Grammar - Modal Verbs 3 (Be able to, can, could)
Index
Click the most suitable word or phrase in each sentence.
ANSWERS
1)
She
has been able to
|
can
swim since she was seven.
RULE#2
2)
The burglar
was able to
|
could
enter the home through this small bathroom window.
RULE#1
3)
Are you able to
|
Can you
speak French fluently?
RULE#3
4)
What a delicious meal! I
can
|
am able to
taste all those herbs form your garden.
RULE#4
5)
My uncle loved music. He
could
|
was able to
play the guitar very well.
RULE#3
6)
He would like to
be able to
|
can
spend a few years in Spain.
RULE#2
7)
When Daniel was a child he
could
|
was able to
play football better than his brother.
RULE#5
8)
My father's car broke down last week, but the mechanic
could
|
was able to
repair it.
RULE#1
9)
Where's my Jacket? I'm not sure. It
could
|
can
be over there.
RULE#5
10)
When he finishes his medical degree he
can
|
will be able to
work as a doctor.
RULE#2
×
×
Answers
RULE#1
We use
TO BE ABLE TO
when we are talking about what happened in a particular situation.
I lost my mobile a few days ago, but I
was able to find it
.
RULE#2
TO BE ABLE TO
is used in all tenses or with the infinitive.
CAN
has only two forms. (present + past)
She
hasn't been able to eat
lately.
He'd like to
be able to play
the guitar.
She
can't eat
lately.
RULE#3
Sometimes
TO BE ABLE TO
is possible instead of
CAN/COULD
I'm
able to
dance = I
can
dance.
RULE#4
We use
CAN/COULD
with:
UNDERSTAND, FEEL, SEE, HEAR, TASTE, SMELL, REMEMBER
I
can
smell something burning!
She
could
hear an owl last night.
RULE#5
COULD
is used for general ability in the past(1) or to show that something is or might be possible(2)
She
could
speak fluent Spanish when she was 4.(1)
I
could
do it now, if you like.(2)
