This document discusses the differences between present and past ability using various ability expressions in English.
For present ability, it explains that "can" and "am/is/are able to" both express ability to do something currently, with "am/is/are able to" implying there may be some difficulties.
For past ability, it states that "could" expresses ability to do something in the past, while "was/were able to" implies there were potential difficulties but the action was still manageable then.
Several examples are provided to illustrate the uses of these ability expressions in the present and past tenses. Readers are then prompted to practice using the expressions in sentences about their own abilities from
PPresentresent AbilityAbility :CAN & AM-IS-ARE: CAN & AM-IS-ARE
ABLE TOABLE TO
*CAN
*AM-IS-ARE
ABLE TO
ABILITY TO DO
SOMETHING IN
THE PRESENT
3.
The Difference Between“CAN”
and “AM-IS-ARE ABLE TO”
CAN
AM-IS-ARE ABLE TO
*Ability to do something in the
present
*Ability to do something in
the present
*MANAGE to do something in
the present(includes some
difficulties)
I can speak English and French fluently.
Even though she has lost her left hand at an
accident, she is able to do housework
alone.
4.
Give it atry
1. Mary ……………… type very quickly.
2. After having lots of classes, Henry
………………… dance well enough now.
3. My sister ……………… run 100 metres in
15 minutes.No one at school is as good
as her at running.
4. On Saturday nights, you …………… watch
“Supernatural” re-runs on this channel.
can
is able to
is able to
can
5.
IT’S YOUR TURN
*Canyou drive a
car?
*Can you swim well?
*Can you
bellydance?
*Are you able
to juggle
three balls at
the same
time?*Are you able
to ride a bike
without
holding the
handle bars?
*Are you able to
dribble a
basketball?
PPastast AbilityAbility :COULD & WAS-WERE ABLE: COULD & WAS-WERE ABLE
TOTO
*COULD
*WAS-WERE
ABLE TO
ABILITY TO DO
SOMETHING IN
THE PAST
8.
The Difference Between“Could”
and “Was-Were Able to”
COULD
WAS-WERE ABLE TO
*Ability to do something in the past
*Ability to do something in
the past
*MANAGE to do something in
the past (includes some
difficulties)
When I was a child, I could climb the tall
trees easily.
After Titanic had sunk, nearly 700 people
were able to survive.
9.
Give it atry
1. I had a lot of work to do, but I …..
………………… finish it all in time.
2. Yesterday I ………………. wash the dishes
because the dish washer was broken.
3. After the ship had sunk, Rebecca ..
………………. swim to the shore and
survive.
4. Last year, I ……………… go on holiday but
this year there is no chance.
could
was able to
was able to
couldn’t
10.
When you Were5,
*Could you write
your name?
*Could you swim
well?
*Could you
memorize our
National
*Were you
able to tie
your shoes?
*Were you able
to play chess?
*Were you able
to climb tall
trees?
11.
TELL US
*What COULDyou do
when you were 11?
* What WERE you ABLE
TO do when you were
11?
• Use ______________or
__________________ to talk about:
• Past Ability or lack of ability
15.
Let’s do theexercises!
1 - My uncle was very clever.
He………………..speak 4 languages.
2 - My father wasn't at home when I
phoned , but I ……………….. contact
him later.
3 - A little boy fell into the river but
some men …………………… rescue
him.
4 - He had forgotten to bring his
camera so he ……………….. take any
could
could
were able to
couldn’t
16.
5- Although theyhad locked
themselves out of their apartment,
they ………………….. get in through
window.
6- After his operation, he had so
much pain that he …………………..
walk without help.
7- There was a lot of noise outside
last night but my father
…………………..sleep like a baby. How
weird!
8- My cousin is very talented. She
…………….
were able to
can
was able to
wasn’t able to