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BUSINESS ENGLISH · GRAMMAR PRACTICE · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

MODAL
VERBS IN
BUSINESS 1
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1 Modal verbs for ability

We use can/can’t and be able to to say that somebody is able to do something.

Use Examples

can / can’t to say that somebody has the ability I can speak English.
to do something in the present or Can you touch-type?
future I’m sorry, I can’t attend
tomorrow’s meeting.

be able to to say that somebody has the ability Are you able to
to do something attend the meeting
NOTE: can is more usual than be able on Wednesday?
to in the present. However, can only I’m not able to come to
has a present and past form (could), so the meeting tomorrow.
sometimes it is necessary to use be able She hasn’t been able
to, for example in the present perfect or to access her emails
infinitive. lately. (present perfect)
He would like to be
able to sell more
products. (infinitive)

We also use could/couldn’t and managed to (+ infinitive without ‘to’) to say that somebody was able to
do something in the past.

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INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

MODAL VERBS IN BUSINESS 1

Use Examples

could/ to say that somebody had the general We could make a lot
couldn’t ability to do something in the past. of deals before the
General ability means something financial crisis.
that you can do any time you want When we started, we
after learning it, for example reading, couldn’t attract any
swimming, etc. investors. We didn’t
We often use could + see, hear, smell, have the know-how.
taste, feel, remember, understand I couldn’t hear what
she was saying.
I could feel he wasn’t
interested in our
product.

was able to to say that somebody had the We were able to win
couldn’t ability to do something in a specific the contract.
managed to situation, for example win a match, I wasn’t able to sign
escape from a dangerous situation, lift the contract.
something, etc. She couldn’t find the
right door.
Did you manage to
find our office?

Dialogue
A: Can you speak Japanese?
B: I could speak it a few years ago. But since then, I haven’t been able to find a new teacher.

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INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

MODAL VERBS IN BUSINESS 1

2 Practice 1 - Can/can’t or be able to

Complete the sentences with the verbs below. If you cannot use ‘can/can’t’, use ‘be able to’ in the
correct tense or form.

attract communicate help hire meet relax speak wait

1. I’m sorry, I can’t speak French.

2. I you for lunch tomorrow. I’m free all day.
3. John for months. His new job is very stressful.
4. Angela really well. She’s our PR manager.
5. I might you fix the printer if it’s not a serious issue.
6. We used to new clients, but now the market is completely different.
7. I any more. Tell me the big news.
8. They new employees since the start of the crisis.

3 Practice 2 - General or speciőc ability

Complete the sentences below using ‘could/couldn’t’ or ‘was/were able to’ + the verbs in brackets.

1. I looked everywhere, but I (find) their office.

2. Steve Jobs (write) code. He wasn’t a software engineer.
3. (you/convince) the boss to change our strategy?
4. Marlon used to be a brilliant salesmen. He (sell) ice to Eskimos!
5. We (contact) you. Was your phone switched off?
6. In the end, we (make) a decision. So we decided to arrange another meeting.
7. (you/hear) what I was saying? It was so noisy.
8. Our website was down for a while, but our IT guys (fix) the issue.

In which of the sentences above can you use the structure ‘managed to’? Rewrite them.

4 Practice 3

Write or say some sentences about you. Write about something ...

1. you have always wanted to be able to do (e.g. "I have always wanted to be able to speak in public.")
2. you have never been able to do
3. you will be able to do well in the future
4. you didn’t manage to do last week
5. you could do well in the past

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