Could ( do ) and Could have ( done ) Exercises

UNIT 26   Could ( do ) and Could have ( have ) Exercises

26.1   Make suggestions. Use could.

Example: Where should we go for our vacation? (Mexico) We could go to Mexico.
1.   What should we have for dinner tonight? (fish) ______________________________________

2.   When should we go and see Tom? (on Friday) _______________________________________

3.   What should I give Ann for her birthday? (a book) _______________________________________


26.2   Use could have. Answer the questions in the way shown.
Example: "Did you go to the movies?"
No. We could have gone to the movies, but we decided not to,

1.   ''Did you go to the concert last night?''            "No. We________________________________________________

2.   "Did John take the exam?''        "No. He________________________________________________________

3.   "Did you buy a new car?''         ''No. I__________________________________________________________


26.3   Write sentences with could or could have.

Examples: She doesn't want to stay with Linda. But she could stay with Linda.
                   She didn't want to stay with Linda. But she could have stayed with Linda.

1.   He didn't want to help us.    But he_____________________________________________

2.   He doesn't want to help us.   But_________________________________________________

3.   They don't want to lend any money.    But___________________________________________________

4.   She didn't want to have anything to eat.      _______________________________________________________


26.4   First read this information about Ken:

Ken doesn't know any Spanish.                                            Ken doesn't know anything about machines.
Ken is very rich and generous.                                                                       Ken can't drive.
Ken was free on Monday afternoon.                                                  Ken was sick on Friday night.

A lot of people wanted Ken to do different things last week, but they couldn't contact him. So he didn't do any of these things. Say whether he could have done or couldn't have done these things (if he had known).
Example: His aunt wanted him to drive her to the station.
He coudn't have driven her the station (because he can't drive.)

1.   Ann wanted him to come to a party on Friday night.
He________________________________________because__________________________________________

2.   Jim wanted him to play tennis on Monday afternoon.
He____________________________________________________________________________________________

3.   Sue wanted him to translate a Spanish newspaper article into English.
____________________________________________because__________________________________________

5.   Jack wanted Ken to lend him $20._______________________________________________________________

4.   Ken's mother wanted him to fix her washing machine.
____________________________________________because__________________________________________























Answers

26.1

1- We could have fish.

2- We could go and see on Monday.

3- You could give her a book.

26.2

1- could have gone there but we decided not to.

2- could have taken it but he decided not to.

3- could have bought a new car but i decided no to.

26.3

1- could have helped us.

2- he could help us.

3- they could lend us some.

4- But she could have had something to eat.

26.4

1- couldn't have come to a party because he was sick.

2- could have played tennis on Monday afternoon because he was free.

3- He couldn't have traslated it because he doesn't know any spanish.

4- He could have lent Jack $20 because he is very rich and generous.

5- He couldn't have fixed it beause he doesn't know anything about machines.

Could( do ) and Could have ( done )

UNIT 26   Could (do) and could have (done)

A.   Study this example:

Dan: What do you want to do this evening?
Sue: We could go to the movies.

We use could (do) in a number of ways. Sometimes it is the past of can (do), but sometimes it has a present or future meaning. For example, we sometimes use could to talk about possible future actions, especially when we make suggestions:

"When you go to New York, you could stay with Linda.''

Can is also possible in these sentences. ("We can go to the movies.'')
Could is more unsure than can.                        


We also use could to talk about possible future happenings:

• There could be another rise in the price of gas soon. (= It is possible that there will be)

Sometimes could means would be able to:

• Why doesn't Tom apply for the job? He could get it.

• I don't know how she works 14 hours a day. I couldn't do it.

B.   The past of could (do) is could have (done). We use could have (done) to say that we had the ability or the opportunity to do something but did not do it:

• We didn't go out last night. We could have gone to the movies, but we decided to stay home. (we had the opportunity to go out, but we didn't.)

• Why did you stay at a hotel in New York? You could have stayed with Linda. (You had the opportunity to stay with her but you didn't.)

• Why didn't Tom apply for the job? He could have gotten it. (He had the ability to get it.)

We also use could have (done) to say something was a possibility but didn't happen:

• He was lucky when he fell off the ladder. He could have hurt himself.

C.   Here are some examples of couldn't have (done). "I couldn't have done something" = I wouldn't have been able to do it if I had wanted or tried to do it:

• When I went to New York last year, I decided not to stay with Linda. Later I found out that she was away while I was there, so I couldn't have stayed with her anyway.

• The hockey game was canceled last week. Tom couldn't have played anyway because he was sick.

Can, Could and Be able to Exercises

UNIT 25 Can, Could and Be able to Exercises.

25.1   Use can or be able to. Sometimes it is possible to use either, sometimes only be able to
is possible.

Examples: George has traveled a lot. He can or (is able to) speak four languages.
                   I haven't been able to sleep very well lately.

1.   Tom_________________________________drive, but he doesn't have a car.

2.   I can't understand Martin. I've never___________________________________understand him.

3.   I used to______________________________________stand on my head, but I can't do it now.

4.   Ask Ann about your problem. She should________________________________help you.


25.2   Complete the sentence with could . . .

Example: I can't sing now, but I could sing very well when I was a child.

1.   He can't play tennis very well now, but he__________________________fairly well when he was younger.

2.   She can't run very fast now, but when she was in school she__________________________faster than anyone else.

3.   I can't swim very far these days, but ten years ago I____________________________ from one side of the lake to the other.                        


25.3   Answer the questions with was/were able to
Example: Did you persuade them?
                  Yes. It was difficult, but we were able to persuade them.

1.   Did they find your house?

Yes. It took them a long time, but they_________________________________________________

2.   Did you win the match?

 It wasn't easy, but I______________________________________________

3.   Did the thief escape?

Yes. The police officer chased the thief, but he_______________________________________


25.4   Complete each sentence with could, was/were able to, or couldn't.

Examples: My grandfather was very clever. He could (or was able to) speak five languages.
                    I looked everywhere for the book, but I couldn't find it.
                   The fire spread quickly, but everyone was able to escape.

1.   He had hurt his leg, so he_________________________________walk very well

2.   She wasn't at home when I called, but I___________________________contact her at her office

3.   I looked very carefully, and I _______________________see a figure in the distance

4.   They didn't have any tomatoes in the first store I went to, but I___________________________get some in the next store.

5.   My grandmother loved music. She_______________________________play the piano very well.

6.   The boy fell into the river, but fortunately we_______________________________rescue him.

Can, Could, and Be able to

UNIT 25  Can, Could, and Be able to

A.   We use can (do) to say that something is possible or that someone has the ability to do something. The negative is can't (cannot).

• You can see the ocean from our bedroom window.

• Can you speak any foreign languages?

• I'm afraid I can't come to your party next Friday.

Be able to is possible instead of can, but can is more usual.

• Are you able to speak any foreign languages?

But can has only two forms: can (present) and could (past). So sometimes you have to use be able to:

• I haven't been able to sleep recently. (can has no present perfect)

• Sue might not be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)

• I'm very busy today, but I should be able to meet with you tomorrow.

B.   Could and was able to

Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with these verbs:  

see                hear                smell              taste              feel                  remember              understand

• When we went into the house, we could smell something burning.

• She spoke in a low voice, but I could understand what she was saying.

We also use could to say that someone had the general ability to do something:

• My grandfather could speak five languages.

• When Joe was 16, he could run 100 meters in 11 seconds.

But if you mean that someone managed to do something in one particular situation, you have to use was/were able to (not could):

The fire spread through the building very quickly, but everyone was able (=managed) to escape. (not could escape)

They didn't want to come with us at first, but finally we were able (=managed) to persuade them.
(not could persuade)

Compare could and was able to in this example:

• Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. (=He had the ability to beat anybody.)

• But once he had a difficult game against Bob. Bob played very well, but in the end Jack was able to beat him. (=He managed to beat him in this particular game.)

The negative couldn't is possible in all situations:

• My grandfather couldn't swim.

• We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.