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 my 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.
Answer
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 my mouth, I could taste blood.
……………………………………….
8 He worked hard all term and could pass his exams.
……………………………………….
Answer
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)
……………………………………….
Answer
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 ……………………………………….
Answer
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. My 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 my 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!
Answer
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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