AbilityAbility

PPast ast AbilityAbility

PPresentresent AbilityAbility*CAN

*BE ABLE TO

*COULD

am-is-are able to

*BE ABLE TO

was-were able to

PPresentresent Ability Ability : CAN & AM-IS-ARE : CAN & AM-IS-ARE ABLE TOABLE TO

*CAN*AM-IS-ARE ABLE TO

ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING IN THE PRESENT

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.

Give it a try

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

IT’S YOUR TURN *Can you 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?

TELL US

*What CAN you do?

* What ARE you ABLE TO do?

PPast ast AbilityAbility : COULD & WAS-WERE ABLE : COULD & WAS-WERE ABLE TOTO

*COULD*WAS-WERE ABLE TO

ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING IN THE PAST

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.

Give it a try

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. coul

d

was able to

was able to

couldn’t

When you were 5, *Could you write your name?

*Could you swim well?

*Could you memorize our National Anthem?

*Were you able to tie your shoes?

*Were you able to play chess?

*Were you able to climb tall trees?

TELL US

*What COULD you do when you were 11?

* What WERE you ABLE TO do when

you were 11?

FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE RULES

Use ___________ or _____________ to talk about:

• Present (current) ability or lack of ability

• Use ______________ or

__________________ to talk about:• Past Ability or lack of ability

Let’s do the exercises!

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 photos of the wedding.

could

could

were able tocouldn’t

5- Although they had 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 …………….

dance, play the violin, swim very well and even juggle three balls!

were able to

can

was able to

wasn’t able to

THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION