Can, could and (be) able to

\~e usc can to s:\y that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something,
\'\ e use can + infi,ıitiı •e (can do/ can see ete.):
• \VJc can see the lake from our bedroom window.
• Can you speak any foreign languages?
• 1 can corne and see you tomorrow if you like.
The negativc is can't (= cannot):
• I'm afraid I can't come to the party on Friday.

(Be ) able to ... is possible instead of can, but can is more usual:
• Are you able to speak any foreign languages?
But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use
(be ) able to ... . Compare:
• I can't sleep.
but I haven't been able to sleep recently. (can has no present perfect)
• Tom can come tomorrow.
but Tom might be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)

Could and was able to ...

Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:
see hear smell taste feel remember understand
• When we went into the house, we could smell burning.
• She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.
We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something:
• My grandfather could speak five languages.
• We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do ... )

We use could for general ability. But if we are talking about what happened in a particular
situation, we use was/were able to ... or managed to ... (not could):
• The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape.
or ... everybody managed to escape. (but not 'could escape')
• They didn 't want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them.
or ... we were able to persuade them. (but not 'could persuade')
Compare:
• Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. (= he had the general
ability to beat anybody)
but
• Jack and Alf had a game of tennis yesterday. Alf played very well but in the end Jack
managed to beat him. or ... was able to beat him. (= he managed to beat him in this
particular game)

The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in ali situations:

• My grandfathcr couldn't swim.
• We tried hard but we couldn't pcrsuade them to come with us.
• Alf played well but he couldn't heat Jack.

Could (do) and could have (done) ..... ı:ıı:ıııD Must and can't ..... E) Can/Could you ... ? ..... m!J
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UNIT

EXERCISES 26
Coıııplcte tlıc sentences using can or (he) ahle to. Use can if possible; otherwise use (he) ahle to.
26.1
George has travelled a lot. He . ..ç.a.n .. speak four languages.
2 ı haven 't ı,~.~.ıı .ıl,l~. W. . sleep very well recently .
.) Sandra .. .... . ....... • .. • .. .... drive but she hasn't got acar.
4 ı can't understand Martin. l've never .................................. understand him.
5 I used to .... .. · .. • ...... stand on my head but I can't do it now.
6 J ca n't see you on Friday but I ................................. .... meet you on Saturday morning.
Ask Catherine about your problem. She might ...................................... help you.

26.2 \Vrite sentences about yourself using the ideas İ:n brackets.
ı (something you used to be able to do) ...1..1:1.~~~..~P .~~. ı:ı.~l.~ .~. ~.i.r:ıg. w.~H, ..
2 (something you used to be able to do) I used ............. ... ...................................................................... ..
3 (something you would like to be able to do)
i'd ...... ·············· .................................................................................................................................................. .
4 (something you have never been able to do)
!'ve . ······· ······· ··· ·················· ·········· ······ ··················•·· ·· ··········• ·········· ······ ·"· ·············· ....... ············ ······•······•· ·····

26.3 Complete the sentences with can/ can't / could / couldn't + one of these verbs:
eeeıe eat hear run sleep wait
ı I'm afraid I .. Pı:t.ı:ıJ ç9m.~ ... to your party next week.
2 When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He ................................................... 100 metres in 11
· seconds.
3 'Are you in a hurry?' 'No, l've got plenty of time. I ................................................... .'
4 I was feeling sick yesterday. I ..................................... .............. anything.
5 Can you speak up a bit? I ..................................... .............. you very well.
6 'You look tireci.' 'Yes, I ................................................... !ast night.'

26.4 Complete the answers ta the questions with was/were ahle to.
1 A: Did everybody escape from the fire?
B: Yes. A lthough the fire spread quickly, everybody ...wa.~. ı:ı.~!~J:9. ~.E?.ça.p~.•...
2 A: Did you have difficulty finding Ann's house?
B: Not really. Ann had given us good directions and we . .............. ...... ........................................ ..
3 A: Did you finish your work this afternoon?
B: Yes. There was nobody to disturb me, so ........................................................................ ..... .... .......... ..
4 A: Did the thief get away?
il: Yes. No one realised what was happening and the thief ........................... ................ .............. .

26.5 Com/}lete the sentences using could, couldn't ar was/were ahle to.
1 My grandfather was a very clever man. He ... P!?.1,!!~... speak five languages.
2 1looked everywhere for the book but I ... f9.l:l.l.~n'.L find it.
3 Thcy didn't want to come with us at first but we ... w~.rn.i!l.~!~J:9... persuade them.
4 La ura had hurt her leg and ............................................. walk very well.
5 Sue wasn't at home whcn I phoned but I ......................... ....................... contact her at her office.
6 l looked very carefully and l ................................................... see a figure in the distance.
7 I wanred to buy some tomatoes. The first shop I went to didn't have any but 1
· .............................. .............. get some in the next shop.
8 My.grandmother
lovcd music. She ....... .................................... ...... play the piano very well.
9
A gır! fel I into the river but fortunately we ............................................... rescue her.
10 1
had forgotten to bring my camera so l .................................................. take any photographs.

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