The document discusses the differences between the present perfect and past simple tenses. It notes that "can" is used to talk about ability in the present tense, while "could" is used to talk about past ability. It also explains that "be able to" can be used in any tense to express ability, including having an infinitive form, whereas "can" and "could" are restricted to present and past tenses only. A number of examples are provided to illustrate when to use each.

1. PRESENT PERFECT VS
PAST SIMPLE

2. Can is used in the present
tense. It is used to talk
about our ability to do
things.

3. • To talk about our past ability, we
use could. Is the past of CAN

4. We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an
adjective meaning: having the power, skill or
means to do something. If we say "I am able
to swim", it is like saying "I can swim".
it is not a modal verb. It is simply the verb be plus
an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive. We
look at be able to here because we sometimes
use it instead of can and could.

5. • Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for
example:
• I was able to drive...
• I will be able to drive...
• I have been able to drive...
• Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:
• I would like to be able to speak Chinese.

6. • but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is
possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and
"could" have no infinitive form. So we use be able to when we
want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Look at these
examples:
• I have been able to swim since I was five. (present perfect)
• You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future
simple)
• I would like to be able to fly an airplane. (infinitive)

7. • 6 ________ you lend me a pen, please? I’ve forgotten
mine.
• 7 I’ve never ________ sing well, but my brother has a
beautiful voice.
• 8 I ________ read this menu without my glasses. Can
you read it to me, please?
• 9 We’re free tonight, so we’ll ________ come and help
you if you like.
• 10 My sister ________ ride a horse since she was four!

8. • 6 CAN/ COULD you lend me a pen, please? I’ve
forgotten mine.
• 7 I’ve never BEEN ABLE TO sing well, but my brother
has a beautiful voice.
• 8 I CAN`T read this menu without my glasses. Can
you read it to me, please?
• 9 We’re free tonight, so we’ll BE ABLE TO come and
help you if you like.
• 10 My sister HAS BEEN ABLE TO ride a horse since
she was four!

9. • Jenny_______________to play the piano since she was
five.
• George ________ count to a hundred by the age of ten.
• I ________ sleep last night because it was too hot.
• I'd love __________play the violin, but I don't have time to
practise.
• My grandfather has retired so he __________ to spend
more time in the garden.
• We __________to buy a new car this year because we
don't have enough money.

10. • Jenny has been able to play the piano since she was five.
• George could count to a hundred by the age of ten.
• I couldn’t sleep last night because it was too hot.
• I'd love to be able to play the violin, but I don't have time to
practise.
• My grandfather has retired so he ‘ll be able to spend more
time in the garden.
• We won’t be able to buy a new car this year because we
don't have enough money.

13. • Read the text on pages 36 and 37.
and answer the reading exercise.
• Answer pages 24 and 25 from your
WB

15. • Compare the difference:
• My girlfriend is bored. - (My girlfriend feels bored)
• My girlfriend is boring. - (My girlfriend is a boring person)
• You can use these adjectives to describe people or situations but be careful
that you are using the correct adjective. For example, there is a big
difference in meaning between:
• I am confused. - (I don't understand something)
• I am confusing. - (I will cause you to be confused)

16. Note that the sentences below are to highlight the difference
between the two types of adjectives. They are NOT common to
do or say because they sound repetitive.
•I was shocked by how shocking the accident was last night.
•They were frightened by the frightening roller-coaster ride!
•I am annoyed by how annoying that person in front of us is.
•Sally was confused by the confusing street signs in the city.

17. Choose from the pairs of adjectives to complete the sentences.
boring / bored exciting / excited interested / interesting relaxing / relaxed depressing /
depressed
Example: I was very depressed yesterday because I failed my driving test.
1 Walking around the museum was very __________. I need a rest!
2 The kids were __________. They had nothing to do.
3 I’m not __________ in art. I prefer sports.
4 The soccer game was really __________. Our team scored in the last
minute.
5 The lesson was really __________. We nearly fell asleep.

18. • 1 Walking around the museum was very TIRING I
need a rest!
• 2 The kids were BORED. They had nothing to do.
• 3 I’m not INTERESTED in art. I prefer sports.
• 4 The soccer game was really EXCITING. Our team
scored in the last minute.
• 5 The lesson was really BORING. We nearly fell
asleep.

19. Choose from the pairs of adjectives to complete the sentences.
embarrassed / embarrassing bored / boring
frightened / frightening tired / tiring
depressed / depressing
Example: The game was really boring. There weren’t any goals.
1 It was so EMBARRASING when my cell phone rang during the play.
2 That’s possibly the most BORING movie I’ve ever seen. Nothing happened.
3 I was very FRIGHTENED when the door suddenly opened on its own.
4 It rained every day on my vacation. I couldn’t do anything and was so BORED.
5 Why is traveling so TIRING when most of the time you’re just sitting down?
6 I find most horror movies too FRIGHTENING so I keep my eyes closed half the time.
7 I’m not surprised Ian’s DEPRESSED He’s just lost his job, and his dog’s just died.
8 She was so EMBARRASED when she called him by the wrong name!
9 We’re incredibly TIRED. We’ve spent all day sightseeing in Chicago.
10 I find it DEPRESSING that most people don’t really care about climate change.

20. Choose from the pairs of adjectives to complete the sentences.
embarrassed / embarrassing bored / boring
frightened / frightening tired / tiring
depressed / depressing
Example: The game was really boring. There weren’t any goals.
1 It was so ________when my cell phone rang during the play.
2 That’s possibly the most ________ movie I’ve ever seen. Nothing happened.
3 I was very ________ when the door suddenly opened on its own.
4 It rained every day on my vacation. I couldn’t do anything and was so _______.
5 Why is traveling so ________ when most of the time you’re just sitting down?
6 I find most horror movies too ________ so I keep my eyes closed half the time.
7 I’m not surprised Ian’s ________! He’s just lost his job, and his dog’s just died.
8 She was so ________ when she called him by the wrong name!
9 We’re incredibly _______. We’ve spent all day sightseeing in Chicago.
10 I find it ________ that most people don’t really care about climate change.