Can, Could, Able to Exercise Created on July 06, 2020Can, Could, Able to Exercise Complete the gaps in the sentences with the following: can, could or be able to.Careful! More than one answer can be correct! 1 / 36 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. can to be able to 2 / 36 We __________ (weren't able to / couldn't) do the English exercises. They were too difficult. weren't able to / couldn't couldn't 3 / 36 __________ (able) reserve a table at the restaurant? Did you able to You have been able to Have you been able to 4 / 36 I'm sorry that I _________ (not / able) to come to the theatre with you last night. weren't able to didn't able to wasn't able to 5 / 36 He ________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) speak to her because she wasn't there. wasn't able to / couldn't wasn't able to 6 / 36 What famous man __________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) speak until he was 3 years old? Winston Churchill! couldn't wasn't able to / couldn't 7 / 36 It was very hard for her to remember the past and she _________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) tell us what happened. wasn't able to / couldn't couldn't 8 / 36 The doctor _________ (able) see you right now. He has another appointment. isn't able isn't able to aren't able to 9 / 36 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). True False 10 / 36 I'm much better now. I should ________ (be able to / can) walk in a couple of days. be able to can 11 / 36 When I go to Malta next month, I _______ (able) practise my English. will be able to was able to will able to 12 / 36 I looked in every shop for some new shoes. Finally, I ________ (was able to / could) find some in the very last shop.! could was able to 13 / 36 He's very happy now that he ________ (has been able to / could) find a new job. He starts tomorrow. has been able to could 14 / 36 He ________ (could / was able to) speak before learned how to walk. could could / was able to 15 / 36 I _________ (not / able) make dinner yet. The baby hasn't stopped crying. haven't been able haven't been able to wasn't able to 16 / 36 I'm very tired. I _________ (haven't been able to / couldn't) sleep recently. haven't been able to couldn't 17 / 36 It was a very difficult football match. But, in the end, we ________ (were able to/could) beat the other team. could were able to 18 / 36 We need someone who _________ (can / is able to) speak English very well. can / is able to can 19 / 36 I _________ (not / able) accept the job because it was too far away. weren't able to am not able to wasn't able to 20 / 36 Now that she has lived in her own apartment for the last 3 months, she _________ (is able to / can) cook really well. can is able to / can 21 / 36 I forgot to bring my phone so, I ________ (wasn't able to / couldn't) phone you. couldn't wasn't able to / couldn't 22 / 36 _________ (I can't / I'm not able to) call him because my telephone is out of battery. I need to charge it. I can't / I'm not able to I'm not able to 23 / 36 We ___________ (haven't been able to / could) go on holiday this year. We don't have enough money. could haven't been able to 24 / 36 You need _______ (able) swim if you want to go diving. to are able to to be able to to be able 25 / 36 Have you spoken to Jane yet? No, her mobile must be switched off. I _______ to able to talk to her yet. haven't been able to isn't able to wasn't able to 26 / 36 Is this sentence true or false? You can use couldn't for all the same situations as wasn't able to. True False 27 / 36 Is this sentence true or false? The structure to be able to is more formal or polite than can. True False 28 / 36 Although the boat caught fire, everyone _______ (was able to/could) escape. could was able to 29 / 36 We will be on holiday next month so we ________ (not / able) go to your party. isn't able to won't be able to haven't been able to 30 / 36 She ________ (not / able) to walk since she was 10 months old. is able to has been able to was able to 31 / 36 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. False True 32 / 36 The experts say that everyone _________ learn another language. is able to was able to are able to 33 / 36 She __________ (not / able) do any shopping because she forgot her money. weren't able to wasn't able to wasn't able 34 / 36 Will you ________ (able) come to my wedding? be able are able to be able to 35 / 36 I've always wanted __________ (able) speak another language. to be able to am able to were able to 36 / 36 Fortunately, the police _________ (able) rescue the family that was trapped in the car. were able to was able to is able to Your score is Please RATE this exercise and leave a comment below! Send feedback Have To / Must / ShouldAble To Exercise Share this Post