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Ability (can, could) Grammar Exercises for English Language

Learners highlighting key phrases in their language textbooks.

Mastering the nuances of expressing ability in English is crucial for effective communication, and understanding the use of "can" and "could" is a fundamental part of this process. "Can" is used to denote present or general ability, and it is often found in everyday conversation, such as, "I can swim" or "She can speak three languages." On the other hand, "could" serves as the past tense of "can" and is employed to indicate past ability or polite requests, as in, "I could read when I was four" or "Could you please help me?" Grasping when and how to correctly apply these modal verbs will significantly enhance your ability to convey abilities and make requests clearly and accurately. In our exercises, you will engage with a variety of scenarios and sentence structures that will challenge and expand your understanding of "can" and "could." Through these targeted activities, you will learn to distinguish between present and past abilities, as well as how to form polite questions and requests. By practicing these skills, you will build confidence in using these essential verbs in both written and spoken English. Whether you are a beginner seeking to solidify your foundational knowledge or an advanced learner looking to refine your grammatical precision, these exercises are designed to support and enhance your linguistic abilities.

Exercise 1

1. She *can* swim very well (ability in present). 2. When I was young, I *could* run faster than anyone else (ability in the past). 3. We *can* finish the project by tomorrow if we work together (possibility in present). 4. In the future, humans *could* live on Mars (possibility in the future). 5. He *can* play the guitar beautifully (ability in present). 6. When she was a child, she *could* speak three languages (ability in the past). 7. You *can* see the mountains from the top of the hill (ability in present). 8. They *could* travel around the world if they saved enough money (possibility in the future). 9. I *can* help you with your homework if you need it (ability in present). 10. She *could* solve the puzzle when she was just five years old (ability in the past).

Exercise 2

1. She *can* swim very well (ability to perform an activity). 2. When I was young, I *could* climb trees easily (past ability). 3. They *can* speak three languages fluently (present skill). 4. When he was a child, he *could* solve complex math problems (past capability). 5. We *can* finish this project by tomorrow if we work hard (present possibility). 6. My grandmother *could* tell the most wonderful stories (past ability). 7. She *can* play the piano beautifully (present skill). 8. Last year, I *could* run a marathon without stopping (past physical ability). 9. He *can* fix almost anything in the house (present skill). 10. When I was a teenager, I *could* stay up all night studying (past ability).

Exercise 3

1. She *can* play the piano very well (verb for ability). 2. When he was younger, he *could* run faster than anyone in his class (past ability). 3. *Can* you help me with my homework? (verb for request). 4. They *can* speak three languages fluently (verb for ability). 5. When we were kids, we *could* stay up all night without feeling tired (past ability). 6. *Can* you please pass the salt? (verb for polite request). 7. She *could* swim across the lake when she was a teenager (past ability). 8. I *can* finish this project by tomorrow (verb for ability). 9. When I was a child, I *could* climb the highest trees (past ability). 10. *Can* you come to the meeting tomorrow? (verb for possibility).