UNIT FOUR

1 THE VERB COULD (ABILITY)

1.1 MEANING.
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and
requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form
of "can."
Examples:

could
past
ability

Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. (past ability)

I could run ten miles in my twenties.

I couldn't run more than a mile in

my twenties.

I could speak Chinese when I was a

kid.

I couldn't speak Swahili.

"Could" cannot be used in positive

sentences in which you describe a
momentary or one-time ability.

"Could" can be used in negative

sentences in which you describe a
momentary or one-time ability.

Yesterday, I could lift the couch by

myself. Not Correct

Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch

by myself. Correct

1.2 FORMS:
COULD and COULDN'T are the past tense forms of CAN and CAN'T. COULD and
COULDN'T refers to ability or inability in the past.

We use COULD to mean that we were able to do something in the past.

Ex: When she was 1, she could walk.

We use COULDN'T to mean that we weren't able to do something in the past.

Ex: When she was 1, she couldn't speak.

1.3 CAN AND COULD FOR ABILITY

General Abilities
Some abilities are general: you have the skill to do it at any time you like.
I can play the accordion.
I could play the violin when I was a child.
Remember: modal verbs don't need an 's' for he/she/it, and always have an infinitive verb
(without 'to') after them.
He cans play the piano. X
He can play the piano.

They can to make delicious cakes. X

They can make delicious cakes.

Present

Past

+
?
+
?

General Abilities
I can speak 3 languages.
I can't speak Arabic.
Can you speak any languages?
I could speak some German when I was 15.
I couldn't speak any Spanish when I was 15.
Could you speak French when you were 15?

1.4 ACTIVITY ONE

For each sentence, choose between COULD and COULDN'T.

1. When I was young, I ..play the guitar: it was too difficult for me!
2. Her grandmother was bilingual: she .speak both English and Spanish.
3. Yesterday, Peter do that exercise alone. So, he called me for help.
4. In 1950, people.. use mobile phones.
5. When his mother was young, she ..skate but she can't do it any longer.
6. We open the door: it was locked from the inside!
7. In 1900, people. watch TV.
8. Mary's grandfather ..play chess and he was the best!
9. In 1945, people ..play video games.
10. But they play chess!
11. Peter play tennis last Monday: he had broken his arm!
12. When Ann was a teenager, she watch a horror film: it was too frightening for her!
13. Last Sunday, we ..take any photos in the museum: it was forbidden.
14. Mozart .play the piano when he was 5.

2. THE VERB USED TO

2.1 FORM:

[used to + VERB]

Example:

I used to go to the beach every day.

It is better not to use "used to" in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes
done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences
using Simple Past.
USE 1 Habit in the Past

"Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It
indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

2.2 EXAMPLES:

Jerry used to study English.

Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer.
I used to start work at 9 o'clock.
Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

used
used
used
used
used
used
used
used
used
used

to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to

develop websites.
jog every day.
paint.
smoke.
work from home.
live in California.
go to the beach every day.
sing in a choir.
like vegetables.
start work at 6 o'clock.

2.3 ACTIVITY TO PRACTICE FOR YOURSELF

used to

Complete the sentences with the affirmative, negative or interrogative form of used to and
the words in brackets. Use contractions where possible.
used to / didn't use to / didn't use to/ Did they use to / used to/ did you use to/
didn't use to/ used to
1. David Beckham

2. We

3.

have a computer, but we do now.

(they) work together?

4. That restaurant

5. She

6. Where

7. There

8. I

ANSWERS

play for Manchester United.

be a clothes shop.

like him, but now they're married.

(you) go to school?

be a police station here.

like vegetables, but I do now.

1. USED TO
2. DIDNT USE TO
3. DID THEY USE TO
4. USED TO
5. DIDNT USE TO
6. DID YOU USE TO
7. USED TO
8. DIDNT USE TO