Modals of Ability/Permission: Can, Could – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You just bought a new smartphone and you are posting a review online to complain about how terrible your old device was. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “My old phone was so bad. It ______ even take clear photos.”
(A) couldn’t to
(B) didn’t can
(C) couldn’t
(D) shouldn’t
2 “I am so happy with my new smartphone! The old one ______ connect to the Wi-Fi properly.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t
(C) wasn’t able
(D) didn’t could
3 “Five years ago, my laptop was terrible. I ______ play any 3D games on it.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) don’t can
(C) mustn’t
(D) couldn’t to
4 “My old tablet was so slow that it ______ open two apps at the same time.”
(A) shouldn’t
(B) wasn’t can
(C) can’t
(D) couldn’t
5 “I threw away my old camera because it ______ record videos at night.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) didn’t can
(C) wouldn’t
(D) couldn’t to
6 “Now I can download movies in seconds, but my previous phone ______ do that.”
(A) didn’t could
(B) couldn’t
(C) can’t
(D) shouldn’t
7 “With my old device, I ______ store many songs because it only had 8GB of memory.”
(A) couldn’t to
(B) wasn’t able
(C) couldn’t
(D) didn’t can
8 “Look at this new screen! My old monitor ______ display colors this brightly.”
(A) can’t
(B) couldn’t to
(C) shouldn’t
(D) couldn’t
9 “Before I bought this new smartwatch, my old watch ______ track my heart rate.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) don’t can
(C) mustn’t
(D) didn’t could
10 “I love my new phone’s battery. My last phone ______ even last a full day without charging.”
(A) couldn’t to
(B) couldn’t
(C) can’t
(D) wasn’t able
11 “The speakers on my old laptop were broken, so it ______ play any sound.”
(A) didn’t can
(B) shouldn’t
(C) couldn’t
(D) couldn’t to
12 “I can finally use GPS on my trips. My old phone ______ find my location accurately.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) didn’t could
(D) mustn’t
13 “My previous phone had a terrible microphone. People ______ hear me when I called them.”
(A) don’t can
(B) couldn’t to
(C) couldn’t
(D) shouldn’t
14 “I am glad I upgraded. The old system was so outdated that it ______ run the latest updates.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) didn’t can
(C) wasn’t able
(D) can’t
15 “While my new phone is waterproof, my old one ______ survive even a drop of rain.”
(A) shouldn’t
(B) couldn’t to
(C) couldn’t
(D) didn’t could
16 “I tried fixing my old computer last year, but it just ______ handle modern software anymore.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) mustn’t
(D) couldn’t to
17 “My friends used to send me emojis, but my old basic phone ______ read them; they just looked like square boxes.”
(A) wasn’t able
(B) couldn’t
(C) didn’t can
(D) shouldn’t
18 “Although it was cheap, I regret buying that old printer because it ______ print in color.”
(A) couldn’t to
(B) couldn’t
(C) can’t
(D) don’t can
19 “I ______ send large files for my homework on my old phone, so I always had to borrow my mom’s laptop.”
(A) didn’t could
(B) shouldn’t
(C) couldn’t to
(D) couldn’t
20 “The old model was completely useless in the dark. You ______ see anything on the screen without a flashlight.”
(A) couldn’t
(B) can’t
(C) wasn’t able
(D) didn’t can
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Expresses the inability of the device in the past.
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t to is a Structural Error (modals do not take “to”). (B) didn’t can is a Common Mistake (wrong negative formation). (D) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap (implies it was a bad idea to take photos, not that it lacked the ability).
2 (B) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Past inability of the old phone.
- Error Analysis: (A) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (C) wasn’t able is a Meaning Trap / Structural Error (missing “to”). (D) didn’t could is a Structural Error.
3 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Refers to a lack of ability five years ago.
- Error Analysis: (B) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (C) mustn’t is a Meaning Trap (implies prohibition). (D) couldn’t to is a Structural Error.
4 (D) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Describes what the slow tablet was unable to do.
- Error Analysis: (A) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (B) wasn’t can is a Structural Error. (C) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense).
5 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: States why the camera was thrown away (past lack of function).
- Error Analysis: (B) didn’t can is a Common Mistake. (C) wouldn’t is a Strong Distractor (implies the camera “refused” to do it, but “couldn’t” is better for a lack of technical capability). (D) couldn’t to is a Structural Error.
6 (B) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Contrasts the present ability (“can”) with past inability (“couldn’t”).
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t could is a Structural Error. (C) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (D) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
7 (C) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: The 8GB memory created an inability to store songs in the past.
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (B) wasn’t able is a Strong Distractor (missing “to”). (D) didn’t can is a Common Mistake.
8 (D) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Comparing the old monitor’s past lack of ability to the new one.
- Error Analysis: (A) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (B) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (C) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
9 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Past technical limitation.
- Error Analysis: (B) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (C) mustn’t is a Meaning Trap. (D) didn’t could is a Structural Error.
10 (B) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Describes the poor battery performance of the past phone.
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (C) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (D) wasn’t able is a Strong Distractor (missing “to”).
11 (C) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: The consequence of broken speakers in the past.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t can is a Common Mistake. (B) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (D) couldn’t to is a Structural Error.
12 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Past inability to find a location.
- Error Analysis: (B) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (C) didn’t could is a Structural Error. (D) mustn’t is a Meaning Trap.
13 (C) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Inability of other people to hear due to the bad microphone.
- Error Analysis: (A) don’t can is a Common Mistake. (B) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (D) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
14 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: The old system lacked the power to run updates.
- Error Analysis: (B) didn’t can is a Common Mistake. (C) wasn’t able is a Strong Distractor (missing “to”). (D) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense).
15 (C) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Contrasting the waterproof new phone with the fragile old one.
- Error Analysis: (A) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (B) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (D) didn’t could is a Structural Error.
16 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Shows the computer lacked the capability (“handle modern software”).
- Error Analysis: (B) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (C) mustn’t is a Meaning Trap. (D) couldn’t to is a Structural Error.
17 (B) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: A software limitation of the old basic phone.
- Error Analysis: (A) wasn’t able is a Strong Distractor (missing “to”). (C) didn’t can is a Common Mistake. (D) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap.
18 (B) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Complaining about a past purchase lacking a specific feature.
- Error Analysis: (A) couldn’t to is a Structural Error. (C) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (D) don’t can is a Common Mistake.
19 (D) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: Personal inability caused by the device’s limitations.
- Error Analysis: (A) didn’t could is a Structural Error. (B) shouldn’t is a Meaning Trap. (C) couldn’t to is a Structural Error.
20 (A) couldn’t
- Why it’s right: General past inability caused by the bad screen.
- Error Analysis: (B) can’t is a Common Mistake (wrong tense). (C) wasn’t able is a Strong Distractor (missing “to”). (D) didn’t can is a Common Mistake.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Machines have “Abilities” too: We often think of “can” and “could” only for human skills (like swimming or speaking languages). However, in English, we use can/could to describe the functions and technical capabilities of devices (e.g., My phone can take great photos).
- Complaining about the Past: When writing a review or comparing a new item to an old one, use “couldn’t” to highlight the missing features or poor performance of the old device (e.g., It couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi).
- Watch out for the “Able” Trap: A common distractor is “wasn’t able”. While “wasn’t able to” has the exact same meaning as “couldn’t”, test writers will often drop the word “to” to trick you. If you don’t see “to”, you must choose “couldn’t”.
- No Double Negatives: Never combine “did” or “do” with modal verbs. Say “couldn’t”, never “didn’t could” or “didn’t can”.