Ability: can and could

1 Choose the correct words a, b or c.

0. When I was a child, I ___________ ride
a bike.
a) cant
b) didnt can c) couldnt
1
1. My sister is really clever. She
_________
speak three languages.
a can
b cant
c
cans
2 Henry doesnt like lakes. He _________
swim.
a can
b can to
c cant
3 Two years ago he _________ speak
English.
a coulds
b couldnt
c could to
4 Mr Jones is 74 now so he _________
play football.
a can
b couldnt c cant
5 My father _________ run very fast when
he was my age.
a could
b could to c can

2. I ________________ (watch) that

programme last night because I had to
go out.
3. He ________________ (play) last week
because he was injured.
4. He eats in restaurants all the time
because he ________________ (cook).
5. I ________________ (give) you a lift1 in
my car because it isnt working at the
moment.
6. I didnt have a good seat in the
theatre, so I ________________ (see) the
stage2 very well.
7. John doesnt need a calculator. He
________________ (do) very difficult sums
in his head
Translate the following sentences into
English:
1. No puedo levantar esta caja porque
es muy pesada.

2. Mi hija sabe conducir.

2 Make sentences about Plum family using
could.
1. Mr Plum / speak / 10 languages when
he / be / 20 Mr Plum could speak 10
languages when he was 20.

3. El cantante tena dolor de garganta

as que no pudo cantar muy bien ayer
por la noche.

2. Simon Plum / drink / 10 litres of orange

juice a day when he / be / 5

4. Mi madre sabe cocinar muy bien.

3. Mrs Plum / swim / 10 kilometres when
she / be / 21

5. Tengo una memoria fantstica. Puedo

recordar las cosas muy fcilmente.

4. Gransmother Plum / dance / all evening

when she / be / 60
5. Joan Plum / ride / a bike when she / be / 2

6. Daniel nunca va a la piscina porque

no sabe nadar.

3. Complete the sentences with can, cant

or couldnt and the verbs in brackets.

1. You dont have to shout. I

_____________ (hear) you very well.

7. No pudimos esquiar ayer porque no

haba nieve en las montaas.

7. Complete the sentences with the present

continuous form of the verbs in the box.

not cook do
eat
not listen
not play
study
talk
text
wait
1 They _________________________ tennis.
They
_________________________ in the library.
2 What ______________ you _______________
here?
______________ you ______________ for
someone?
3 We ____________________ dinner at home
this evening. We ____________________ in a
restaurant.
4 The teacher _______________________ but
James _______________________. He
____________ ___________ a friend on his
mobile.
8. Correct the mistakes. One question is
correct.
1 Your brothers are sleeping?
______________________________________
2 Why am I helping her?
______________________________________
3 What is they hunting?
______________________________________
4 Where he is hiding?
______________________________________
5 Who are she looking for?
______________________________________

9. Write present continuous questions

for the
answers. Use a question word where
necessary.
Why are you running?
Im running because Im late!
1
No, Im not studying tonight.
2
Hes going to Germany on holiday.
3
No, the sharks arent hunting the seals.
4
Yes, youre swimming fast.
5
Im reading a book about crocodiles.

10. Put the verbs in brackets into the

Present Simple or Continuous (15
points):
a) Dan never ____________ (listen) to
rock music. He _________ (hate) it.
b) Look! The baby ________________
(wear) a hat on his head.
c) My friends and I ______________ (not

like) the new shopping centre.

d) Mike and his brother rarely
__________________ (wash) the dishes.
e) Melanie and Arthur ________________
(read) a book right now.
f) Listen! The birds _______________
(sing).
g) We ____________ (feed) our dog twice
a day.
h) Tina _____ usually _________ (not get)
good marks at school.
i) _______ Max _____________ (cook)
bananas at the moment?
j) Where _______ Simon and his parents
___________ (live)?
k) Uncle Ed __________________ (not
paint) a picture now.
l) ______ you usually ___________ (go) to
school by bus?
m) The dog and the cat ______________
(not sleep) right now. They
_______________ (play).
11. Write sentences with the present
simple or present continuous form.
1 Paul is a teacher.
there / be / 30 children in his class
___________________________________________
2 Im Scottish. I / not come / from England
___________________________________________
3 Youre late! everyone / wait / for you
___________________________________________
4 Jenny looks upset. she / cry / ?
___________________________________________
5 My mums a nurse. what / your mum /
do / ?
___________________________________________
6 Callum hurt his leg yesterday.
he / not play / football / today
___________________________________________
12. Correct the mistakes. Two sentences are
correct.
1 We dont getting up early every day.
2 I am never listening to her when she
complains.
3 What are you thinking about Jens
personality?

4 Who is sitting next to you today?

5 The boys tease Ben because hes got a
black eye.

6 She doesnt like him because hes

arrogant.
7 Im eating in a restaurant about three
times a year.

5
4 Look at the information about Sally and Natalie.
TThen write Sally or Natalie.
S
born

Sally

17/11/96

hheight 1 m 60 cm
wweight

53 kg

Natalie
23/11/96

****

Shes taller than her friend. Natalie

1 Shes younger than her friend. ___________
2 Shes heavier than her friend. ___________
3 Shes shorter than her friend. ___________
4 Shes more artistic than her friend. ___________
Look at the information in exercise 4 again. Then write Sally, Natalie or Eliza.

17/12/96

1 m 75 cm

1 m 65 cm

64 kg

58 kg

rrun 100m 12.2 secs 12.00 secs

aart skills

Eliza

**

12.5 secs
*****