PINK FLOYD DOGS
You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real
need.
You gotta sleep on your toes. And when
you're on the street.
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat
With your eyes closed.
TO BE ABLE TO
Past simple = was/were able to
Present perfect= have/has been able to
Past perfect = had been able to
Future simple will be able
 Si usa quando can non si può usare, esprime capacità
Could
≠
was/were able to
Capacità/abilità abituale
capacità/abilità con riferimento
o permanente del passato
ad un preciso momento del passato
(imperfetto)
(passato remoto o p. prossimo)
ATTENZIONE!
Could è possibile:
 forma negativa anche riferimento ad
un preciso momento del passato.
 si usa con i verbi di percezione.
FORME ALTERNATIVE
To be capable of+ v ing
To know how + infinito con to
To manage + infinito con to
To succed in + v ing
PUT THE CORRECT FORM OF EITHER "CAN" OR
"BE ABLE TO" FOR EACH SENTENCE. ONLY USE
" B E A B L E T O " I F A B S O LU T E LY N E C E S S A RY !
 1. I haven't____ concentrate recently at work. I don't know what
it is.
 2. My brother____ cook very well. He is a chef in a French
restaurant.
 3. When he was only 2, my friend Lee____ speak quite well.
 4. I have to go to a business dinner tomorrow night so
I ____ (not) come to the party. I'm very sorry.
 5. Kevin lived in Italy for six years, so he must____ speak Italian
quite well. He will help you with your homework.
 6. This telephone is terrible. I____ (not) hear you at all.
 7. When the car drove into the lake, one of the
passengers____ (not) open the door and had to be rescued.
 8. Despite the arrival of the storm, they ____ finish the football
match.
 9. When I was very young, I used to ____ touch my toes, but I
can't now!!
 10. The house was totally empty all day yesterday and
I____ finish that book I was reading.
 11. My mother tells me that her grandfather was one of the best
musicians of his time in the city and____ play the piano like a
professional.
 12. I hope to____ speak English very well after this course
finishes.