26. Can, Could and (be) able to ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

26. Can, Could and (be) able to

A	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.): ·         We can see the lake from our hotel. ·         'I don't have a pen.' 'You can use mine.' ·         Can you speak any foreign languages? ·         I can come and see you tomorrow if you like. ·         The word 'dream' can be a noun or a verb. The negative is can't(= cannot): ·         I'm afraid I can't come to the party on Friday.
B	You can say that somebody is able to do something, but can is more usual: We are able to see the lake from our hotel. 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. ·         Tom can come tomorrow. ·         Maria can speak French, Spanish and English. ·         I haven't been able to sleep recently. ·         Tom might be able to come tomorrow. ·         Applicants for the job must be able to speak two foreign languages.
C	Could Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with: see         hear          smell         taste         feel       remember        understand ·         We had a lovely room in the hotel. We could see the lake. ·         As soon as I walked into the room, I could smell gas. ·         I was sitting at the back of the theatre and couldn't hear very well. 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 totally free. We could do what we wanted. (=we were allowed to do)
D	Could and was able to We use could for general ability. But if you want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, use was/were able to or managed to (not could): ·         The fire spread through the building very quickly, but fortunately everybody was able to escape /managed to escape. (not could escape) ·         We didn't know where David was, but we managed to find /were able to find him in the end. (not could find) Compare: ·         Jack was an excellent tennis player when he was younger. He could beat anybody. (=he had the general ability to beat anybody) ·         but Jack and Andy played a match yesterday. Andy played well, but jack managed to beat him . (= he managed to beat him this time) The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations: ·         My grandfather couldn't swim. ·         We looked for David everywhere, but we couldn't find him. ·         Andy played well, but he couldn't beat jack.

EXERCISES

26.1	Complete the sentences using can or (be) able to. Use can if possible; otherwise use (be) able to. 1 Gary has travelled a lot. He ___can____speak five languages. 2 I haven't ____ been able to_____ 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.
26.2	Write sentences about yourself using the ideas in brackets. 1 (something you used to be able to do) ___________I used to be able to sing well _________ 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) I've ________________________________________
26.3	Complete the sentences with can/can't/could/couldn't+ the following: come    eat     hear     run     sleep     wait 1 I'm afraid I _____________can’t come__________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 was feeling sick yesterday. I _________________anything. 5 Can you speak a little louder? I ________________ you very well. 6 'You look tired.' 'Yes, I ____________last night.'
26.4	Complete the answers to the questions with was/were able to .... 1 A: Did everybody escape from the fire? B: Yes, although the fire spread quickly, everybody ______was able to escape_______ 2 A: Did you finish your work this afternoon? B: Yes, there was nobody to disturb me, so I ______________________________ 3 A: Did you have problems finding our house? B: Not really. Your directions were good and we __________________ 4 A: Did the thief get away? B: Yes. No-one realised what was happening and the thief __________________
26.5	Complete the sentences using could, couldn't or managed to. 1 My grandfather travelled a lot. He ____could_____ speak five languages. 2 I looked everywhere for the book, but I ______ couldn’t ______ find it. 3 They didn't want to come with us at first, but we ____managed to ______ persuade them. 4 Laura had hurt her leg and _______________walk very well. 5 I ran my first marathon recently. It was very hard, but I _________ finish. 6 I looked very carefully and I ________________ see somebody in the distance. 7 I wanted to buy some tomatoes. The first shop I went to didn't have any, but I _______________ get some in the next shop. 8 My grandmother loved music. She ____________ play the piano very well. 9 A girl fell into the river, but fortunately we _____________ pull her out. 10 I had forgotten to bring my camera, so I _____________ take any pictures.

ANSWER KEY

26.1 3 can 4 be able to 5 been able to 6 can or will be able to 7 be able to 26.2 Example answers: 2 I used to be able to run fast. 3 I'd like to be able to play the piano. 4 I've never been able to get up early. 26.3 2 could run 3 can wait 4 couldn't eat 5 can't hear 6 couldn't sleep 26.4 2 was able to finish it 3 were able to find it 4 was able to get away 26.5 4 couldn't 5 managed to 6 could 7 managed to 8 could 9 managed to 10 couldn't