6.2.1: Past Modals of Ability
- Page ID
- 271288
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Ability in the Past
Was Able to and Could to Express Past Ability
In affirmative statements, you can use was/were able to for a specific event or a specific action that someone completed in the past. Do not use could.
Examples:
- I was able to get tickets for the concert on Saturday. It wasn’t easy!
- We were able to avoid heavy traffic by taking the beltway.
- Larry was able to pass the class although it was difficult.
Stative verbs are exceptions: see, taste, smell, hear, feel, understand, and remember
- I could see the garden from my window in my old house.
- Could you smell the perfume that lady was wearing?
- When my grammar teacher explained, I could usually understand.
Both could and was/were able to are correct in negative statements of past ability.
Examples:
- I couldn’t find my keys, but I was able to lock the door with my husband’s key.
- The worker could not repair the stove, so we had to buy a new one.
- I couldn’t find a parking space this morning.
Complete the two exercises and read the notes that follow them, then check the summary of rules.
Exercise 1:
Complete these sentences about past ability using the words from the list.
1. |
At the age of eight she___________ already speak three languages. |
2. |
And when she was ten she was_________ speak another two languages. |
3. |
When I was fifteen, I ____________ ride a motorbike. |
4. |
I also was not _____________ drive a car. |
5. |
Unfortunately, I _______________ find my keys last night. |
6. |
But I was ___________ unlock the door with a spare key. |
7. |
Although I wasn't__________ find the original keys. |
8. |
They were ____________contact the trapped miners several times. |
9. |
She ______________ smell gas coming from the stove. |
10. |
But she was not ____________________ find the source of the smell. |
11. |
I _________________understand anything that he was saying. |
12. |
We ____________________ hear a loud noise coming from the attic. |
Exercise 2:
Look at the sentences above and decide which words or expressions you can use to express the following. Put a check in the boxes that apply. There may be more than one answer to each usage.
Past Ability |
could |
couldn't |
able to |
not able to |
|
1. |
positive general ability in the past |
||||
2. |
positive ability on a particular occasion |
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3. |
negative general ability in the past |
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4. |
negative ability on a particular occasion |
||||
5. |
ability with the verbs remember, understand, see, hear, feel etc (+ and -) |
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6. |
ability on more than one occasion (+ive) |
Exercise 3: Past Ability—Using “could” and “be able to”: Specific Situation or General Ability
Write SS for specific situation and GA for general ability. Then, decide if the sentence can be written using “could.”
1.____ I was able to ride a bike when I was ten years old.
2.____ Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make a dentist appointment for this week.
3.____ We were able to get an excellent price on flights for our trip.
4.____ Sherry was able to run faster than her brother.
5.____ David was able to lift heavy boxes before his injury.
6.____ Randy was not able to walk after his surgery.
7.____ I used to be able to sing.
8.____ The students were able to pass the TSI test last fall.
9.____ Were you able to finish your homework?
Which of the above examples can also be written using “could?” Write the sentences that use “could” below.
Modals of Ability: Excerpt from Modals of Ability Possibility and Permission by Wikiwijs licensed under CREATIVE COMMONS a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
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Modals plus - talking about ability (can, could, be able to etc.)
The content can be found here: https://random-idea-english.blogspot.com/2011/02/modals-plus-talking-about-ability-can.html
Edited for ability level B1
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