CAN AND COULD

general ability We use can and could to talk about (present or past) general ability. Be able can often be used with similar meanings. Look! I can do it! I can read Italian, but I cant speak it. She could read when she was four. (or She was able to read when she was four.) Note we dont normally use could to say that somebody managed to do something on a specific occasion. Instead we use was/were able to, managed to, succeeded in ... How many eggs were you able to get? I managed to find a really nice dress in the sale. We succeeded in getting to the top of the mountain. could used for particular occasions in the past

Can for abilities Read and answer these questions. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Can you read in a crowded bus? Can you type with all your fingers? Can you use a computer? Can you repair a car? Can you cook a meal? Can you write with both hands? Can you touch the tip of your nose with your tongue? Word box Its easy. Its too hard.

Think of one thing you can do. If you can, think of an unusual thing. ............................................................................................................................................. Think of one thing you cant do. If you can, think of a very common thing. ............................................................................................................................................. Complete the sentences. I can use ................................................. I can cook ............................................... I can remember ...................................... I can type ............................................... I can play ............................................... I can write .............................................. I can repair ............................................. I can drive .............................................. I can open ............................................... I can sing ................................................

Answer the following questions. 1. Could you walk when you were 1 year old? ................................................................ 2. Could you ride a bike when you were 5 years old? ...................................................... 3. Could you read and write when you were 6 years old? ................................................ Can for permission What about your country? At what age can you vote? drive a car? open a bank account? buy cigarettes? get married? ............................................................................................................................................. Can and could for requests. Use can or could to write the questions for these situations Example: You want your brother to pass the milk to you at table. Could you pass me the milk, please? / Can you pass me the milk, please? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. You want your friend to lend you his book. You ask a friend to get you a cup of tea. You ask your friend to wait a minute youre not quite ready to go. Youre at a film with some noisy children. You ask them to be quiet and listen. You want your teacher to write a word on the board. You ask an official to show you where to sign a form. You ask a police officer where the bank is.

Fill in the blanks with can or could, cant or couldnt 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. When I was two years old I .......................... ride a bike. ...................................... speak French? Not very well ................................ you pass me the salt, please? You ........................... go to the party. You know youre grounded. I ...................... believe what I saw! It was terrible.

Could and was / were able to

We can use could to say that someone had the general ability to do something in the past. I could swim when I was 4 years old. My grandmother could speak Italian and Swedish. But when we want to say that someone had the ability to do something, and that they did it in a particular situation, we must use was / were able to (could is not possible) Even though my leg hurt, I was able to swim back to the boat. The manager wasnt in the office for very long, but we were able to speak to him for a few minutes. We can use managed to (+ infinitive) instead of was or were able to in this meaning. We normally use managed to when the action was difficult to do. Even though my leg hurt, I managed to swim back to the boat. There is an exception with the verbs of perception (see, hear, smell, taste, feel, etc) and some verbs of thinking (understand, remember). We use could with these verbs when we actually did this in particular situations. We could see a man in the garden. She didnt speak very clearly but I could understand what she said. We use could not (contraction: couldnt) for both general ability and particular situations. My grandmother couldnt speak German. He tried very hard, but he couldnt swim to the boat. Can has no infinitive, -ing form or participles. So, when necessary, we make these forms with be able to. Id like to be able to play the piano. In the future, people will be able to live in other planets. Ive been able to drive since I was 18. I like being able to earn my own money. Fill in the blanks using can, could or a form of be able to. Examples: He has lived in France for six months. He can speak French very well now. Ill be able to go shopping later today. 1. When Robert was younger he ...........................................run quite fast. 2. Look! You .......................... see the mountains from this window.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

How long ................................................................ play the guitar? Im sorry, but I ............................................ (not) to come to the party next Saturday. We ............................................. put the fire out before much damage was done. She enjoys .............................................. speak foreign languages. I ..................................... (not) finish all the work you wanted me to finish yesterday. ........................................ I ask you a personal question?