Can, Could, Able to Exercise

Is this sentence true or false? Although we use can for ability, we use the form to be able to for particular situations (i.e. to manage or finally succeed).

She __________ (not / able) do any shopping because she forgot her money.

We need someone who _________ (can / is able to) speak English very well.

Is this sentence true or false? We use can or could for ability (i.e. knowledge to do something) more often than we use to be able to.

The experts say that everyone _________ learn another language.

I _________ (not / able) accept the job because it was too far away.

__________ (able) reserve a table at the restaurant?

She ________ (not / able) to walk since she was 10 months old.

I'm sorry that I _________ (not / able) to come to the theatre with you last night.

You need _______ (able) swim if you want to go diving.

Now that she has lived in her own apartment for the last 3 months, she _________ (is able to / can) cook really well.

We will be on holiday next month so we ________ (not / able) go to your party.

I _________ (not / able) make dinner yet. The baby hasn't stopped crying.

The doctor _________ (able) see you right now. He has another appointment.

We ___________ (haven't been able to / could) go on holiday this year. We don't have enough money.

When I go to Malta next month, I _______ (able) practise my English.

What famous man __________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) speak until he was 3 years old? Winston Churchill!

I've always wanted __________ (able) speak another language.

I forgot to bring my phone so, I ________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) phone you.

I'm very tired. I _________ (haven't been able to / couldn't) sleep recently.

It was a very difficult football match. But, in the end, we ________ (were able to/could) beat the other team.

We __________ (weren't able to / couldn't) do the English exercises. They were too difficult.

Will you ________ (able) come to my wedding?

Have you spoken to Jane yet? No, her mobile must be switched off. I _______ to able to talk to her yet.

Is this sentence true or false? You can use couldn't for all the same situations as wasn't able to.

It was very hard for her to remember the past and she _________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) tell us what happened.

He ________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) speak to her because she wasn't there.

_________ (I can't / I'm not able to) call him because my telephone is out of battery. I need to charge it.

I'm much better now. I should ________ (be able to / can) walk in a couple of days.

He's very happy now that he ________ (has been able to / could) find a new job. He starts tomorrow.

Fortunately, the police _________ (able) rescue the family that was trapped in the car.

I looked in every shop for some new shoes. Finally, I ________ (was able to / could) find some in the very last shop.!

When we were young, we used ________ (to be able to / can) play football on the street. There are too many cars to do that now.

He ________ (could / was able to) speak before learned how to walk.

Is this sentence true or false? The structure to be able to is more formal or polite than can.

Although the boat caught fire, everyone _______ (was able to/could) escape.