The document discusses the use of modals "can" and "could" to express ability in the present and past tense. It provides examples of how to use "can" to talk about present ability and "could" to talk about past ability. It also includes exercises for learners to practice forming questions and short answers using these modals.
6. Example
1. Sarah could do gymnastic when she was six.
-Sarah зургаатайдаа гимнастик хийж чаддаг байсан.
2. Naran has passed his driving test, now he can drive a car.
-Наран жолооныхоо шалгалтаа давчихсан, одоо тэр
машин барьж чаддаг.
3. Tom couldn’t smoke cigarette at school.
-Tom сургуульд байхдаа тамхи татаж чаддаггүй байсан
7. Grammar
Grammar:
Present
Look! I can do it! I can do it!
I can read Italian, but I can’t speak it.
Past
(Was/were able to is also possible.)
She could read when she was four.
My father could speak ten languages.
8. Exercise-1
1) Last week we……………… swimming, this week we can't. (can/to go)
2) If you try hard, you………… your examinations. (can/to pass)
3) When I was five, I…………. . (not/can/to swim)
4) Dennis…………. the trumpet after four months. (can/to play)
5) Luke has passed his driving test, now he…………. a car. (can/to drive)
6) For three weeks I…………. to him on the phone. (not/can/to speak)
7) They were so busy, they………….. me a text message. (not/can/to write)
9. Show answer
1) Last week we could go swimming, this week we can't.
2) If you try hard, you can pass your examinations.
3) When I was five, I could not swim.
4) Dennis could play the trumpet after four months.
5) Luke has passed his driving test, now he can drive a car.
6) For three weeks I could not speak to him on the phone.
7) They were so busy, they could not write me a text message.
10. Exercise-2 ( question form and short answer)
1. Could you do gymnastics when you were a child?
- No, I couldn’t. (Yes, I could)
2. Could you play football when you were six?
- Yes, I could. (No, I couldn’t.)
