Выражение способности, возможности

Способность или возможность совершения какого-либо действия выражается при помощи модального глагола can, его эквивалента to be able (to) и выражения managed (to).
1. To be able (to) означает то же, что и can, но can употребляется намного чаще. To be able (to) более официален.
Can you come to a meeting next week? Ты сможешь прийти на собрание на следующей неделе?
Please inform us if you are able to attend a meeting next week. Пожалуйста, сообщите нам, сможете ли Вы присутствовать на заседании на следующей неделе.
2. Was/were able (to) используется для выражения единоразового действия в определённой ситуации или повторяющихся действий в прошлом.

I was able to go on a trip round the city last week. Я смог (мне удалось) поехать на экскурсию по городу на прошлой неделе. (единоразовое действие)

Для выражения единоразового действия в прошлом также может использоваться выражение managed to. I managed to get up early today.

Could используется для выражения способности/возможности повторяющихся действий в прошлом иупотребляется чаще, чем was/were able (to).
I could swim when I was four. Я умел плавать, когда мне было четыре года.

Have /has been able to используется в Present Perfect: I have been able to swim since I was four. Я умею плавать с четырех лет.

Исключением данного правила являются глаголы чувства и восприятия. С такими глаголами употребляется модальный глагол could.
When we came into the building, I could smell something burning. Когда мы вошли в здание я почувствовал запах чего-то горящего.
We could remember where I lost my passport. Я смог вспомнить, где потерял свой паспорт.
Couldn't используется для выражения неспособности/невозможности совершения действия в прошлом.
My mother couldn't swim until she was 47. Моя мама не умела плавать до 47 лет.
I couldn't find my wallet anywhere. Я нигде не мог найти свой бумажник.
Примечание: Can и can't могут использоваться для выражения будущего действия, если говорящий решает в момент разговора (то есть наверняка знает) что cможет или не сможет совершить его.
I can see you tomorrow morning for half an hour. Я смогу встретиться с тобой завтра утром на полчаса.
Сравните:
One day we will be able to live without wars. Когда-нибудь мы сможем жить без войн.

Exercises

1. Заполните пропуски в следующих предложениях, используя can или (be) able to.

1. I haven't been able to sleep very well recently.

2. Gary has travelled a lot. He _______speak five languages.

3. Nicole _________ drive, but she doesn't have a car.

4. I used to ________ stand on my head, but I can't do it any more.

5. I can't understand Mark. I've never ________ understand him.

6. I can't see you on Friday, but I ______ meet you on Saturday morning.

7. Ask Katherine about your problem. She might _______ help you.

8. I’d like ________ travel abroad more.

9. I’ve never _______ understand Maths.

10. One day, everybody will ______ travel where they want.

2. Заполните пропуски в следующих предложениях, используя can/can't/could/couldn't+ глаголы в рамке:

come eat speak give hear cross run use sleep wait

1. I'm afraid I can’t come to your party next week.

2. When Dan was 16, he ______ 100 metres in 11 seconds.

3. 'Are you in a hurry?' 'No, I've got plenty of time. I __________.

4. I was feeling sick yesterday. I _______anything.

5. Can you speak a little louder? I________ you very well.

6. 'You look tired.' 'Yes, I ________last night.

7. I _____ speak French really well when I lived in Paris.

8. I ______ a lift home if you like.

9. You ____ the street when the light is red.

10. I _____ the Internet yesterday because I had forgotten to pay for it.

3. Заполните пропуски в следующих диалогах, используя can / can't, could / couldn't, was / wasn't able to или have been able to.

1. A: I'd like to speak to Mr Turner, please.

B: I'm sorry but Mr Turner can’t come to the phone right now. He's busy.

2. I ________ ride a bicycle until I was ten. B: Well, I didn't learn until I was twelve.

3. A: Maxim was a very talented child.

B: I know. He _______ play the violin when he was seven.

4. A: How was the test, Lily? B: It was difficult but I ______ answer all the questions.

5. A: ______ you swim, Sophie? B: Of course. I ______ swim since I was five.

A: Is Kim good at languages?

B: Yes, she ______ already speak French, German and Spanish.

4. Заполните пропуски, используя were able to, managed to или couldn’t и глаголы в скобках.

We had some bad problems on our trip. First of all, we couldn’t (get) a taxi to the airport because they were all busy. We rang lots of numbers and eventually we 1)_______ (get) one and we 2)_______ (arrive) at the airport just in time. When we arrived at the other end, we 3)_______ (find) a trolley for all our bags but we 4) ______ (carry) them to the bus. We 5) ______ (find) our hotel without any problems so that was good. The next day, we 6) ______ (book) a tour of the city and we 7)______ (see) al the famous sights. Unfortunately, we 8)_______ (take) any photos because the camera wasn’t working. The next day, I 9) _______ (get) any money because I 10)_______ (use) my card in any of the cash machines. After several hours, we 11)______ (find) a bank which accepted my card, which was lucky. At the end of the trip, we 12) ______ (come) home without any problems, I’m pleased to say!

5. Заполните пропуски в следующих предложениях, используя could, couldn't или managed to.

1. My grandfather travelled a lot. He could speak five languages.

2. I looked everywhere for the book, but I ________find it.

3. They didn't want to come with us at first, but we ______ persuade them.

4. Laura had hurt her leg and _________ walk very well.

5. I ran my first marathon recently. It was very hard, but I _______ finish.

6. I looked very carefully and I ______ see somebody in the distance.

7. I wanted to buy some tomatoes. The first shop I went to didn't have any, but I

________ get some in the next shop.

8. My grandmother loved music. She _______ play the piano very well.

9. A girl fell into the river, but fortunately we _______ pull her out.

10. I had forgotten to bring my camera, so I ________ take any pictures.

6. Заполните пропуски в следующем разговоре, используя can/can’t или will/won’t be able to и слова в скобках.

James: Can you go/will you be able to go (you/go) to the game tomorrow?

Paul: Yes, 1)_______ (I/go) and I’m looking forward to it.

James: 2) ________ (we/discuss) our plans for going to the game now?

Paul: Yes, of course. I’m sure 3) ______(we/arrange) everything now.

James: OK. 4) ________ (we/go) in your car tomorrow night? 5)_______ (We/use) my car because it isn’t working.

Paul: Oh, 6) _________ (you/borrow) your father’s car?

James: No, 7) _______ (he/lend) it to me he needs it then.

Paul: 8) _______ (we/get) there on public transport?

James: Well, 9) _______ (we/take) a train that goes all the way but 10) _______ (we/get) one that stops near the stadium. 11) ______ (I/look up) the train details on the internet now.

Paul: Oh, 12) _____ (you/do) that now? That’s great.

Review

1. Заполните пропуски в следующих предложениях, используя can, be able to / manage to в нужной форме. Иногда возможны два варианта.

1. I ______ go to Paul’s house tomorrow.

2. He ______ pass the exam because he had studied hard.

3. Tim ______ finish his report yesterday. He had to deal with some urgent problems in his department.

4. She _____ go dancing with you tomorrow because of her bad leg.

5. I _____ ride a bike when I was four, but I _____ now.

6. He ______ see the exhibition yesterday. He arrived in the city just on the last day.

7. Andy played well, but Jack ______ beat him.

8. I _____ call them yet, but I _______ call them tomorrow.

9. We didn't know where David was, but we ______ find him in the end.

10. He ______ drive since he was 18.

11. As a child, I _______(not) make friends.

12. He _______ see a building just once and remember everything about it.

13. He _______ (not) sit still for more than 15 minutes.

14. I ________ clean the house in about two hours.

15. They _______ to break the record.

2. Вычеркните вариант, который невозможно использовать в следующих предложениях.

1. We didn’t manage to/couldn’t/didn’t manage to John this morning.

2. I can/am able to/do able to speak five languages.

3. Ugo could/managed to/was able to finish the report yesterday.

4. Twenty years ago, I was able to/can/could run ten kilometers.

5. Few of us can/are managed to/are able to work without technology these days.

6. Women didn’t able to/weren’t able to/couldn’t vote in Switzerland until 1971.

7. I can’t/’m not able/’m not manage to come to class tomorrow.

8. When we finished the work, we were able to/could to/could have a break.

9. Are you able to/Do you can/Can you use a computer?

10. Did you manage/Were you able/Could you to do your homework?