English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Modal verbs: can, could, be able to

A. Underline the correct option.

1   Dogs can / could travel a long way to find food.

2   Most dogs can’t / couldn’t see the difference between red and green.

3   Often during World Wars I and II, people were not able to / can’t find survivors.

4   However, dogs were able to / will be able to find them.

5   They can / could also carry messages.

6   In the future, scientists will be able to / can make better robot dogs.

B. Make sentences by putting the words in the correct order.

1   bottle / I / open / can’t / this

      I can’t open this bottle.

2   couldn’t / name / her / remember / I

      …………………………………………

3   stand / child / able / The / wasn’t / to

      …………………………………………

4   at / meet / we / Can / 7?

      …………………………………………

5   question / He / the / answer / couldn’t

      …………………………………………

6   play / can’t / I / tennis

      …………………………………………

7   truck / drive / Can / a / she?

      …………………………………………

8   able / come / friends / My / weren’t / to

      …………………………………………

C. Circle the correct option.

1   I … use my mobile here – it doesn’t work.

      a can              b can’t

      c couldn’t      d wasn’t able to

2   In 1998, 20% of the world’s population … not write.

      a can              b can’t

      c could           d was able to

3   The box was very heavy – I … carry it.

      a will be able to

      b won’t be able to

      c can’t            d couldn’t

4   When I was younger, I … read a book in one day.

      a could           b can

      c will be able to    d can’t

5   I … take this to the post office. I haven’t got enough time.

      a can              b can’t

      c could           d couldn’t

6   I’m not busy. I … go to the post office for you.

      a can’t            b won’t be able to

      c can               d couldn’t

7   Don’t stay out late or you won’t … get up early.

      a could           b can

      c be able to   d can’t

8   The window was very small but my daughter … climb in.

      a wasn’t able to

b weren’t able to

      c won’t be able to

      d was able to

D. Complete the sentences using can, can’t, could, couldn’t, will be able to or won’t be able to and a verb from the box.

1   It’s too dark in here. I ……can’t read…… my book.

2   I want to learn Spanish. …………………. you …………………. another language?

3   When we move to the country next year, we …………………. a dog.

4   We don’t really know what life was like in the past. We …………………. only …………………. .

5   Bats …………………. very well but they have excellent hearing.

6   That film was really boring. …………………. you …………………. what it was about?

7   I couldn’t sleep last night. I …………………. a strange noise.

8   If I go to Australia to study, I …………………. home very often.

E. Make sentences about what you can / can’t do now, could / couldn’t do when you were younger or will / won’t be able to do in the future and write them in your notebook. Use expressions from the box or your own ideas.

Example: When I was four, I couldn’t speak English.

F. Circle the correct option.

1   My dog ………… understand about 20 words in Spanish.

      a canto     b can     c is able

2   But he ………… understand one word of English.

      a doesn’t can     b can’t     c can not

3   When the people ………… the survivor, their dogs helped them.

      a couldn’t find

      b can’t found

      c couldn’t found

4   My dog ………… very fast.

      a doesn’t can run

      b can’t run

      c cannot runs

5   A: Will the robot dog be able to swim?

      B: No, it ………… .

      a can’t     b isn’t     c won’t