can, could and be able to

1. Choose the correct alternative.

1) Why did you walk from the station? You could phone / could have phoned me for a lift.

2) I loved staying with grandparents when I was a child. They let me read all their books and told me I could go / was able to go to bed as late as I wanted.

3) This carpet was priced at £500, but I could get / was able to get a discount because of this little mark in the corner.

4) I couldn’t have got / haven’t been able to get online all morning. It’s making life impossible!

5) I’ve no idea where brother is now. He can be / could be at the North Pole for all I know.

6) It’s hard to imagine how scientists cope with the Antarctic climate. I’m sure I can’t / couldn’t.

7) We could cook / could have cooked in our holiday flat, but we preferred to eat out.

2. Tick (✓) the best sentence in each pair, or tick both if both are possible.

1)  a I broke new necklace but luckily sister could fix it for me. ✗

b I broke new necklace but luckily sister was able to fix it for me. ✓

2)  a Emily was with Tom when her phone was stolen, so she could use his to call me.

b Emily was with Tom when her phone was stolen, so she was able to use his to call me.

3)  a I didn’t enjoy the match because I forgot glasses. I couldn’t see the ball.

b I didn’t enjoy the match because I forgot glasses. I wasn’t able to see the ball.

4)  a In the end, Marion could come with us because her meeting was cancelled.

b In the end, Marion was able to come with us because her meeting was cancelled.

5)  a Toby couldn’t speak Dutch when he arrived in Holland, but he’s almost fluent now.

b Toby wasn’t able to speak Dutch when he arrived in Holland, but he’s almost fluent now.

6)  a I’d planned to get a taxi after the party, but luckily I could have a lift with Kate.

b I’d planned to get a taxi after the party, but luckily I was able to have a lift with Kate.

7)  a We really wanted to buy a new car last year, but we just couldn’t afford it.

b We really wanted to buy a new car last year, but we just weren’t able to afford it.

8)  a brother could read well by the age of seven, but he had problems with maths.

b brother was able to read well by the age of seven, but he had problems with maths.

9)  a Last night we heard a noise outside our window and when we turned off the light inside, we could see a fox by the rubbish bin.

b Last night we heard a noise outside our window and when we turned off the light inside, we were able to see a fox by the rubbish bin.

10)  a One day last week I locked sister out of the house by mistake, but luckily she could get in through an open window!

b One day last week I locked sister out of the house by mistake, but luckily she was able to get in through an open window!