Exercises

Exercise 1

Open the brackets using the correct form of the infinitive. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. I wonder who broke the cup; it can’t (to be) the cat for she was out all day.

2. Is it your dog running in the garden? - No, it can’t (to be) my dog. My dog is at home.

3. He couldn’t (to catch) the 9.20 train because he didn’t leave home till 9.25.

4. She can’t (to read) four hours running. She has read only two pages.

5. He says he saw you at the theatre yesterday. – He couldn’t (to see) me. I wasn’t there.

6. He returned home with a tiger cub. His wife can’t (to be) very pleased about that.

7. The door was open. – It couldn’t (to be) open. I had locked it myself and the key was in my pocket.

8. I saw Ann in the library yesterday. – You couldn’t (to see) her, she is still abroad.

9. The lecturer is a tall thin man with white hair. – Then it can’t (to be) Dr. Smith because he is short and fat.

10. We went sailing on a lake in a park. I think it was the Round Pond. – It couldn’t (to be) the Round Pond, there are only toy boats there.

11. I suppose it is Charles who always leaves the kitchen in such a mess. – No, it can’t (to be) Charles. He never has a meal in.

12. We went to a restaurant and had a very good dinner for 75p. – You couldn’t (to have) a very good dinner if you only paid 75p.

Exercise 2

Analyze the form could in the following sentences. State whether it denotes the past or the unreality of the action. Translate the combinations of could with the infinitive.

1. He could reel off line after line of poetry when he was a child.

2. He told us that the place could be reached by car.

3. I could see through the window that the room was empty.

4. I could tell you many things if you would only care to listen.

5. She’s as tall as you are. She could wear your things.

6. You simply did not care. Why. You could have lent him the money.

7. The game was as good as lost. Nothing could have saved “The Ramblers”.

8. By the evening I had gone through the pile of papers. It was no use. I could not find any mention of the case.

9. Don’t try to find excuses for her. She could at least offer to help you put the house to rights after the party. But she won’t, not she.

10. The last copy was sold. I could have cried.

11. We had to tell him everything. We could not have managed without his help.

12. So you walked the whole way, carrying that heavy suitcase. Why couldn’t you ask somebody for a lift?

Exercise 3

In the following sentences could denotes unreality. Refer the situation to the past by changing the form of the infinitive.

Model: Could you do anything for her? (now)

Could you have done anything for her? (then)

1. Only an immediate operation could save her now.

2. I could get there in less than two hours in my car.

3. I couldn’t make a cake without eggs anyway.

4. Could you translate this without a dictionary?

5. How could you get in touch with her? You don’t know where she is.

6. I could refuse her nothing.

7. Don’t do that. A better way out could be found.

8. Of course I could ask Father to post it for me.

9. Jackie could stay with Edna. She would love to have him.

10. You could take it to the cleaner’s on the way to town and I’d get it back in time for the party.

Exercise 4

Form requests, ask for permission to do something, give permission to do something, express prohibition using the following word-combinations:

1. to help somebody with his work;

2. to do something directly one returns;

3. to take somebody’s picture;

4. to have cream with one’s tea;

5. to drop in at a shop for some face-cream.

Model: to discuss the subject with one’s friends

1. request – Can (could) you discuss the subject with your friends?

2. asking for permission – Can (could) I discuss the subject with my friends?

3. permission – You can discuss the subject with your friends.

4. prohibition – You can’t discuss the subject with your friends.

Exercise 5

Express strong and very strong doubt about the statements made in the following sentences.

Model: 1. –She did not trust him from the start.

• Can she have mistrusted him …

• She can’t have mistrusted him …

2. – She didn’t explain to me how to do it.

- Can she have failed to explain to him …

- She can’t have failed to explain to him …

1. She did not leave her address.

2. She doesn’t believe his story.

3. She didn’t recognize him when they met on the platform.

4. They didn’t deliver the mail in time.

5. Mother didn’t understand my directions.

6. You didn’t buy the butter.

Exercise 6

Study the following chart. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

Can in the meaning of ability, Can in the meaning of supposition with

capability, permission, prohibition. implied surprise, disbelief, doubt.

1. I can swim very well. 1. It can’t be true.

2. He can speak French. 2. He can’t have escaped by this window because it

is barred.

3. Can I borrow your bicycle? 3. Could he have learned Chinese in a

4. You can’t keep this book, month’s time?

it doesn’t belong to you. 4. He said that he watered the plants every day.

He could have watered them. If he had

they wouldn’t have died,

Practise the following according to the model.

Model: A: He says he saw Mary at the dance.

B: He couldn’t have seen her. She wasn’t there.

He says he …

1. had an argument with Tom at the party ( Tom wasn’t there ).

2. came up by the lift. (The lift wasn’t working).

3. carried it himself. (It weighs a ton).

4. got sunburn in Hyde Park in November. (The sun isn’t strong enough).

5. swam across the Irish sea. (It is too wide).

6. heard your clock strike. (My clock doesn’t strike).

7. went there by train. (The railway line is closed).

Exercise 7

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. Why did you walk all the way from the station? You could phone / could have phoned for a lift.

2. I loved staying with my grandparents when I was a child. They let me read all the books in the house and told me I could / was able to go to bed as late as I wanted.

3. The carpet was priced at $500, but I could / was able to get a discount because of this little mark in the corner.

4. I couldn’t have found / haven’t been able to find my diary for days. It’s terribly inconvenient.

5. As soon as she opened the door I could / was able to see from her face that something terrible had happened.

6. I’ve no idea where my brother is now. He can / could be at the North Pole for all I know.

7. It’s difficult to understand how explorers survive the conditions they encounter in the Antarctic. I’m sure I can’t / couldn’t.

8. Why did I listen to you? I can be / could have been at home by now instead of sitting here in the cold.

9. The day started off musty, but by the time we had reached the mountain the sun had appeared and we could / were able to climb it quite quickly.

Exercise 8

Express strong doubt about the statements made in the following negative sentences. Translate them into Ukrainian.

Model:

He didn’t notice you.

1. Can (could) he have failed to notice you?

2. He can’t (couldn’t) have failed to notice you.

He doesn’t like it here.

1. Can (could) he dislike it here?

2. He can’t (couldn’t) dislike it here.

We didn’t see him do it.

1. Can (could) nobody have seen him do it?

2. Nobody can (could) have seen him do it.

1. You didn’t understand me.

2. You didn’t like the play.

3. They do not trust him.

4. They didn’t find him there.

5. People don’t want to go there.

6. She didn’t notice the mistake.

7. They didn’t receive the telegram in time.

8. They don’t realize the full significance of the event.

9. He did not see you.

10. She did not lose sight of them in the crowd.

Exercise 9

Paraphrase the following sentences using can / could in the required meaning.

1. You are allowed to take up to 20 kilograms without paying extra when travelling by air.

2. I’m convinced that it is possible for all peoples in the world to live in peace and friendship.

3. Do you know how to drive a car?

4. Is it possible that we have been asleep for more than 3 hours?

5. The teacher said that he allowed the children to go home.

6. The doctor said that the patient was not permitted to leave the hospital as he needed a longer course of medical treatment.

7. Will you be so kind as to tell me the way to the nearest post-office?

8. Would she be able to become a skilled engineer?

9. I wonder how she managed to learn to speak so many foreign languages.

10. It’s hardly like that she has been completely cured.

11. It’s unbelievable that she has failed to get in touch with him.

12. I’m so glad you were able to get here in time and help the man.

13. Is it possible to have my prescription made up here? – No, we aren’t open yet.

Exercise 10

a) Answer these questions about personal qualities:

Can you always tell people what you really think?

Can you relax with people you don’t know/

Can you usually get what you want?

Can you keep calm in stressful situations?

Can you keep your temper under control?

Can you laugh at yourself?

Can you always see both sides of an argument?

Can you ignore criticism easily?

Can you express your feeling easily?

b) Work in pairs. Tell each other what you can or can’t do. Are you similar or different? Expand your answers:

I can’t always tell people what I think. Can you? No, I can’t. …

c) Match the descriptions in a) with compound adjectives from the list below. There may be more than one possibility:

Outspoken

Good-humoured

Easy-going

Strong-willed

Well-behaved

Short-sighted

Short-tempered

Thick-skinned

Outgoing

Soft-hearted

Hard-working

Left-handed

Middle-aged

Fair-minded

Cool-headed

Self-assured

Old-fashioned

World-famous

d) Make up sentences that describe each compound adjective:

Someone who can always tell people what they really think is outspoken.

Exercise 11

Complete the sentences with the correct form of can, could or be able to.

Model: He’s very fit for his age. He ___ (run) very fast. – He can run very fast.

I’d like ___ (work) with you one day. – I’d like to be able to work with you one day.

1. He ___ (not climb) up to the top; he was too scared.

2. If they hadn’t phoned for an ambulance, he ___ (die).

3. I love ___ (spend) all morning in bed at the weekends.

4. We ___ (go) to that concert tomorrow if the tickets haven’t been sold out.

5. I think you should go in the spring; it ___ (be) very crowded there in the summer.

6. I ___ (not understand) what he says; he speaks too quickly.

7. Do you know where Nick’s glasses are? He ___ (not see) very much without them.

8. ___ (speak) another language fluently is a great advantage when you are looking for a job.

9. Jonathan ___ (not say) anything until he was about three years old.

10. We ___ (not phone her up) because her phone had broken, but fortunately we ___ (get) a message to her.

11. Amy’s exam results weren’t very good. She ___ (do) better.

12. I ___ (not sleep) very well for the last four nights. It’s been too hot.

13. She tried to think of other things but she ___ (not put) that awful memory out of her mind.

14. You should ___ (go out) when you want to.

15. ___ you (come) to the party on Saturday.

16. I ___ (ride) this bike soon: I just need more time to practise.

17. He doesn’t do very much when he’s here. He ___ (be) more helpful.

18. I ___ (play) tennis really well a few years ago, but not any more.

Exercise 12

Complete the following sentences using could or was / were able to.

1. He asked to lend him $ 10. I hadn’t got $ 10, but _____ lend him $5, and he was grateful.

2. The fishing boat sank, but fortunately the fisherman _____ swim to the shore.

3. The woman ____ describe the pickpocket to the police; she told them he was a thin little man, wearing a dirty raincoat.

4. It was a fine day yesterday, so we _____ have a picnic, and we enjoyed it very much.

5. He suddenly felt ill, but he _____ finish his speech, although at the end he could hardly stand.

6. He spoke very little French when he left school, but he _____ understand the language.

7. I got to the station at 9.50 a.m. and ____ catch the 9.55 a.m. train. I was very pleased I didn’t have to wait for the next train.

8. The sick man has a restless night, but he ____ sleep for an hour or two.

9. She ____ visit her friend every morning before she got married if she wanted to, but now she can’t; she has too much to do in the house.

10. The town was full of visitors, and we didn’t know where we would spend the night, but at last we _____ find two vacant rooms in a small hotel.

11. Before his illness, he ____ work fourteen hours a day if he had to.

12. I was a long way from the stage. I _____ see all right but I ____ not hear very well.

13. I knew the town so I _____ advise him where to go.

14. When the garage had repaired our car we _____ continue our journey.

15. When I arrived everyone was asleep. Fortunately I _____ wake my sister and she let me in.

Exercise 13

In the Future Indefinite Tense be able to has the following forms: shall/will be able to; shall not / will not be able to (shan’t / won’t be able to). Fill in the spaces with these forms.

1. When they buy a car, they ____ be able to visit their friends more often.

2. I’m sorry, but I ____ come to your birthday party next week.

3. I saw a terrible bus accident in London a year ago. I _____ never ____ forget it.

4. It’s very cold, and the old man _____ go out until the weather gets warmer.

5. Why do you sit at the back of the class if you can’t hear well? You ____ hear better if you sit in the front.

6. Do you think you _____ support yourself when you are twenty-one?

7. I’m too busy to have a holiday this year, but I hope I _____ have a long holiday next year.

8. The train leaves at five o’clock tomorrow morning. We _____ catch it if we don’t get up early.

9. He was working very hard before he fell ill. He ____ work so hard when he comes out of hospital.

10. Perhaps one day we _____ travel to the moon.

11. The little girl is still ill, but she’s getting better. The doctor hopes she _____ go back to school after the summer holidays.

12. This is a very difficult problem. I’m afraid you _____ solve it without help.

13. The doctor is very busy; he _____ see any more patients today.

14. He _____ spend more time with his grandchildren when she retires the year after next.

15. Mr. Brown is learning Ukrainian, but he doesn’t think he ___ ever ____ speak the language well.

16. Jack has hurt his knee, and he ____ play football next Saturday.

Exercise 14

Fill in the blanks with can or be able in different tenses.

1. When I’ve passed my driving test I ____ hire a car from our local garage.

2. When the fog lifts we ____ see where we are.

3. You’ve put too much in your rucksack, you never ___ carry all that.

4. When I was a child I ____ (not) understand the adults, and now that I’m an adult I ____ (not) children.

5. When you have taken your degree you ____ put letters after your name.

6. When I first went to Spain I ____ read Spanish but I ____ (not) speak it.

7. He was very strong; he ____ ski all day and dance all night.

8. The car plunged into the river. The driver ____ get out but the passengers were drowned.

9. We ____ borrow umbrellas; so we didn’t get wet.

10. I had no key so I ____ lock the door.

11. The swimmer was very tired but he ____ reach the shore before he collapsed.

12. The police were suspicious at first but I ____ convince them that we were innocent.

13. She made the wall very high so that the boys ____ (not) climb over it.

14. They took his passport so that he ____ (not) leave the country.

15. They used to chain valuable books to library desks so that people ____ (not) take them away.

16. If you had had the right tools ____ you have repaired the engine?

Exercise 15

Find Ukrainian equivalents of the following proverbs. Use them in the situations of your own.

1. What is done, cannot be undone.

2. Love cannot be forced.

3. Change of habit cannot alter nature.

4. Can leopard change its spots?

5. Old friends cannot be sacrificed for new ones.

6. You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.

7. Success in the ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in the pocket.

8. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

9. A man can do no more than he can.

10. What can’t be cured must be endured.