Fill in the blanks with can, could or be able to.
1. This game ……………… be played by two people.
Be able to is not normally used in passive structures.
2. How many mangoes ………………. get?
We do not normally use could to say that somebody managed to do something on one occasion.
3. She …………… speak six languages.
Be able to often has the same meaning as can.
4. Chennai …………….. be very warm in summer.
We often use ‘can’ to say what is common or typical.
5. I ………………. so I didn’t go in for the race.
6. I …………….. the race if I tried.
We can use could have + past participle to talk about hypothetical situations.
7. I ………………… understand what you want.
Be able to often has the same meaning as can.
8. One day, I ………………… afford a home and a car.
Can is not grammatically possible in future tenses.
9. I might ……………….. come.
Can and could are not possible after modal auxiliary verbs.
10. War …………….. break out any day.
11. ……………… I ask you something if you are not too busy?
12. You ………………. borrow my car if you asked.
In the second conditional, we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would / could + infinitive in the main clause.
Answers
1. This game can be played by two people.
2. How many mangoes were you able to get?
3. She is able to / can speak six languages.
4. Chennai can be very warm in summer.
5. I couldn’t have won so I didn’t go in for the race.
6. I could have won the race if I tried.
7. I can’t / am unable to understand what you want.
8. One day, I will be able to afford a home and a car.
9. I might be able to come.
10. War can / could break out any day.
11. Can / Could I ask you something if you are not too busy?
12. You could borrow my car if you asked.
