go. 6. When the garage had repaired our car, we ______________ continue our journey. 7. At five years old, he ______________ read very well. 8. When I arrived, everyone was asleep. Fortunately, I ______________ wake my sister and she let me in. 9. The swimmer was very tired but he ______________ reach the shore before he collapsed..

<span class='text_page_counter'>(2)</span> 10. The police were suspicious at first but I ______________ persuade them that we were innocent. IV. Put in could or was/were able to. Use negative when necessary. 1. Suddenly all the lights went out. We ______________ see a thing. 2. The computer went wrong, but luckily Emma______________ put it right again. 3. There was a big party last night. You ______________ hear the music half a mile away. 4. I learned to read music as a child. I ______________ read it when I was five. 5. People heard warnings about the flood and they ______________ move out in time. 6. The train was full. I ______________ find a seat anywhere. 7. Mr. Carter ______________ put out the fire before the house burned down. 8. I looked everywhere for the book, but I ______________ find it. 9. The plane ______________ take off at 11:00 after the fog had lifted. 10. It was so foggy, so the plane ______________ take off. 11. Jack was an excellent tennis player. He ______________ beat anyone. 12. Once Jack had a difficult game against Peter. Peter played very well but in the end Jack ___________beat him. 13. The fire spread quickly but everyone______________ escape. 14. They didn’t have any tomatoes in the first shop I went to but I ______________ get some in the next shop. 15. He can’t play tennis very well now but he ______________ play quite well when he was younger. 16. The boy fell into the river but fortunately we ______________ rescue him. 17. She wasn’t at home when I phoned but I ______________ contact her at her office. 18. When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He ______________ run 100 meters in 11 seconds. 19. I felt sick yesterday. I ______________ eat anything. 20. When we went into the house, we ______________ smell something burning. 21. She failed the exam yesterday because she ______________ understand the question. 22 .My brother ______________ speak Russian when he was six. 23. When ___________________________ _(you/come) tomorrow? 24. My best friend ______________ get tickets to the Rolling Stones concert last week. 25. She ______________ enjoy the concert because of the noise outside. V. Make sentences with the same meaning by using be able to. Eg: I can be here tomorrow at 10:00.  I will be able to be here tomorrow at 10:00. 1. Two students couldn’t finish the test. . .................................................................................................. 2. Mark is bilingual. He can speak two languages. . .................................................................................. 3. Sue can get her own department next year. . .......................................................................................... 4. Animals can’t speak. . ............................................................................................................................ 5. Can you touch your toes without bending your knees? . ........................................................................ 6. Jack couldn’t describe the thief. . ........................................................................................................... 7. I couldn’t sleep last night because my flat was too hot. . .................................................................................................................................................................. 8. I’m sorry, I can’t come to your party next week. . ................................................................................. 9. My roommate can speak four languages. He is multilingual. . ................................................................................................................................................................. 10. Can we take vacations on the moon in the 22nd century?.

<span class='text_page_counter'>(3)</span> . .................................................................................................................................................................. VI. Rewrite the sentences below so that the meaning stays the same, using a suitable form of be able to. 1. If we don’t book the seats soon, it won’t be possible for us to get into the theatre.  If we don’t book the seats soon, we.......................................................................................................... 2. In two months’ time we shall be in the position to give you the exam results.  In two months’ time we shall.................................................................................................................... 3. The main road was under repair, but it was possible for us to take an alternative road.  The main road was under repair, but we were.......................................................................................... 4. By pretending to be ignorant of the rules, he managed to escape being punished.  By pretending to be ignorant of the rules, he was..................................................................................... 5. Luckily, we retraced our steps and succeeded in finding our way again.  Luckily, we retraced our steps and we were............................................................................................. 6. It has been impossible for me to get to the bank yet, so I don’t have any money. I have......................................................................................................................................................... 7. May I borrow this piece of material? I’d like to have the opportunity of showing it to my wife.  May I borrow this piece of material? I’d like to be................................................................................... 8. He took an instant course in Spanish – he wanted to be in a position to speak it when he went on business to South Africa.  He took an instant course in Spanish – he wanted to be................................... ................................................................................................................................................................... 9. They bought their first house last year: previously it had been impossible for them to get a loan.  They bought their first house last year: previously they........................................................................... 10. The student said there were a few questions he had found impossible to answer.  The student said there were a few questions he had.................................................................................. VII. Choose the best answer. 1. We tried hard but we ______________ persuade them to come with us. A. can’t B. couldn’t C. weren’t able D. didn’t able 2. Tom might ______________ come here tomorrow. A. can B. could C. be able D. be able to 3. Why did you stay at a hotel when you went to Hanoi? You ______________ with John. A. can stay B. could stay C. were able stay D. could have stayed 4. I’d lost my key, so I ____________ the door when I got home. A. could open B. wasn’t able to open C. couldn’t open D. was able to open 5. When Mr. Lee was younger, he ____________ work in the garden for hours. A. has got to B. should be able to C. can D. could 6. Do you think there _________less conflict in the world if all people ___________the same language? A. would be/spoke B. were/would speak C. were/spoke D. would have been/had spoken 7. Since they came, we ____________ able to work on the project. A. are B. have been C. have to be D. were 8. Despite the bad weather, he ____________ get to the airport in time..

<span class='text_page_counter'>(4)</span> A. could B. was able to C. couldn’t D. may 9. My grandfather was a very good footballer. He ____________ a professional if he had wanted to. A. could be B. could have been C. can have been D. was able to be 10. ____________ use your computer at the moment? A. Could I B. Am I able to C. Was I able to D. Do I.

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