CAN/COULD/BE ABLE TO

• Modal verbs show possibility, intent, ability, or necessity. Because they are a type of auxiliary
verb (helper verb), they are used together with the main verb of the sentence.

E.g. I can swim better than my friend.

• We use can to say that something is possible or allowed, or that somebody has the ability to
do something.

• We use CAN+INFINITIVE ( can do/can see etc.)

E.g. We can see the lake from our bedroom window.

I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.

Can you speak Spanish?

• The negative form is cannot = can’t

• E.g. I am afraid I cannot come to the party on Friday.

• We can say that somebody is able to do something, but can is more usual.

• E.g. We are able to see the lake from our bedroom window.

• BUT can has only 2 forms (present and past (could)), therefore sometimes it is necessary to
use be able to.

I cannot sleep. (present simple)

I have not been able to sleep recently.(present perfect)

• Sometimes could is the past form of can.

E.g. We had a lovely room in hotel. We could see the lake.

• Could is used to say that somebody had general ability to do something.

E.g. My grandfather could speak five languages .

• To say that somebody succeeded in doing something in a specific situation, we normally use
was/were able to or managed to (not could)

1. The fire spread quickly, but everybody was able to escape. (not could escape)

2. I didn’t know where Max was, but I managed to find him in the end. (not could find)

• Jack was an excellent tennis player when he was younger. He could beat anybody.

(= he was good enough to beat anybody, he had the ability)

BUT
 • Jack and Andy played a match yesterday. Andy played well, but Jack managed to beat him. (=
he succeeded in beating him this time)

• The negative couldn’t (could not) is possible in all situations:

1. My grandfather couldn’t swim.

2. I looked for Max everywhere, but I couldn’t find him.

3. Andy played well, but he couldn’t beat Jack.

PRACTICE PART

Choose the correct endings from B to match the sentences in A.

1. It's a secret.
2. Let's go on a trip.
3. She is so different.
4. My phone bill is so big.
5. Do you know Greg's address?
6. Yes, she is over there.
7. Your rucksack is so heavy.
8. I speak Spanish.
9. Alison has a camera.
10.I know that the soup isn't very good.
11.Bill has his licence again.
12.You are lying to me. .
 It can't be true.
 I cannot pay it.
 We can see her.
 She can't be your sister.
 I can't remember it.
 We can rent a car.
 She can take a picture of it.
 You cannot carry all that.
 I can translate it for you.
 I can't cook.
 I cannot tell you about it.
 He can drive his car now
 Complete the sentences using can or (be) able to. If can is not possible,
use (be) able to

1. Gary has travelled a lot. He ……..speak five languages.

2. I haven’t ……..sleep very well recently.
3. Nicole ……. drive, but she doesn’t have a car.
4. I used to …… stand on my head, but I can’t do it any more.
5. I can’t understand Mark. I’ve never ……understand him
6. I can’t see you on Friday, but I ……meet you on Saturday morning.
7. Ask Katherine about your problem. She might …… help you.
8. You have to be careful in this part of the city. It …… be dangerous.
9. Michael has lived in Italy a long time, so he should ….. speak Italian.

Complete the sentences with can/can’t/could/couldn’t + the following:

believe come hear run sleep wait

1. I’m afraid I …..to your party next week.

2. When Dan was 16, he ….. 100 metres in 11 seconds.
3. ‘Are you in a hurry?’ ‘No, I’ve got plenty of time. I………..
4. I don’t feel good this morning. I …. last night.
5. Can you speak a little louder? I ….. you very well.
6. I was amazed when I heard the news. I …… it.

Complete the sentences using could, couldn’t or managed to.

1 My grandfather travelled a lot. He ….. speak five languages.

2 I looked everywhere for the book, but I ….. find it.

3 They didn’t want to come with us at first, but we ….. persuade them.

4 Jessica had hurt her foot and …..walk very well.

5 There was a small fire in the kitchen, but fortunately I …… put it out.

6 The walls were thin and I ….hear people talking in the next room.

7 I ran my first marathon recently. It was very hard, but I ….. finish.

8 My grandmother loved music. She …. play the piano very well.

9 We wanted to go to the concert, but we …. get tickets.

10 A girl fell into the river, but some people ….pull her out. She’s all right now.

• Could is not always past. We also use could for possible actions now or in
the future, especially to make suggestions. For example:

a: What shall we do tonight?

b: We could go to the cinema.

a: When you go to Paris next month, you could stay with Sarah.

b: Yes, I suppose I could.

• We also use could (not can) for actions that are not realistic.

For example:

- I’m so tired, I could sleep for a week. (not I can sleep for a week)

- I can stay with Sarah when I go to Paris. (realistic)

- Maybe I could stay with Sarah when I go to Paris. (possible, but less sure)

- This is a wonderful place. I could stay here for ever. (unrealistic)

• We use could have (done) to talk about the past.

Compare:

- I’m so tired, I could sleep for a week. (now)

I was so tired, I could have slept for a week. (past)

-The situation is bad, but it could be worse. (now)

The situation was bad, but it could have been worse. (past)
PRACTICE PART

Which goes with which?

1. What shall we eat tonight? a We could go away somewhere.

2. I need to phone Vicky sometime. b You could give her a book.
3. What shall I get Ann for her c We could have fish.
birthday?
4. Where shall we put this picture?
d You could wear your brown
5. What would you like to do at the suit.
weekend? e You could do it now.
6. I don’t know what to wear to the f We could hang it in the kitchen.
wedding.

Put in can or could.

1.This is a wonderful place. I … stay here forever.

2. I’m so angry with him. I…..kill him!

3.I….. hear a strange noise. What is it?

4. It’s so nice here. I…. sit here all day but unfortunately I have to go.

5.I….. understand your point of view, but I don’t agree with you.

6. Peter is a keen musician. He plays the flute and he …… also play the piano.

Complete the sentences. Choose from:

gone could be could come could have come
could sleep could have been have moved could have

1 A: Are you tired?

b: Yes, very tired. I feel as if I… for a week.
2 A: I spent a very boring evening at home yesterday.
b: Why did you stay at home? You out
with us.
3 A: Shall I open this letter?
b: Yes. It important.
4 A: How was your exam? Was it difficult?
 b: It wasn’t so bad. It worse.
5 A: I got very wet walking home in the rain.
b: Why did you walk? You taken a
taxi.
6 A: Where shall we meet tomorrow?
b: Well, I to your office if you like.
7 A: Does Tom still live in the same place?
b: I’m not sure. He could .
8 A: Did you go to university?
b: No. I could have , but I didn’t
want to.
HOMEWORK
1. Make up sentences with CAN or CANNOT, using following verbs

Write Speak Swim Run Ride

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2. Make up sentences with COULD or BE ABLE TO (MANAGED TO), using

following verbs

Escape Beat Find Play Use Get up Disturb

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3. Make up sentences with COULD and COULD HAVE , using following verbs

Go Sleep Wear Stay Take Come Be Phone See

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