Ability (1)

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AbilityAbilitycan, could and be able tocan, could and be able to

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AbilityAbilitypresentpresent

She can do many things.

Use can or be able to to talk aboutability in the present.

She s able to do manythings.

Note: In everyday speech, can is more common thanbe able to

in the present.

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WeWe normallynormally useuse will will bebeableable toto toto talktalk aboutabout abilityabilityinin thethe futurefuture..

The way you practise, I am sureyoull be able to play soccer for your school team.

AbilityAbility - - futurefuture

H owever,H owever, wewe oftenoften useuse c anc an // c ant c ant toto talktalk aboutaboutfuturefuture arrangementsarrangements. .

II c anc an gogo toto thethe soccer soccer gamegame withwith youyou tomorrowtomorrow. .

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S am c ould read when he wasfour.

AbilityAbility - - pastpast

*U se c ould for general ability in

the past.

*U se managed to or was / were able to to talk abouta specific achievement or a single event in the past.

H e managed to delete the virus from his computer.H e was able to fix his computer when it broke down.

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NO TENO TE::U seU se either either c ould c ould or or waswas / / werewere ableable toto inin

negativenegative sentencessentences aboutabout pastpast abilityability..


H e c ouldnt wake up this morning.

H e wasnt able to get to school intime to make the test.

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U seU se couldcould withwith verbsverbs of of perceptionperception, , likelike seesee ,,smell smell ,, hear hear ,, tastetaste ,, feel feel ,, eveneven if if itit isis oneoneoccasionoccasion. .

H eH e couldntcouldnt hear hear whatwhatthethe teacher teacher saidsaid duringduring

thethe coursecourse. .

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H e wants to be able to save the museum. (infinitive)Maybe in the next movie, he will be able to save

more important people. (future)Its ok for him not being able to fly a plane. (-ing)H e hasnt been able to find a girlfriend so far.(present perfect)

AbilityAbility - - other other

F or forms and tensesother than the presentor past, use be able to .

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Complete the sentences with CAN , COULD or BE ABLE TO .

1. George has traveled a lot. He ______________ speak fourlanguages.CA N / IS ABLE TO ( ability in the present)

2. I used to ______________ stand on my head but I can'tdo it now.BE ABLE TO ( used to)

3. When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He __________run 20 kilometers in 1 hour.CO U LD / WA S ABLE TO ( ability in the past)

4. Sandra ______________ drive but she doesnt have a car.CA N / IS ABLE TO ( ability in the present)

5. Ask Catherine about your problem. She might __________help you.BE ABLE TO ( might)

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6. I was feeling sick yesterday. I ______________ eatanything.CO ULD NT ( ability in the past)

7. Sue wasn't at home when I phoned but I ________contact her at her office.WA S ABLE TO ( a specific achievement)

8. When we went into the house, we ___________ smellburning.CO ULD ( verb of perception)

9. Will she ______________ cope with the work?BE ABLE TO ( future)

10. I can't see you on Friday but I ______________ meetyou on Saturday evening.CA N / W I LL BE ABLE TO ( future)Adapted from http: // www.tolearnenglish.com

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11. My grandfather _________ walk without any help lastnight.WA S ABLE TO ( ability in the past specific achievement)

12. They _________ build a new house next year.W I LL BE ABLE TO ( future)

13. I would like to __________ play the piano.BE ABLE TO ( infinitive)

14. When my sister was five, she _________swim.CO ULD N OT ( ability in the past)

15. How long have you ___________ drive?BEE N ABLE TO ( present perfect)

16. Maggie has passed her driving test, now she ________drive a car.CA N ( ability in the present)

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17. He _____________ find the password after threeattempts.WA S ABLE TO ( ability in the past specific)

18. Claire _________do her homework because herdesk is a mess.W I LL N O BE ABLE TO ( future)

19. They were so busy, they ______ write me a textmessage.CO ULD N OT ( ability in the past)

20. When I was a child, I __________ skateboard.CO ULD ( ability in the past)

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B ibliographyB ibliography

FALLA,FALLA, TimTim.. SolutionsSolutions UpperUpper- -IntermediateIntermediate, , Oxford,Oxford,20092009

FUCHSFUCHS,, MarjorieMarjorie & & B ONNER,B ONNER, MargaretMargaret. . GrammarGrammarExpressExpress, , LongmanLongman, , 20032003

VINCE,VINCE, MichaelMichael.. MacmillanMacmillan EnglishEnglish GrammarGrammar inin

ContextContext, , MacmillanMacmillan, , 20082008

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D eveloped by Ktia Martins PereiraD eveloped by Ktia Martins Pereira

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Ability (1)