LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

11.2 Uses of modals (etc.) to express ability and inability

11.2C Ability in tenses other than the present and the past [> LEG 11.16]

Can and could are not 'complete verbs', so we use be able to and sometimes manage to if, for

example, we want to express the future or the present perfect [> 11.1B]:

I'll be able to pass my driving test after I have had a few lessons. Not */ can/I will can*

Write: Supply suitable forms of be able to in these sentences.

1 Our teacher says we speak English fluently in a few months.

2 I've been trying for hours, but so far I (not) get through on the phone.

3 If he had asked me earlier, I help him.

4 I'm sure she would have helped you if she

5 I think I play table tennis better after a bit of practice.

6 He has managed to live in England for years without speak English.

7 I'm practising hard because I want to pass my driving test first time.

8 If I sing, I would have loved to be an opera singer.

11.2D

Study:

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'Can/could' in place of 'is often' and 'was often' [> LEG 11.18]

Instead of: It's often cold in January. We can say: It can be cold in January.

Instead of: He was often naughty when he was a boy.

We can say: He could be naughty when he was a boy.

Write: Rewrite these sentences with can be or could be.

1 The sea is often rough in the harbour

2 She is bad tempered at times

3 She was often rude when she was a girl

4 It is often cold here in winter

5 He was often helpful when he wanted to be

11.2E Context

Write: Put in suitable forms which express ability.

JOURNEY'S END

The journey to Western Papua had been very hard. We^1 hocLAwt>.JM!in< аМе,Ло

make much progress in the heavy rain and we^2 only cross

rivers with great difficulty. After two month's journey, we^3

see smoke in the distance and knew we must be near a village. There was

another boiling river in front of us, but we^4 cross it by using

a rope bridge we had brought with us. At last we approached the village

and wondered how we^5 communicate with the chief. None

of us^6 speak the local language. Soon, a young, dignified

and smiling man approached us.^17 you speak English?' I

asked hopefully. 'Of course,' the young man replied. 'I was educated at

Oxford University. I'm Chief Naga. Welcome to my village!'

I'm Chief Naga