Question

I. Put in suitable forms, which express ability:I 1. A good 1500-metre runner _____________________ run the race in under four minutes. 2. Bill is so unfit, he ________________________ (not) run at all. 3. Our teacher says we ______________________ speak English fluently in a few months. 4. When I was younger, I _____________________ speak Italian much better than I _______________________ now. 5. It took a long time but in the end Tony ____________________ save enough to buy his own hi-fi. 6. I’ve been trying for hours, but so far I (not) _______________________ get through on the phone. 7. Did you buy any fresh fish on the market? – No, I _______________________ (not) get any. 8. I think I_______________________ play tennis better after a bit of practice. 9. He has managed to live in England for years without ___________________ speak English. 10. For days the rescuers looked for the lost climbers in the snow. On the fourth day they saw them and _______________________ reach them without too much trouble. 11. I’m practising hard because I want to _______________________ pass my driving test first time. 12. I looked hard and __________________ see a man in the dark corner. 13. I’m looking hard but _______________ (not) see anything. - _________________ you hear them at least? – If I were a dog you’d wonder if I ________________ smell them.

Answer 1

1. A good 1500-metre runner __can__ run the race in under four minutes.

2. Bill is so unfit, he _can__ (not) run at all.

3. Our teacher says we _shall be able to__ speak English fluently in a few months.

4. When I was younger, I __could__ speak Italian much better than I _can__ now.

5. It took a long time but in the end Tony _was able to__ save enough to buy his own hi-fi.

6. I’ve been trying for hours, but so far I (have not) _been able to__ get through on the phone.

7. No, I __was__ (not) able toget any.

8. I think I__will be able to__ play tennis better after a bit of practice.

9. He has managed to live in England for years without _being able to__ speak English.

10. For days the rescuers looked for the lost climbers in the snow. On the fourth day they saw them and __were able____ reach them without too much trouble.

11. I’m practising hard because I want to __be able___ pass my driving test first time.

12. I looked hard and _was able to___ see a man in the dark corner.

13. I’m looking hard but __can__ (not) see anything. - ___Can___ you hear them at least? – If I were a dog you’d wonder if I __could___ smell them.