English Advanced Grammar Exercises – Talking about ability exercise

1. Circle the correct answer. Choose both if both are correct.

1   His Spanish is good but he ………… speak French.

      a isn’t able to     b can’t

2   I keep hearing a mosquito, but I ………… see it.

      a am not able to     b can’t

3   My sister is a very shy person, although she ………… also be very funny at times.

      a can     b could

4   I had so little money with me that I ………… pay for my bus home.

      a could barely     b barely managed to

5   As the boat came closer, I grabbed the rope and ………… climb abroad.

      a could     b was able to

6   I got out of bed because I ………… smell burning.

      a could     b managed to

2. Rewrite the sentences changing the underlined form of be able to to one of the verb forms below.

can • could • could • couldn’t • managed to

1   On the third attempt, I was able to enter my password correctly.

     …………………………………….

2   It was dark, so I wasn’t able to see his face clearly.

     …………………………………….

3   Mozart was able to play the piano at a very young age.

     …………………………………….

4   If I saved up, I would be able to buy a new phone.

     …………………………………….

5   I’ll be able to text you tomorrow night.

     …………………………………….

3. Complete the sentences with the verb forms below.

be able to • being able to • to be able to

1   You should …………………… see France from here.

2   I hate not …………………… speak their language.

3   He’s too old now …………………… travel for free.

4   My grandfather remembers …………………… park next to the runway at airports.

5   You must …………………… get a phone signal here.

4. Complete the text with the correct forms of the verbs below. Only use a form of be able to if no other verbs are possible.

(not) be able to • can / can’t • could / couldn’t

managed to / didn’t manage to

The Antarctic is a hostile environment to explore. Not only (1) ………………… the temperature drop well below -50^oC, but also fierce blizzards sometimes mean not (2) ………………… leave your tent for days on end. And yet the region has always fascinated explorers, many of whom go there hoping (3) ………………… reach the South Pole. The first person to reach it was the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who (4) ………………… get there in December 1911. A British expedition led by Robert Scott also (5) ………………… reach the Pole, but 33 days after Amundsen. Tragically, Scott and his men (6) ………………… complete the return journey, and died.

Improvements in transport and communications mean that these days anyone (7) ………………… visit the Antarctic, and several holiday companies offer excursions there. In the future, though, new laws (8) ………………… limit the number of visitors, in order to protect the natural environment and wildlife.

5. Write a true sentence about:

1   something you managed to do despite difficulties.

     ………………………………………..

2   somewhere you wish you could visit.

     ………………………………………..

3   something you hope to be able to do soon.

     ………………………………………..

4   something you’ve never been able to do.

     ………………………………………..

5   somebody who can do something you find surprising and / or impressive.

     ………………………………………..

6. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrases below.

able / depart • be able / relax • be able / sing • can / be / easy

can / get • can / go • manage / prove • must / be able / reach

1   If I pass the exam, I …………………… all summer.

2   Many scientists believe that there is actually more than one universe, but so far nobody …………………… it.

3   We …………………… any further because the road was closed.

4   The flight …………………… because of bad weather, so we had to wait around in the airport all day.

5   Put medicines and any dangerous household chemicals in a locked cupboard – children …………………… them.

6   Max …………………… the invitation, or he would definitely be here.

7   I’d love …………………… well, but unfortunately my voice is terrible.

8   I don’t know how Børge Ousland managed to walk across the Arctic to Canada. It certainly …………………… .