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Can, Used To Express Ability With Could, Shall/will Be Able

The document provides examples to practice using the modal verbs "can", "could", and "be able to" to express ability in the present, past, and future tenses. It contains sentences where the user must fill in the blanks with the appropriate modal verb based on the tense. The examples cover expressing or declining ability, as well as using "could" for polite requests and hypothetical conditional sentences.

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Liubov Holovko
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219 views

Can, Used To Express Ability With Could, Shall/will Be Able

The document provides examples to practice using the modal verbs "can", "could", and "be able to" to express ability in the present, past, and future tenses. It contains sentences where the user must fill in the blanks with the appropriate modal verb based on the tense. The examples cover expressing or declining ability, as well as using "could" for polite requests and hypothetical conditional sentences.

Uploaded by

Liubov Holovko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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can and be able

PEG 136-8
Part I can, used to express ability with could, shall/will be able

Fill the following spaces, using can for present, could for past and shall/will be able for future.
There is no need to use other able form in this section. Put to where necessary before the infinitives.

1 . . . you stand on your head? ~


I . . . when I was at school but I . . . now. (2nd verb negative)
2 When I've passed my driving test I . . . hire a car from our local garage.
3 At the end of the month the Post Office will send him an enormous telephone bill which he . . .
pay. (negative)
4 I . . . remember the address, (negative) ~
. . . you even remember the street? (negative)
5 When the fog lifts we . . . see where we are. .
6 You've put too much in your rucksack; you never . . . carry all that.
7 When I was a child I . . . understand adults, and now that I am an adult I . . . understand children,
(negative, negative)
8 When you have taken your degree you . . . put letters after your name?
9 Don't try to look at all the pictures in the gallery. Otherwise when you get home you . . .
remember any of them. (negative)
10 When I first went to Spain I . . . read Spanish but I . . . speak it. (2nd verb negative)
11 ...you type?~
Yes, I . . . type but I . . . do shorthand, (2nd verb negative)
12 I'm locked in. I . . . get out! (negative) ~
. . . you squeeze between the bars? (negative) ~
No! I . . .; I'm too fat. (negative)

Part 2 could and was able


In some of the following sentences either could or was able could be used. In others only was/were
able is possible. Fill the spaces and put to where necessary before the infinitives.

13 He was very strong; he . . . ski all day and dance all night.
14 The car plunged into the river. The driver . . . get out but the passengers were drowned.
15 I was a long way from the stage. I . . . see all right but I . . . hear very well.
(2nd verb negative)
16 We . . . borrow umbrellas; so we didn't get wet.
17 . . . you walk or did they have to carry you?
18 I had no key so I . . . lock the door. (negative)
19 I knew the town so I . . . advise him where to go.
20 When the garage had repaired our car we . . . continue our journey.
21 At five years old he . . . read quite well.
22 When I arrived everyone was asleep. Fortunately I . . . wake my sister and she let me in.
23 The swimmer was very tired but he . . . reach the shore before he collapsed.
24 The police were suspicious at first but I . . . convince them that we were innocent.
Part 3 PEG 222 C, 223 B, 283-4
This section includes examples of could used for polite requests and as a conditional.

25 . . . I speak to Mr Pitt, please?~


I'm afraid he's out at the moment. . . . you ring back later?
26 If you stood on my shoulders . . . you reach the top of the wall? ~
No, I'm afraid I . . . (negative)
27 If I sang . . . you accompany me on the piano?~
No, 1..., 1... play the piano! (negative, negative)
28 If a letter comes for me . . . you please forward it to this address?
29 She made the wall very high so that boys . . . climb over it. (negative)
30 They took his passport so that he . . . leave the country, (negative)
31 . . . you tell me the time, please? ~
I'm afraid 1. . . . I haven't got a watch. (negative)
32 If you had to, . . . you go without food for a week?~
I suppose I . . . if I had plenty of water.
33 . . . you lend me Ј5? ~
No, I . . . (negative)
34 They used to chain valuable books to library desks so that people . . . take them away. (negative)
35 He says that he saw Clementine drowning but . . . help her as he . . . swim.
(negative, negative)
36 If you had had the right tools . . . you have repaired the engine?

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