Talking about ability with can / could

Exercise 1

Mark and Adam are talking about an amazing rescue dog. Complete their conversation using ‘can’ or
‘could’ and the correct verbs in the word box. You may not need to use some of the verbs. You may
also need to use the negative form of some of the verbs. Use capital letters where necessary.

believe breathe count guess make

read rescue see try wait

Mark: Did you hear about the rescue dog that saved those people from a burning
building in Kowloon? His name is Rex. (1) you how smart he is?
Adam: No, I can’t. I’ve never heard of a dog being so smart. According to the news
report, he (2) hand signals, which allows him to follow his trainer’s
instructions. He (3) from one to ten as well, which helps him to keep track of
victims at large fires.
Mark: Isn’t he amazing? Apparently, when he first ran into the burning building,
he (4) anything because of all the smoke. He didn’t give up, though. (5) you
what he did?
Adam: Yes, he started crawling along the floor to get away from the smoke.
Mark: That’s right!
(6)
Adam: he the air?
Mark: Not very well, but that didn’t stop him from crawling to the back of the
building, where the people were trapped. It was like he knew he was the
only one who (7) them.
Adam: I heard someone is writing a book about Rex. I (8) to read it!

Exercise 2

Sue and Emily are talking about amazing pets. Complete their conversation using ‘can’ or ‘could’ and
the correct verbs in the word box. You may not need to use some of the verbs. You may also need to
use the negative form of some of the verbs. Use capital letters where necessary.

believe chase climb do fall

get help play remember take

Sue: Did you watch Amazing Pets on TV last night?

Emily: Yes, I did. I (1) asleep, as I’d slept in that morning, so my mum let me stay
up and watch it. I (2) my eyes when I saw that cat playing the piano!
Sue: I (3) seeing a piano-playing cat. I must’ve missed that part. (4) the cat a
song?
Emily: Oh yes!
Sue: My cat (5) a ball without knocking things over — never mind play the piano!
Emily: What about that amazing dog that (6) a ladder?
Sue: I wasn’t too impressed by that trick.
(7)
Emily: your dog that?
Sue: My dog (8) off the bed by himself!

Exercise 1 Marks /8 Exercise 2 Marks /8

AK Talking about ability with can / could

Exercise 1

Mark and Adam are talking about an amazing rescue dog. Complete their conversation using ‘can’ or
‘could’ and the correct verbs in the word box. You may not need to use some of the verbs. You may
also need to use the negative form of some of the verbs. Use capital letters where necessary.

believe breathe count guess make

read rescue see try wait

Mark: Did you hear about the rescue dog that saved those people from a burning
building in Kowloon? His name is Rex. (1) Can you believe how smart he is?
Adam: No, I can’t. I’ve never heard of a dog being so smart. According to the news
report, he (2) can read hand signals, which allows him to follow his trainer’s
instructions. He (3) can count from one to ten as well, which helps him to
keep track of victims at large fires.
Mark: Isn’t he amazing? Apparently, when he first ran into the burning building,
he (4) couldn’t see anything because of all the smoke. He didn’t give up,
though. (5) Can you guess what he did?
Adam: Yes, he started crawling along the floor to get away from the smoke.
Mark: That’s right!
(6)
Adam: Could he breathe the air?
Mark: Not very well, but that didn’t stop him from crawling to the back of the
building, where the people were trapped. It was like he knew he was the
only one who (7) could rescue them.
Adam: I heard someone is writing a book about Rex. I (8) can’t wait to read it!

Exercise 2

Sue and Emily are talking about amazing pets. Complete their conversation using ‘can’ or ‘could’ and
the correct verbs in the word box. You may not need to use some of the verbs. You may also need to
use the negative form of some of the verbs. Use capital letters where necessary.

believe chase climb do fall

get help play remember take

Sue: Did you watch Amazing Pets on TV last night?

Emily: Yes, I did. I (1) couldn’t fall asleep, as I’d slept in that morning, so my mum
let me stay up and watch it. I (2) couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that
cat playing the piano!
Sue: I (3) can’t remember seeing a piano-playing cat. I must’ve missed that part.
(4)
Could the cat play a song?
Emily: Oh yes!
Sue: My cat (5) can’t chase a ball without knocking things over — never mind
play the piano!
Emily: What about that amazing dog that (6) could climb a ladder?
Sue: I wasn’t too impressed by that trick.
(7)
Emily: Can your dog do that?
Sue: My dog (8) can’t get off the bed by himself!

Exercise 1 Marks /8 Exercise 2 Marks /8