Have the ability to do Not have the ability to do

PAST could was / were able to couldnt wasnt / werent able to

PRESENT can be able to cant not be able to

A- Fill in the gaps using a suitable modal verb for ability.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

My car has broken down, so I ________________ pick you up from school today. I had a lot of work to do, but I ________________ finish it all in time. How many instruments ________________ you play? ________________ you read when you were six? The washing machine isnt working, and I ________________ repair it. Call a technician. After the operation, he ________________ walk for a week. ________________you________________ ride your motorbike with a broken leg? My sister ________________ swim very well, but she is having lessons. ________________he________________ delete the virus from the computer yesterday? We ________________ get a good signal in the sitting room. Its really weak. Cheetahs ________________ reach a speed of 4120 km/hr, but they ________________ keep it up for a long time. Jill ________________ understand Chinese, but she ________________ write it. We ________________ see anything because there was a woman wearing a big hat in front of us. He talked for ages and in the end he ________________ convince us. He was so drunk that he ________________ open the door. Something is wrong with the computer. I ________________ connect to the internet. Why ________________ you help me with my homework? Donald ________________ find a job last week despite the difficult job market. ________________ your father play golf well? My son ________________ walk when he was eight months old.

Answer key: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. cant was able to can Could cant / am able to wasnt able to/ couldnt Are you able to cant Was he able to cant/ arent able to are able to / can can; cant couldnt / werent able to was able to couldnt / wasnt able to cant/ am not able to cant / arent you able to was able to Can could