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    Can Could Be Able To

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    Danyfive
    This document discusses modals of ability in 3 sentences: It introduces modals as auxiliary verbs that indicate ability, permission, obligation, likelihood, or probability. It distinguishes between general and specific ability, giving examples of abilities one can have at any time versus in a particular situation. Finally, it lists common modals of ability - can/can't for present, could/couldn't for past, and be able to for specific past ability - and provides examples of their use.

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    Can Could Be Able To

    Uploaded by

    Danyfive
    677 views2 pages
    This document discusses modals of ability in 3 sentences: It introduces modals as auxiliary verbs that indicate ability, permission, obligation, likelihood, or probability. It distinguishes between general and specific ability, giving examples of abilities one can have at any time versus in a particular situation. Finally, it lists common modals of ability - can/can't for present, could/couldn't for past, and be able to for specific past ability - and provides examples of their use.

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    Grammar Exercises

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    This document discusses modals of ability in 3 sentences: It introduces modals as auxiliary verbs that indicate ability, permission, obligation, likelihood, or probability. It distinguishes between general and specific ability, giving examples of abilities one can have at any time versus in a particular situation. Finally, it lists common modals of ability - can/can't for present, could/couldn't for past, and be able to for specific past ability - and provides examples of their use.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    677 views2 pages

    Can Could Be Able To

    Uploaded by

    Danyfive
    This document discusses modals of ability in 3 sentences: It introduces modals as auxiliary verbs that indicate ability, permission, obligation, likelihood, or probability. It distinguishes between general and specific ability, giving examples of abilities one can have at any time versus in a particular situation. Finally, it lists common modals of ability - can/can't for present, could/couldn't for past, and be able to for specific past ability - and provides examples of their use.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    MODALS 3: ABILITY

    A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate ‘modality’ – permission, ability

    obligation, likelihood, probability.

    ABILITY
    When we talk about general ability we talk about something that once you have learned you

    can do it any time you want, like being able to read or speak a language.

    When we talk about specific ability we talk about something that you can or can’t do in a

    particular situation. For example, being able to move something very heavy or find something

    you are looking for.

    We can use one of the following to express ability.

    MODAL MEANING / USE EXAMPLE


    Present ability
    I can speak English.
    can / can’t General and
    He can’t drive today. He’s too tired.
    specific ability
    could / Past ability
    I could read when I was four.
    couldn’t General ability
    was/were Past ability I was able to get tickets for the concert but they finished
    able to Specific ability right after I bought mine.
    Ability that you
    could have + I could have studied medicine but I preferred to become a
    had in the past but
    past participle nurse.
    didn’t use
    will / won’t be Future ability
    At the end of the course you will be able to speak French.
    able to General ability
    Future ability I can help you tomorrow if you need me to.
    can / can’t
    Specific ability I can’t come to school tomorrow.

    NOW GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND COMPLETE THE PRACTICE EXERCISE

    ESTE DOCUMENTO ES PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL DE MAXUS SERVICIOS LINGÜISTICOS S.L. CIF B-95719118.
    QUEDA PROHIBIDA LA COMERCIALIZACION O USO CON FINES COMERCIALES POR PERSONAS Y COMPAÑIAS AJENAS A MAXUS SERVICIOS
    LINGÜISTICOS U AQUELLAS QUE NO HAYAN PEDIDO AUTORIZACION EXPRESA PARA SU USO COMERCIAL.
    PRACTICE EXERCISE: MODALS OF ABILITY

    A. Complete the following sentences with an appropriate modal verb.

    Use ‘can’, ‘can’t’, ‘could’, ‘couldn’t’, ‘be able to’.

    1. ________________ you swim when you were ten?

    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. I ________________ find it in the end, so I left.

    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.

    YOU CAN PRINT THIS PAGE TO DO THE EXERCISE. THE ANSWERS WILL BE GIVEN TOMORROW.

    ESTE DOCUMENTO ES PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL DE MAXUS SERVICIOS LINGÜISTICOS S.L. CIF B-95719118.
    QUEDA PROHIBIDA LA COMERCIALIZACION O USO CON FINES COMERCIALES POR PERSONAS Y COMPAÑIAS AJENAS A MAXUS SERVICIOS
    LINGÜISTICOS U AQUELLAS QUE NO HAYAN PEDIDO AUTORIZACION EXPRESA PARA SU USO COMERCIAL.

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