This document provides exercises to practice using modal verbs related to ability in English. It focuses on can and could to express ability and inability in the present and past tense. There are multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions asking about people's abilities to perform various actions like swim, see, speak languages, play instruments, ride vehicles, cook, and more. The exercises are designed to reinforce understanding and appropriate usage of can/can't and could/couldn't in different contexts.
This document provides exercises to practice using modal verbs related to ability in English. It focuses on can and could to express ability and inability in the present and past tense. There are multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions asking about people's abilities to perform various actions like swim, see, speak languages, play instruments, ride vehicles, cook, and more. The exercises are designed to reinforce understanding and appropriate usage of can/can't and could/couldn't in different contexts.
This document provides exercises to practice using modal verbs related to ability in English. It focuses on can and could to express ability and inability in the present and past tense. There are multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions asking about people's abilities to perform various actions like swim, see, speak languages, play instruments, ride vehicles, cook, and more. The exercises are designed to reinforce understanding and appropriate usage of can/can't and could/couldn't in different contexts.
This document provides exercises to practice using modal verbs related to ability in English. It focuses on can and could to express ability and inability in the present and past tense. There are multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions asking about people's abilities to perform various actions like swim, see, speak languages, play instruments, ride vehicles, cook, and more. The exercises are designed to reinforce understanding and appropriate usage of can/can't and could/couldn't in different contexts.
Exercise 2 Complete these sentences. Use can or can’t + one of these verbs.
* come * find * hear * see * speak *
1. I’m sorry but we __________________ to your party next Saturday.
2. I like this hotel room. You __________________ the mountains from the window. 3. You are speaking very quietly. I __________________ you. 4. Have you seen my bag? I __________________ it. 5. Catherine got the job because she __________________ five languages.
Exercise 3 Look at the table. What can the people do? What can’t they do? Complete the sentences with can or can’t + verb.
Thomas James Daniella Sarah
play the guitar play the piano use a computer program a computer ride a motorbike drive a car
1. Thomas _________________ the guitar and he _________________ the
piano. 2. Thomas_________________ a motorbike and he _________________ a car. 3. Thomas _________________ a computer, but he _________________ a computer. 4. James _________________ a car, but he _________________ a motorbike. 5. Only Sarah _______________________ the piano. 6. Only James _______________________. 7. Sarah and James can’t _________________, but Daniella and Thomas can. 8. Nobody _______________________ . 9. Everybody _______________________ .
Exercise 4 Complete the sentences with can and a verb from the box. Then match the questions and answers.
* play (2x) * speak * ride * use * cook * drive *
1. _________ you _______________ the piano ?
2. _________ you _______________ any other languages? 3. _________ you _______________ the guitar? 4. _________ you _______________ a motorbike ? 5. _________ you _______________ a computer ? 6. _________ you _______________ Italian food ? 7. _________ you _______________ a car ?
a. Yes I can. French and Spanish.
b. Yes I can, but I can’t program one. c. No, I can’t. I think they’re dangerous. d. No, I can’t, but I love eating it. e. No, I can’t, but I can play the piano. f. Yes I can. I like playing Mozart. g. Yes I can. I have a Fiat Punto.
Exercise 5 Complete the sentences with could or couldn't.
1. I ____________ walk when I was one, but I ____________ talk until I was three. 2. How old were you when you ____________ get dressed? 3. My daughter ____________ feed herself until she was four. 4. I ____________ sleep last night. My neighbour's TV was so loud! 5. I ____________ find you yesterday. Where were you? 6. 'When I was ____________ five I speak English and Russian.’ ‘____ you read English and Russian as well?'
Exercise 6 Complete the sentences. Use can’t or couldn’t + one of these verbs:
* eat * decide * find * go * go * sleep *
1. I was tired but I _____________________ .
2. I wasn’t hungry yesterday. I _____________________ my dinner. 3. Ann doesn’t know what to do. She _____________________ . 4. I wanted to speak to Martin yesterday but I _____________________ him. 5. Jim _____________________ to the concert next Saturday. He has to work. 6. Sarah _____________________ to the meeting last week. She was ill. ENGLISH PRACTICE
I. Using Time Expressions
Combine the verbs listed below with any time expression to write a complete sentence or a question.
Example: send this morning
Did you send the letter this morning? Or My grandparents sent the letter this morning.
1. do a. yesterday
2. go b. last week
3. be c. a few days ago
4. work d. a couple of hours ago
5. study e. this year
6. write f. last night
7. dream g. yesterday morning
8. talk h. last Tuesday
9. come i. a year ago
10. tell j. two months ago
Write your sentences here.
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
II. Verb Review (Present Progressive /Past)
1. Bob ___________________ (drive) to California 3 days ago.
2. I can’t come now. I _______________________ (do) my homework. 3. While her husband ______________________ (cook), Cathy _____________ (come) home. 4. Sue __________________________________ (take/not) her car yesterday. 5. Tom usually ____________________________ (have) coffee for breakfast. 6. When they _____________________________ (open) the door, everyone ______________________________________ (dance). 7. The boys ______________________________ (play) in the park now. 8. _____________ he _________________________ (tell) you about the accident last night? 9. The student __________________________ (answer/not) the question because he __________________________ (sleep) when she _________________ (ask) it. 10. They _____________________ (call) their parents every week.
III. Verb Review (Present/Past/Future)
1.Tom __________________ to a movie last weekend.
2. We ___________________ (eat) at that new restaurant next week. 3. Sometimes, Jean __________________ (do) all of her homework. 4. I _______________________________ (be/not) at school tomorrow. 5. They ____________________________ (dance) when I ___________ (come) in. 6. Steve ____________________________ (begin) a new job in 2 months. 7. I ________________________________ (feel) terrible a couple of days ago. 8. I can’t come right now because I ______________________________ (read). 9. Bob ___________________ (have/not) much money. 10. We ____________________ (catch) a lot of fish last weekend.
IV. Verb Review (Present/Past/Future)
Last night, I _______________________ (go) to a great party. Many people __________________ (be) there. From 8:00 to midnight, many people __________________ (dance). Other people _________________________ (talk). Some people ________________ (dance/not). I don’t think they ___________________________ (have) a good time. By the way, I really ___________________________ (like) to go to parties every weekend. Tomorrow, I ________________________ (take) my final exam. I _______________ (think) I _______________________ (get) a good grade. I _______________ (study) very hard light night. My friends ___________________ (want) to go to a movie. I _________________ (say) “no.”
