Could, can, will be able to 1 Complete the sentences with affirmative and
negative forms of could, can and will be able to.
We can't
speak Russian, but we can
speak German
1 I
speak English ten years ago, but
now I can.
2. I
vote when I'm older.
3 Sorry,
help you now. I'm busy.
4. I
write my name when I was four
years old. My mum taught me.
5 People
go without food for a
long time!
6 Next Tuesday I'm going to have an operation
on my leg. 1
play football next
weekend.
7. I drive a car one day.
8 I spoke to him last week, but I
understand what he was saying.
9 I've been having lessons for six months, so
now I
play tennis very well.
10 I'm afraid that I
give you a lift to
the station tomorrow. You'll have to go
by bus

​

1. We can't speak Russian, but we can speak German.
- Negative form of "can" is "can't". It means that we are unable to speak Russian.
- Affirmative form of "can" is "can". It means that we are able to speak German.

2. I couldn't speak English ten years ago, but now I can.
- Negative form of "could" is "couldn't". It means that I was unable to speak English in the past.
- Affirmative form of "can" is "can". It means that I am able to speak English now.

3. Sorry, I can't help you now. I'm busy.
- Negative form of "can" is "can't". It means that I am unable to help you now.
- Affirmative form of "can" is "can". It means that I am able to help you now.

4. I could write my name when I was four years old. My mum taught me.
- Affirmative form of "could" is "could". It means that I was able to write my name when I was four years old.
- Negative form of "could" is "couldn't". It means that I was unable to write my name when I was four years old.

5. People can go without food for a long time!
- Affirmative form of "can" is "can". It means that people are able to go without food for a long time.

6. Next Tuesday I'm going to have an operation on my leg. I won't be able to play football next weekend.
- Affirmative form of "will be able to" is "won't be able to". It means that I will be unable to play football next weekend.

7. I will be able to drive a car one day.
- Affirmative form of "will be able to" is "will be able to". It means that I will be able to drive a car in the future.

8. I spoke to him last week, but I couldn't understand what he was saying.
- Affirmative form of "could" is "could". It means that I was able to speak to him last week.
- Negative form of "could" is "couldn't". It means that I was unable to understand what he was saying.

9. I've been having lessons for six months, so now I can play tennis very well.
- Affirmative form of "can" is "can". It means that I am able to play tennis very well.
- Negative form of "can" is "can't". It means that I am unable to play tennis very well.

10. I'm afraid that I can't give you a lift to the station tomorrow. You'll have to go by bus.
- Negative form of "can" is "can't". It means that I am unable to give you a lift to the station tomorrow.
- Affirmative form of "can" is "can". It means that you have to go by bus.