11 Ability, possibility and request

A

1. B

2. E

3. 1 and 2

4. B

B

1. Could you

2. cannot

3. Could you

4. could not work

5. might

6. will be able

7. may

8. could not

9. could have warned

10. was able

11. may

12. could

13. have not been able

14. may

C

1. be able to

2. be able to

3. been able to

4. could/might

5. been able to

6. be able to

7. be able to

8. have been able to

9. Could

10. be able to

11. to be able to

12. could have/would have been able to

13. be able to

14. was able to

15. were able to

16. have been able to

17. could have been/might have been

18. have not been able to

D

1. was able to: ‘Could’ cannot be used if the past ability refers to what really happened in one particular situation. In such a case, was/were able or managed is used.

2. may: may is used to express a possibility.

3. correct

4. were able to: “Could” cannot be used if the past ability refers to what really happened in one particular situation. In such a case, was/were able or managed is used.

5. would have been able/could have: an unrealised ability is expressed by could have or would have been able to.

6. correct

7. correct

8. were not able: The past tense must be used because there is an indication of past time in this sentence (yesterday).

9. would have been able to get/could have got: an unrealised ability is expressed by could have or would have been able to.

10. correct

11. correct

12. were able to: Could cannot be used if the past ability refers to what really happened in one particular situation. In such a case, was/were able or managed is used.

E

1. spent

2. would be able

3. had bought

4. were sold

5. sold

6. has not been able

7. could have

8. lost