1. Choose the correct answers. Sometimes both answers are acceptable.
1 Could you / Were you able to book tickets for the festival?
2) I answered the phone, but couldn’t / didn’t manage to hear anyone’s voice on the other end.
3) I’ll take phone to the USA, but I can’t / won’t be able to make any calls from there.
4) We’re having a party next weekend. Can you / Will you be able to come?
5) When the flood came, we managed / were able to climb onto the roof
6) Although she lives in Spain, she can’t / isn’t able to speak Spanish.
7) I could smell / succeeded in smelling gas as soon as I walked through the door.
8) The hill was very steep but we could / managed to cycle to the top.
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1) Were you able to 2) couldn’t 3) can’t / won’t be able to
4) Can you / Will you be able to 5) were able to
6) can’t / isn’t able to 7) could smell 8) managed to
2. Tick ✓ the correct sentences. Rewrite the ones which do not use can or could/couldn’t correctly.
1) Sorry, I can’t give you a lift to the party tomorrow.
________
2) As soon as Jo arrived, I could see she was upset.
________
3) The car park was dark, but we could find our car.
________
4) I’m worried that I can’t drive when I’m older.
________
5) They couldn’t get on the bus because it was full.
________
6) At the age of eleven, Barenboim could play all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.
________
7) As soon as the ball hit mouth, I could taste blood.
________
8) He worked hard all term and could pass his exams.
________
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1) ✓ 2 ✓
3) The car park was dark, but we were able to / managed to find our car.
4) I’m worried that I won’t be able to drive when I’m older.
5) ✓ 6) ✓ 7) ✓
8) He worked hard all term and was able to / managed to pass his exams.
3. Rewrite the sentences without changing the meaning. Include the words in brackets.
1) Were you able to visit your cousins? (manage)
________
2) I can’t play tennis next Friday, I’m afraid. (able)
________
3) Will you be able to help at the summer fair? (can)
________
4) I was able to book the last seat on the flight. (succeeded)
________
5) Were you able to swim when you were five? (could)
________
Show answers
1) Did you manage to visit your cousins?
2) I won’t be able to play tennis next Friday, I’m afraid.
3) Can you help at the summer fair?
4) I succeeded in booking the last seat on the flight.
5) Could you swim when you were five?
4. Translate the sentences in exercise 3 into your own language.
1) _____
2) _____
3) _____
4) _____
5) _____
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Your own answers
5. Complete the dialogue with the correct forms of can, could, be able to and manage to. There may be more than one correct answer.
Leo 1 _______ finish your science project last night?
Mia No. brother had some friends round. They were so noisy. I 2) _______ concentrate!
Leo 3 _______ work on it tonight? I 4) _______ help you, if you like. I’m interested in climate change.
Mia Thanks. I 5) _______ find some statistics online, but I need to show them as diagrams.
Leo 6 _______ you draw? I’m not very good.
Mia Yes. I 7) _______ draw pretty well. Although I 8) _______ probably do it better when I was ten. It was favourite hobby. But I don’t have time now ___
Leo Don’t worry. After your exams, you 9) _______ spend more time on your hobbies.
Mia I 10) _______ wait!
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1) Were you able to / Did you manage to
2) couldn’t / wasn’t able to
3) Can you / Will you be able to
4) can / ‘ll be able to
5) can / ‘ll be able to / ‘ll manage to
6) can 7) can 8) could 9) can / ‘ll be able to 10) can’t
Challenge!
Complete the sentences with your own ideas.
A few years ago, I could ________
A few years ago, I managed to ________
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