BE ABLE TO
1-When I was young, I ________run fast 7- A:___he____swim well?
a)be able to b)able to B:No,he_____.
c)was able to d)were able to a) Is/able to/isn’t b)Was/able to/isn’t
2-We__________to play computer games 25 years ago c)Will/be able to/isn’t d)Is/able to/was
a)were able to 8-My mother_____cook delicious meals.
b)weren’t able to a)is able
c)wasn’t able to b)able to
d)weren’t able c)is able to
3-Sally has a great voice. She _____sing very well. d)was able
a)is able to 9-We _______drive flying cars in the future.
b)was able to a)are able to b)will be able to
c)isn’t able to c)were able to d)able to
d)is able 10-_____you___dance when you were younger?
4-____you _______ride a bike when you were a child? a)are/able to b)be/able to
a)Are/able to b)Were/able to c)were/able to d)will/able to
c)Were/able d)be able 11-When I was young,I_______ride a horse.
5-I__________drive a car two years ago. a)was able to
But now I______drive very well. b)am able to
a) was able to/am able to c)will be able to
b) am able to/was able to d)can
c) wasn’t able to/am able 12-I____buy a new car if I save money.
d) wasn’t able to/am able to a)am able to
6-If I study harder, I______ get a high mark. b)will be able to
a)am able to b)will be able to c)was able to
c)was able to d)were able to d)can
Look at the sentences below. Complete the sentences with “could,” “was/were able to,” or “managed.”
We worked until 7 p.m. and ________ finish the project.
We used to have a company shuttle so we ________ take people from the parking lot to the building.
Everyone thought we wouldn’t meet the deadline, but somehow we ________ to finish everything on time.
Past Abilities
could мог was/were able to смог managed to смог
General ability Specific achievement Specific achievement that was
When I first started my career, Were you able to get in touch with difficult
I could work long hours without a Gary? No one thought she had a chance to
break. win the race but somehow
she managed to get enough votes
and win.
Fill in the blanks with “could,” “was/were able to” or “managed to” (or their negative forms). In some cases, more
than one answer is possible.
1. Ten years ago, people ________ smoke right outside the building. Now they have to leave the business park.
2. When I was in college, I met a guy who ________ speak seven languages.
3. I have no idea how they ________ find a better deal than what we offered them.
4. _________ to find a caterer for the event next week?
5. Unfortunately, we ________ meet the deadline. We needed an extra day.
6. I delegated that task to Mike. I told him I was having some difficulties with it, and he told me that he
________ handle it.
7. Even though I woke up a half an hour late, I _________ get to work on time.
8. Unfortunately, I woke up half an hour late and I __________ get to work on time.
9. When our company had only 25 employees we _________ have meetings with the entire company. Now it’s much
more difficult and requires more planning.
10. I have no idea how we ________ get a reservation for tonight on such short notice.
Work with a partner. Complete your sentences. Then check with your partner.
Student A
1. It was hard to persuade Tim to go to the basketball game but we finally ………………………….. to do it.
2. When I was a child, I couldn’t touch my toes but now I can’t.
3. I’d like to…………………………………… to pilot an airplane.
4. We won’t be able to go to the concert, the tickets are sold out.
5. Despite the heavy rain, they ……………………….to finish the football match.
6. Although the snow was very deep, the students managed to come to school on time.
7. It must be fantastic …………………………………………. Travel around the world.
8. I’ve been looking for a new car, but I haven’t been able to find one I like.
TRUTH or BLUFF??
Write:
Something you’ve always been able to do (bluff)
Something you can’t do very well (true)
Something you’d love to be able to do (bluff)
Something you’ve never been able to do (bluff)
Something you managed to do (true)
Student B
1. It was hard to persuade Tim to go to the basketball game but we finally managed to do it.
2. When I was a child, I ………………… touch my toes but now I can’t.
3. I’d like to be able to pilot an airplane.
4. We …………………………………..to go to the concert, the tickets are sold out.
5. Despite the heavy rain, they were able to finish the football match.
6. Although the snow was very deep, the students …………………………………………….. come to school on time.
7. It must be fantastic to be able to travel around the world.
8. I’ve been looking for a new car, but I haven’t ………………………………………….find one I like.
TRUTH or BLUFF??
Write:
Something you could do very well but now don’t do (true)
Something you want to be able to do (bluff)
Something you will be able to do next year (true)
Something you couldn’t to do when you were a teenager (true)
Something you managed to do last year (bluff)
