Universidad Autnoma Benito Jurez de Oaxaca

FACULTAD DE IDIOMAS Ingles VII. Lic. Elvia Jernimo Garca

Grammar review: Modal verbs of ability

Modal Verbs of Ability

When we talk about ability, we mean two things.

First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do any
time you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language, for example.
The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do in
one particular situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find somewhere
you are looking for.

Present:
can / can't (for both general and specific ability)
I can play the piano. She can speak English. He can't drive.
he's too tired. We can't come now.

Past:
could / couldn't (for general ability)
I could read when I was four.
She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.
He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.
My grandfather couldn't swim.
was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)
When the computer crashed yesterday, I was able to fix it.(not 'I could fix it')
She was able to pass the exam, even though she hadn't studied much.(not 'she could pass')
He called us because he couldn't find the house.
I couldn't open the window.
could + have + past participle (an ability someone had in the past, but didn't use)
I could have played the piano well but I didn't practise enough.
We could have come earlier.
She could have studied law, but she preferred to become a secretary.

*For forms and tenses other than present or past , you have to use BE ABLE TO.
Future:
will / won't be able to (general ability)
At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.
He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take months.
can / can't (specific ability)
I can help you tomorrow
I can't come to the party

We havent been able to play tennis for a log time

I love being able to dance with my friends

practice
I.-Put in 'can', 'can't', 'could' or 'couldn't'. If none of these is possible use 'be able to' in the
correct tense.
1) _________________you swim when you were 10?
2) We_________________ get to the meeting on time yesterday, because the train was delayed by one hour.
3) He _________________arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he was very pleased.
4) He's amazing, he __________________________________speak five languages, including Chinese.
5) I _________________drive a car until I was 34. Then I moved to the countryside, so I had to learn..
6) I looked everywhere for my glasses but I_________________ find them anywhere.
7) I searched for your house for ages. luckily I_________________ find it in the end.
8) She's seven years old, but she_________________ read yet. Her parents are getting her extra lessons.
9) I read the book three times, but I _________________understand it.
10) James_________________ speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he's forgotten most of it now.
11) I_________________ understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was so difficult.
12) I _________________lift this box - it's too heavy! Would you help me?
13) Lucy_________________ make it to our meeting after all. She's stuck in traffic.
14) John_________________ play tennis really well. He's champion of his club.
15) Unfortunately, I really _________________sing at all. No-one in my family is musical either..
16) When the car broke down I was really pleased because I _________________solve the problem.
17) Julian_________________ play excellent golf when he was only ten.
18) My grandmother_________________ use a computer until last month. Since then she's been taking
lessons at the library.
19) I _________________open this window! I think it's stuck.
20) Gill________________ play the piano. She has never studied it.
Taken from : http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/modal-verbs-of-ability.html
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