B1 - Modal verbs - Can/Could vs. be able to and manage

Modal verbs

Can

Could

Be able to

Manage

Recording

Let's listen to a recording to find out more about the two modal verbs CAN/COULD and the differences when it comes to BE ABLE TO/MANAGE in English

Take notes. Remember to turn off the music in the background for better quality of the video.

Let's check what you remember

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What are modal verbs?

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What are modal verbs of ability?

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What is the difference between can and be able to?

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What is the past form of can?

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Which of these sentence is correct? Please explain your answer. 1) Despite being terribly tired, they were able to finish the race. 2) Despite being terribly tired, they could finish the race.

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When can we use manage to with a verb of ability?

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What follows can and could in a sentence?

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How do we use be able to to talk about different persons? Please give examples.

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How do we need to change be able to to talk about the past?

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What are verbs of the senses?

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What are verbs of thinking? Please give as many examples as you can think of.

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Would you use can or be able to with the sense verbs and thinking verbs?

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What happens when we have two main verbs together?

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How would you use can in present perfect? Can you give an example?

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How do we use negative form of manage to?

Let's practise

1. I couldn’t find the way out of the forest, but the guide ______ help me. A could B was able to C can

2. It was a very difficult climb, but she ______ reach the top of the mountain. A could B managed to C can

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3. By 3300 BC, people in Mesopotamia ______ write by using pictures. A can B were able to

4. Camels ______ survive for long periods without water. A can B could C managed to

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5. Mika ______ finish the race in less than 2 hours - a personal best! A managed to B could C manage to

6. I don't speak their language, so we ______ communicate very well. A can B could C couldn't

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7. Camels ___ carry up to 600 pounds on their backs. 8. They ___ ____ __ close their noses to keep out the sand.

9. 50 years ago, you _____ walk along this road for hours without seeing anyone else. 10. We ____ ___ __ speak on the phone every evening. 11. Mauro Prosperi ___ ____ __ survive by drinking urine and bat's blood.

WHICH OF THE SENTENCES IS CORRECT? Our guide was able to show us the caves where the bushmen lived. Our guide could show us where the bushmen lived.

WWHICH OF THESE SENTENCES ARE CORRECT? Could you talk to the bushmen? Were you able to talk to the bushmen? We couldn't talk to them. We weren't able to talk to them.

Let's revise

We use can or be able to when we want to say someone or something has the ability to do something. Can and be able to have similar meanings, but we often use be able to when something is surprising or unusual.

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To talk about ability in the past, we use could or be able to.

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For a single event in the past, we use be able to (not could) in positive statements.

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In negative statements and questions about single events, we can use could or be able to.

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If something is very difficult to do or is very successful, we often use the verb manage to instead of a modal verb like can or could.

Thank you