can could be able to

Rewrite the sentences below so that the meaning stays the same, using a suitable form of be able to.. If we don’t book the seats soon, it won’t be possible for us to get into the theatre[r]

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

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?

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

2 Tom might come here tomorrow

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

6 Do you think there _less conflict in the world if all people _the same language?

7 Since they came, we able to work on the project

8 Despite the bad weather, he get to the airport in time

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?