أهداف الدرس
- I can use can, can't, could and couldn't with the base form of the verb to talk about ability in the present and the past.
- I can use be able to and managed to when I talk about ability on one particular occasion in the past.
- I can tell the difference between general ability and ability on one occasion in the book's sentences.
- I can complete a short story with could, couldn't or managed to.
- I can put intensifiers (quite, really, very, a little, pretty, brand, fairly, extremely, absolutely) in the correct place in a sentence.
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المقطع 1 من 4Grammar 1: Modal verbs [can / could / be able to / manage to]3:16
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مقاطع الدرس
0 من 4 مكتملGrammar 1: Modal verbs [can / could / be able to / manage to](ص 17)
The grammar page of Unit 1 studies modal verbs of **ability**, and it sends you to the Grammar reference on printed pages 66–67. The first rule there is: we use **can / can't / could / couldn't + the base form of the verb** to talk about abilities in the present and the past. The base form is the verb without any ending, so we say 'I can run', never 'I can to run' or 'I can running'.(ص 71)
Then comes the most important rule of the lesson — abilities and **achievements**. We use **could** to talk about **general abilities in the past**: I could swim when I was four years old. I couldn't swim until I was nearly nine years old. **BUT** we have to use **managed to** or **be able to** when we talk about a **particular occasion** in the past. We often use these verbs when we achieve something that was difficult to do.(ص 71)
Exercise 1: general ability or ability on one occasion?(ص 17)
- Look at the six sentences and decide:
- a I can't drive, so I didn't hire a car. → general ability (in the present)
- b I couldn't even see the people standing around me. → ability on one occasion
- c We couldn't afford to fly home, so we decided to go by train. → ability on one occasion
- d We couldn't speak the language very well. → general ability (in the past)
- e The power went on again and the train was able to start. → ability on one occasion
- f Fortunately, he managed to start the engine and drove me to my hotel. → ability on one occasion
Exercise 2 asks you three questions about the same sentences. (a) Time: sentence a mixes two times — 'I can't drive' is present, but 'I didn't hire a car' is past; sentences b, c, d, e and f all refer to past time, and none of them refers to the future. (b) The negative sentences are a, b, c and d, because they use can't and couldn't. (c) In sentence f, 'managed to' can be replaced by **was able to** ('Fortunately, he was able to start the engine'), because it is one particular occasion; you cannot replace it with 'could'.(ص 17)
Exercise 3: the Hogmanay story (could / couldn't / managed to)(ص 17)
- Complete the short story using could, couldn't or managed to:
- (1) couldn't — I couldn't wait to see and take part in the world-famous Hogmanay festivities for myself.
- (2) could — I could hear the sound of bagpipes as soon as I stepped onto the main street in Edinburgh.
- (3) managed to — My aunt and uncle managed to find a nice café for us to meet.
- (4) couldn't — I couldn't hide my excitement at seeing the sky filled with fireworks at midnight.
- (5) could — we could see families singing traditional Scottish songs near the museum.
- (6) managed to — I managed to take lots of photos of the fireworks before the festival ended.
Grammar 2: Intensifiers [quite, really, very, a little, pretty, brand, fairly, extremely, absolutely](ص 17)
The Grammar File defines it like this: an adverb which is used to modify adjectives and adverbs, but which is not usually used to modify verbs, can be referred to as an **intensifier**: quite, really, very, a little, pretty, brand, fairly, extremely, absolutely, etc. The most important rule of position is: **intensifiers come before the words they modify**.(ص 72)
- Exercise 4: add one of the intensifiers in the correct place:
- a You must be really good at organising your time. (also: very / extremely good)
- b They are quite preoccupied today. (also: really / fairly preoccupied)
- c He is really my best friend. (also: absolutely my best friend)
- d That was a really good book. (also: quite / pretty / extremely good)
الملخص
- can / can't / could / couldn't + base form of the verb express ability in the present and the past.
- be able to + base form is used to make other tenses, such as the present perfect and the will future.
- could is used for general ability in the past, but managed to or be able to must be used for one particular occasion.
- couldn't is normally used for negative sentences, even about one occasion.
- An intensifier is an adverb that modifies an adjective or another adverb, and it comes before the word it modifies.
- The intensifiers of this unit are quite, really, very, a little, pretty, brand, fairly, extremely and absolutely.
الأفكار الرئيسية
- The question is always: is this a general ability, or one particular occasion? The answer decides between could and managed to / was able to.
- The negative couldn't is free: it works for general ability and for one occasion.
- An intensifier makes an adjective or adverb stronger or weaker, and its place is directly before that word.
الأسئلة المهمة
What is the difference between 'could' and 'managed to' when we talk about the past?
We use 'could' for a general ability in the past, for example: I could swim when I was four years old. We use 'managed to' (or 'was/were able to') for a particular occasion in the past, especially for something difficult that we achieved: The door was locked, but we managed to get out by breaking a window.
الكتاب صفحة 71
Why do we need 'be able to' if we already have 'can'?
Because 'be able to' lets us make other tenses and talk about other times. The book gives: I haven't been able to walk since I broke my leg (present perfect), and I hope I'll be able to see better when I get my new glasses (will future).
الكتاب صفحة 71
Which of the sentences in exercise 1 show a general ability, and which show ability on one occasion?
General ability: (a) I can't drive, and (d) We couldn't speak the language very well. Ability on one occasion: (b) I couldn't even see the people standing around me, (c) We couldn't afford to fly home, (e) the train was able to start, and (f) he managed to start the engine.
الكتاب صفحة 17
What other verb could replace 'managed to' in the sentence: Fortunately, he managed to start the engine?
It can be replaced by 'was able to': Fortunately, he was able to start the engine. It cannot be replaced by 'could', because the sentence talks about one particular occasion.
الكتاب صفحة 17
Define an intensifier and say where it goes in the sentence.
An intensifier is an adverb which is used to modify adjectives and adverbs, but which is not usually used to modify verbs, such as quite, really, very, a little, pretty, brand, fairly, extremely and absolutely. Intensifiers come before the words they modify, for example: The film was quite good.
الكتاب صفحة 72
Why is 'could' correct in 'I could hear the sound of bagpipes', although it is one occasion?
Because 'hear' is a verb of the senses. With verbs such as see, hear, feel, smell and taste we normally use could even when we talk about one occasion.
الكتاب صفحة 17
اختبار الدرس
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الواجب
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مصطلحات الدرس
- modal verb
- a helping verb such as can, could, will or must that is followed by the base form of the main verb. Example: I can run 100 metres in 12 seconds.
- base form
- the verb without any ending, the form you find in a dictionary. Example: after 'can' we use the base form: can drive, can see.
- general ability
- something you were able to do at any time over a long period. Example: I could swim when I was four years old.
- a particular occasion
- one single time when something happened. Example: The door was locked, but we managed to get out.
- be able to
- an expression that means 'can', used to make other tenses. Example: I haven't been able to walk since I broke my leg.
- manage to
- to succeed in doing something difficult on one occasion. Example: He managed to start the engine.
- intensifier
- an adverb used to modify adjectives and adverbs, such as quite, really, very, extremely. Example: The film was quite good.
- modify
- to change or add to the meaning of another word. Example: Intensifiers come before the words they modify.
- preoccupied
- thinking about something so much that you do not notice other things. Example: They are quite preoccupied today.
تمارين الكتاب كاملة
كل سؤال ونشاط وتمرين ورد في صفحات هذا الدرس، بنصه وإجابته النموذجية. 4 تمرينًا.
Grammar — Exercise 1 (general ability or one occasion?)Look at these sentences. Which underlined verbs refer to general ability, and which refer to ability on one occasion? a I can't drive, so I didn't hire a car. b I couldn't even see the people standing around me. c We couldn't afford to fly home, so we decided to go by train. d We couldn't speak the language very well. e The power went on again and the train was able to start. f Fortunately, he managed to start the engine and drove me to my hotel.(ص 17)
General ability: a (I can't drive — a general ability in the present) and d (We couldn't speak the language very well — a general ability in the past). Ability on one occasion: b (I couldn't even see), c (We couldn't afford to fly home), e (the train was able to start) and f (he managed to start the engine). Note: 'was able to' and 'managed to' are the clearest signs of one particular occasion.
Grammar — Exercise 2 (discussion)Now discuss these questions with a partner. a Do sentences 1a–f refer to past, present or future time? b Which sentences are negative? c What other verbs could replace 'managed to' in sentence 1f?(ص 17)
a Sentence a mixes two times: 'I can't drive' is present and 'I didn't hire a car' is past. Sentences b, c, d, e and f all refer to past time. None of them refers to the future. b The negative sentences are a, b, c and d (can't, couldn't). c 'managed to' can be replaced by 'was able to': Fortunately, he was able to start the engine. It cannot be replaced by 'could', because the sentence describes one particular occasion.
Grammar — Exercise 3 (complete the story)Complete this short story using could, couldn't or managed to in each gap. When I reached Scotland, I celebrated New Year's Eve with my aunt and uncle. It was the most fantastic event I've ever taken part in. I (1) ______ wait to see and take part in the world-famous Hogmanay festivities for myself. I (2) ______ hear the sound of bagpipes as soon as I stepped onto the main street in Edinburgh. My aunt and uncle (3) ______ find a nice café for us to meet before the celebrations began at 10 p.m. I (4) ______ hide my excitement at seeing the sky filled with fireworks at midnight. There were people waving flags everywhere and we (5) ______ see families singing traditional Scottish songs near the museum. I (6) ______ take lots of photos of the fireworks before the festival ended.(ص 17)
(1) couldn't (2) could (3) managed to (4) couldn't (5) could (6) managed to. Note: gaps 2 and 5 take 'could' because 'hear' and 'see' are verbs of the senses; gaps 3 and 6 take 'managed to' because they are single achievements; gaps 1 and 4 are negative, and 'couldn't' is always allowed in the negative.
Grammar — Exercise 4 (intensifiers)Add one of the intensifiers in the correct place in the following sentences. Examples: It's quite hot today. I am a little tired today. You are absolutely right. They got a brand new car. a You must be good at organising your time. b They are preoccupied today. c He is my best friend. d That was a good book.(ص 17)
a You must be really good at organising your time. (also: very / extremely good) b They are quite preoccupied today. (also: really / fairly / a little preoccupied) c He is really my best friend. (also: absolutely my best friend) d That was a really good book. (also: quite / pretty / extremely good) Note: more than one intensifier is possible in each sentence, but the position is fixed — immediately before the word it modifies.
صفحات الكتاب
صفحات هذا الدرس من كتاب الطالب الرسمي كما هي، صفحات 17 إلى 17.
