Ege Academy Blog

MODAL VERBS showing ABILITY

CAN = BE ABLE TO

We use ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ to express present ability.

Check these sentences.

I can drive a car. = I’m able to drive a car.

She can cook Turkish dishes very well. = She’s able to cook Turkish dishes very well.

Nilay can repair a bike. = Nilay is able to repair a bike.

Although my grandfather is old, he can climb a mountain.

She can’t swim fast. = She isn’t able to swim fast.

Sedat and Murat can’t speak French. = They aren’t able to speak French.

( ? )

Can you ride a camel? = Are you able to ride a camel?

Can she use a typewriter? = Is she able to use a typewriter?

Can Will and Jack translate this article? = Are Will and Jack able to translate this article?

can and be able to have the same meaning. They both express present ABILITY.

We often use ‘be able to’ in written English.

PAST ABILITY

Past form of can is COULD.

Check these sentences.

When Dora was a child, he could climb the trees easily.

My grandfather could speak seven languages.

I couldn’t swim when I was 12.

ATTENTION!!!!!

****could and was/were able to don’t have the same meaning.****

• ‘could’ shows a general ability in the past. ( I could swim when I was a child )

• BUT

• was / were able to shows an ability in one single event in the past.

Although Alex didn’t play well in the last match, he was able to score two great goals. ( This is an ability in a single event. )

There was a fire at Hilton Hotel yesterday. Fortunately, the firefighters came on time and they were able to put out the fire.

I always beat Murat in tennis. However in the last game he was able to beat me.

was / were able to = managed to

As soon as she understood what the problem was, she managed to repair it.

Fenerbahçe managed to beat Chelsea in Istanbul last year. (ability in single event)

couldn’t = wasn’t / weren’t able to

**There is no difference in meaning with the negative forms.

RELATIVE CLAUSES

Combine the following sentences using relative pronouns ( who, which, that…)

1. The man is the director of the computer company. I was talking to him.

___________________________________________________________________.

2. The girl is in bandages. Her car was involved in an accident yesterday.

___________________________________________________________________.

3. This is the city. I lived here in the 1990s.

___________________________________________________________________.

4. A lot of tourists went on a trip to Didim; most of them were from Holland.

___________________________________________________________________.

5. The spider had to be examined by a vet. It bit me.

___________________________________________________________________.

KEY

1. The man ,whom I was talking to, is the director of the computer company.

2. The girl whose car was involved in an accident yesterday, is in bandages.

3. This is the city where I lived in 1990s.

4. A lot of tourists most of whom were from Holland went on a trip to Didim.

5. The spider ,which bit me, had to be examined by a vet.

PUT UP WITH somebody or something

Check these sentences

Tolga can’t put up with his wife any more. I think they will get divorced.

Although my neighbours are too noisy, I put up with them with great patience.

I must put up with this hotel because it’s the cheapest one in the town.

MEANING

to put with somebody or something: to tolerate. ( tolare etmek )

SPEAK UP

Check these sentences

I can’t hear you. Speak up please!

Let’s not sit at the back. We have to speak up otherwise.

As Mr.Ulus is deaf, you should speak up.

MEANING

SPEAK UP: to speak louder. ( yüksek sesle konu?mak, bagirmak )

SET something UP

Check these sentences

I’ve always wanted to set up my own business.

We set the company up in 1991. We have been running it for 18 years.

Our school manager set up a group of five people to find out school’s major problems.

MEANING

set up something: to create or start something. ( bir is kurmak, baslatmak )

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. Use two to five words.

1. He didn’t go out until after Aylin called. ( before )

She waited until Aylin ______________________________________________out.

2. She started taking driving lessons two weeks ago.  ( been )

She _______________________________________________________ for two weeks.

3. How long ago did the season start?  ( started )

How long ________________________________________________?

4. She has never driven such a fast car. ( ever )

It’s the _____________________________________________________ driven.

5. They haven’t been abroad for five years.  ( last )

The last _______________________________________________ five years ago.

TAKE UP something ( 2 )

Check these sentences

• I can’t stand seeing this refrigrator in the kitchen. It takes up a lot of space.
• Recently looking for a new job has been taking up all my time.
• I was sorry to take up so much of my teacher’s time but it was really urgent.

MEANING

take up something: to fill a particular space or time.

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

1. It’s a good idea for Dora to invite his manager for dinner. ( should )

Dora ____________________________________________ his manager to dinner.

2. Before you sign the document, you should read the details carefully. ( had better )

You ______________________________________ the details before you sign the document.

3. It’s impossible for Leyla to find time to practice the guitar. ( enough )

Leyla doesn’t _____________________________ to practice the guitar.

4. As it ia a very complicated area, you might get lost so take a map.  ( in case )

Take a map__________________________________________________________.

5. In spite of the variety of games in the shop, Tansel couldn’t find the game he wanted.

Although ____________________________________________________________.

6. You mustn’t scan and photocopy any parts in the book. ( allowed )

You ____________________________________________ any parts in the book.

7. Ozan said to me ‘ If I were you, I would tell her the truth ‘. ( advise )

Ozan __________________________________________________ the truth.

8. After he had practiced penalty shoots, he left the training pitch.

Having___________________________________________________________.

9. ‘ When did you transfer to Fenerbahçe?’

I want to know___________________________________________________.

10. Because Murat is under 18, he isn’t able to get a driving licence.

If Murat__________________________________________________________.

GERUND & INFINITIVE WITH A CHANGE IN MEANING

FORGET

• Forget to do something: fail to remember something

My wife got angry because I forgot to buy the batteries she had wanted.

Kate forgot to lock the door. Therefore, she went back home.

My wife forgot to buy me a present on my last birthday.

• Forget doing something: not recall a past event

I forgot buying some batteries so I bought some more. We have too many batteries at the moment.

I’ll never forget dancing with her that night. ( I danced with her and it was such a good dance that I won’t forget)

REMEMBER

• remember to do something: not forget to do something

Luckily I remembered to post the letter on time.

Remember to feed the cats in the evening.

• remember doing something: recall a past event

Suddenly I remembered taking my medicine so I put it away.

As she was walking home to check if she had locked the door, she remembered locking it.

STOP

• stop to do something: pause temporarily in order to do something different.

Mr.Seal stopped to drink some coffee. ( In the middle of something he paused and drank coffee )

While I was driving to Ayvalik, I stopped to eat something.

• stop doing something: finish, give up doing something

She stopped smoking three years ago.

They stopped playing tennis and went to dinner.

TRY

• try to do something: attempt, do one’s best

She tried to start the car but unfortunately it broke down.

Although she was very tired, she tried not to sleep because her daughter was ill.

• try doing something: do something as an experiment.

Please try eating it with Italian sauce. It will taste better.

If you can’t reach Osman, try calling him from his mobile.

HOW MUCH YOU LEARN !

Put the verbs in parantheses into the gerund or infinitive form.

1. The teacher got furious because I forgot ________________ my homework. ( do )

2. Aysel: Why don’t we stop ______________ something cold. It is really hot and I’m tired. ( drink )                                                                                                                                                                    Veli: That sounds great.

3. I’m sorry, I don’t remember _________________ you before. ( see )

4. Hey, please stop ______________ ! There’s an exam in the next classroom. ( shout )

5. Tansu: I’m bored with French food.

Sonat: So am I. Let’s try ________________ some Mexican food for a change. ( eat )

6. This is one of the best moments in my life. I will never forget ______________ the stars with you. ( watch )

7. Fortunately I remembered _____________ an email to my manager about the result of the meeting. ( send )

8. All the soldiers stopped ____________ and started to run. ( rest )

9. Necla: There is something wrong with this soup.

Hakan: Oh! I’m afraid I forgot ______________ some salt to it.   ( add )

10. Murat: What’s the matter?

Hasan: I’ve been trying ____________ ( reach ) my girlfriend for 2 hours but the line had been busy.  First I tried ____________ ( send ) a message but there was no answer. Then I tried ___________ ( write ) an email but there was no anwer.  I wonder where she is.

KEY

1. to do  2. to drink  3. seeing  4. shouting  5. eating  6. watching  7. to send  8. resting  9. to add 10. to reach / sending / writing.

Nobody connected to the net because of a problem in the computer system.

The last time Jack Nicholson gave an interview was seven months ago.

Although Kerem was very tired, he finished the reports on time.

They needn’t have brought so many books.

It’s been two years since Meg Ryan took part in a film.

If Kate was qualified enough, she could find a job.

The match was more exciting than she had thought.

I wish I had made the reservations on time.

Unless the government find a solution to the water problem, we’ll run out of water.

I haven’t seen my sister for months.

She suggested renting a DVD.

She wishes she had learnt to drive.

We can’t have seen Ekrem since he’s in Texas.

She has difficulty in understanding my accent.

Aylin isn’t interested in football.