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Modals 1 Ability Can Couldnew

The document is about modals expressing ability and permission. It contains exercises for students to practice using can, could, be able to in sentences about skills, activities and past ability. The exercises include filling in blanks, correcting sentences, matching descriptions and completing sentences about what people and things can and cannot do.

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toptenacademy
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111 views

Modals 1 Ability Can Couldnew

The document is about modals expressing ability and permission. It contains exercises for students to practice using can, could, be able to in sentences about skills, activities and past ability. The exercises include filling in blanks, correcting sentences, matching descriptions and completing sentences about what people and things can and cannot do.

Uploaded by

toptenacademy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals 1

Can / Could (Ability)


Exercise 1
Ask your friend if he/she can do these things:

1 2 3

4 5 6

1. Can you ______________________ ?


2. _____________________________ ?
3. _____________________________ ?
4. _____________________________ ?
5. _____________________________ ?
6. _____________________________ ?

Exercise 2
Complete these sentences. Use can or can’t + one of these verbs.

* come * find * hear * see * speak *

1. I’m sorry but we __________________ to your party next Saturday.


2. I like this hotel room. You __________________ the mountains from the
window.
3. You are speaking very quietly. I __________________ you.
4. Have you seen my bag? I __________________ it.
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5. Catherine got the job because she __________________ five languages.

Exercise 3
Look at the table. What can the people do? What can’t they do?
Complete the sentences with can or can’t + verb.

Thomas James Daniella Sarah


play the guitar    
play the piano    
use a computer    
program a computer    
ride a motorbike    
drive a car    
1. Thomas _________________ the guitar and he _________________ the
piano.
2. Thomas_________________ a motorbike and he _________________ a car.
3. Thomas _________________ a computer, but he _________________ a
computer.
4. James _________________ a car, but he _________________ a motorbike.
5. Only Sarah _______________________ the piano.
6. Only James _______________________.
7. Sarah and James can’t _________________, but Daniella and Thomas can.
8. Nobody _______________________ .
9. Everybody _______________________ .

Exercise 4
Match a line in A with a line in B and a line in C.

A B C
A farmer can fly a tractor.
An interpreter can drive buildings.
A pilot can cook several languages.
An architect can speak software.
A chef can write delicious food.
A computer programmer can draw a plane.

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Exercise 5
There is a mistake in each sentence. Correct it.

1. I can speak three languages brilliant.

I can speak three languages brilliantly.


2. Tom’s sister can play the guitar bit.
_________________________________________
3. He can’t say anything not at all in Arabic.
_________________________________________
4. We can cook quite good.
_________________________________________
5. They can’t skateboard all.
_________________________________________
6. She can play piano very well.
_________________________________________
7. He cannot ride a motorbike.
_________________________________________

Exercise 6
Complete the sentences with could or couldn't.

1. I ____________ walk when I was one, but I ____________ talk until I was
three.
2. How old were you when you ____________ get dressed?
3. My daughter ____________ feed herself until she was four.
4. I ____________ sleep last night. My neighbor's TV was so loud!
5. I ____________ find you yesterday. Where were you?
6. 'When I was ____________ five I speak English and Russian.’ ‘____ you read
English and Russian as well?'

Exercise 7
Complete the sentences. Use can’t or couldn’t + one of these verbs:

* eat * decide * find * go * go * sleep *

1. I was tired but I _____________________ .


2. I wasn’t hungry yesterday. I _____________________ my dinner.
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3. Ann doesn’t know what to do. She _____________________ .
4. I wanted to speak to Martin yesterday but I _____________________ him.
5. Jim _____________________ to the concert next Saturday. He has to work.
6. Sarah _____________________ to the meeting last week. She was ill.

Exercise 8
Put in could or was/were able to. Sometimes either is possible. Use a negative
if necessary.

1. Suddenly all the lights went out. We _______________________ see a thing.


2. The computer went wrong, but luckily Emma _______________________ put
it right again.
3. There was a big party last night. You _______________________ hear the
music half a mile away.
4. I learnt to read music as a child. I _______________________ read it when I
was five.
5. People heard warnings about the flood, and they _______________________
move out in time.
6. The train was full. I _______________________ find a seat anywhere.

1.

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Key
Exercise 1
1. Can you swim?
2. Can you ski?
3. Can you do judo?
4. Can you play football?
5. Can you play the guitar?
6. Can you ride a horse?

Exercise 2
1. can’t come
2. can see
3. can’t hear
4. can’t find
5. can speak

Exercise 3
1. can’t play, can’t play 6. can program a computer
2. can ride, can drive 7. ride a motorbike
3. can use, can’t program 8. can play the guitar
4. can drive, can’t ride 9. can use a computer
5. can play

Exercise 4
A farmer can drive a tractor.
An interpreter can speak several languages.
A pilot can fly a plane.
An architect can draw buildings.
A chef can cook delicious food.
A computer programmer can write software.

Exercise 5
1. I can speak three languages brilliantly. 4. We can cook quite well.
2. Tom’s sister can play the guitar a (little) 5. They can’t skateboard at all.
bit. 6. She can play the piano very well.
3. He can’t say anything at all in Arabic. 7. He cannot ride a motorbike.

Exercise 6
1. could, couldn’t
2. could
3. couldn’t
4. couldn’t
5. couldn’t
6. could, could

Exercise 7
1. couldn’t sleep
2. couldn’t eat
3. can’t decide
4. couldn’t find
5. can’t go
6. couldn’t go

Exercise 8
1. couldn’t
2. was able to
3. could
4. could/was able to
5. were able to
6. couldn’t/wasn’t able to
5/5

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