Exercises

26.1 Complete the sentences using can or be able to. Use can if possible; otherwise use be able to.

George has traveled a lot. He can speak four languages.
I haven’t been able to sleep very well recently.
Sandra can drive but she hasn’t got a car
I can’t understand Martin. I’ve never been able to understand him.
I used to be able to stand on my head but I cant do it now.
I can’t see you on Friday but I can meet you on Saturday morning.
Ask Catherine about your problem. She might be able to help you.


26.2 write sentences about yourself using the ideas in brackets.
1. (Something you used to able to do) I used to be able to sing well.
2. (Something used to be able to do) I used be able to drive well.
3. (Something you would like to be able to do) I’d like to be able to travel around the world.
4. (Something you have never been able to do) I’ve never been able to fly.


26.3 Complete the sentences with can / cant / could / couldn’t + one of these verbs:
Come eat hear run sleep wait
Im afraid I can’t come to your party next week.
When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He could run 100 metres in 11 seconds.
“Are you in a hurry?” “No, I’ve got plenty of time. I can wait
I was feeling sick yesterday. I couldn’t eat anything.
Can you speak up a bit? I cant hear you very well.
You look tired. Yes, I couldn’t sleep last night.


26.4 Complete the answers to the questions with was / were able to
A: Did everybody escape from the fire?
B: Yes. Although the fire spread quickly, everybody was able to escape.
A: Did you have difficulty finding Ann’s house?
B: Not really. Ann has given us good directions and we were able to arrive early.
A: Did you finish your work this afternoon?
B: Yes. There was nobody to disturb me, so I was able to finish it.
A: Did the thief get away?
B: Yes. No one realised what was happening and the thief was able to escape.


26.5 Complete the sentences using could / couldn’t / or was / were able to.
1. My grandfather was a very clever man. He could speak five languages.
2. I looked everywhere for the book but I couldn’t find it.
3. They didn’t want to come with us at first but we were able to persuade them.
4. Laura had hurt her leg and she couldn’t walk very well.
5. Sue wasn’t at home when I phoned but I could contact her at her office.
6. I looked very carefully and I could see a figure in the distance.
7. I wanted to buy some tomatoes. The first shop I went to didn’t have any but I could get some in the next shop.
8. My grandmother loved music. She could play the piano very well.
9. A girl fell into the river but fortunately we could rescue her.
10. I had forgotten to bring my camera so I wasn’t able to take any photographs.

Giving Advices

Dear Andrea

I read your letter and I am really sorry that you are feeling that bad. I think that you shouldn’t drink a lot; you can drink, but moderately. This is a very common problem that the parties cause. Maybe your stomach is very bad. It’s a very complicated situation when you drink a lot, your stomach reject the alcohol, and produces vomit, fever, and in some cases death.

Firstly, you should take camphor. This is a plant that you can buy in a supermarket. If you don’t take it, you will be really bad.
Secondly, try to massage your abdomen. It’s very good to calm your pain.
And finally, don’t drink juice, because they don’t produce good effects in these cases.

I hope you follow my advice. Please write to me again and let me know how it is going. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely
Dr Juan Herrera

Asking for some advices

Dear Dr Herrera,
I am writing because I have been feeling very ill. On Tuesday, I was in a party and I drank a lot. On Friday, inn the morning about nine o’clock, I started to felt a very strong stomachache. It was really strong, and I didn’t know what to do. I felt that my internal organs were very bad.
I think I have a serious problem. I’m really worried about this problem because my stomach hurts a lot and doesn’t stop moving.

It started when I was dancing, and later I drank a lot of whisky. In this moment, I felt that fell down. I don’t remember anything else, only when I woke up on Friday with this strong stomachache. My friends say that if I didn’t drink a lot, I would be fine, this was the problem. I know if I drank again, I would have the same pain tomorrow. Tomorrow I have to go to school, if I feel better, I will go, but if I don’t feel better, I won’t go to the school, because this pain is very stressful.

I have done different things to stop the pain, I have taken a lot of pills, but they don’t seem to help. Yesterday, my father told me that I should use alternative medicine, but I don’t have on idea about these medications types. If I had money, I would buy some plants or alternative pills, but I don’t have money, and I don’t know what to do. I would like you to give me some advice or recommend me some cheap pills to calm my pain.
I hope you can help me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely
Andrea Lopez.

Asking for information about a new clothes colecction

St 125# 17- 05
Santa Barbara
Bogota – 42811
Colombia




Bogota
Colombia
C.C Unicentro – Loc 194
23765

15 February 2008
Dear Sir,
I’m writing because yesterday, when I went to the supermarket, I saw on a flyer something about your new collection. I would like that you send me more information about it.

If you had a lot of red clothes, I would buy but I know that you can’t do only red clothes. I like the yellow clothes too, do you have? Please don’t forget send me more information about it.

If I had a lot of money, I would buy a lot, but now I only can buy some cheap blouses. I know that you sell very expensive blouses, but if I worked on your shop, would you give me some of this new collection? I saw on the flyer that there are blouses about US 20, this is very expensive for me.

Could I work with you? I will make a very good job.

Finally, please don’t forget to send me more information about the new collection.

Yours Faithfully
Juan Herrera

Asking for information about Australia´s internet.

St 125# 17- 05
Santa Barbara
Bogota – 42811
Colombia


Brisbane
Australia
Av. 16 St 19
25688

12 March 2008
Dear Sir / Madam,

I recently saw an advertisement for the Australia’s internet. I’m really impressed of technology in your country. If Colombia had a lot of money, maybe, there would be the same technology, but we know that Colombia is a poor country. I would like some more information about the internet and technology in Australia.

I know that Colombia doesn’t have money for that technology but I was thinking, and, if I won the baloto, I would buy a lot of technology for my country, and at the same time, a wonderful internet as that of your country.

Firstly, can you tell me about the specific fastest speed of the internet of Australia, I want compare it with Colombia, and identify what the problem is. I have understood that Australia has been sending internet around the world, and Colombia has an American Internet service. I would like your country to sell internet to us too.

Secondly, can you speak with my president? I know that if he understands us, he will do an important negotiation. It’s a great idea, and he is going to be agree.
Finally, please don’t forget to send me more information. Tomorrow, if I find money, I will send you another letter.


Yours Faithfully
Juan Felipe Herrera