a- “Can” expresses possibility; “Can” can also express also ability or
permission. e.g., ability: I can ride a bicycle.
permission: Can I go out?
b- The regular past form of can is could. Its irregular form is was/were able
to. We can replace managed to by was/were able to , which indicates a
successful completion of an action.
c- The future form of “can” is: “will be able to”.
Refer your students to the Grammar reference N° 8, page 197 to check
their answers and to consolidate further the use of can/could and their
irregular forms.
PRACTICE (pp.40- 41)
Act. One (p.40)
The students will practise the use of the modals can/could and their
irregular forms by doing a completion activity.
a. The League of Nations cannot impose economic sanctions on warlike
nations.
b. Germany will be able to join the Security Council soon because it is the
third economic power in the world.
c. The UN General Assembly can only make recommendations to the
Security Council. It cannot make decisions.
d. The United Nations Organization has not been able to create a permanent
military force yet.
e. Dag Hammarskjold, who served as Secretary General of the UN from
1953 to 1961, was able to organize peacekeeping task forces.
f. UN peacekeeping troops, called ‘blue helmets’, can use force only for
temporary self-defence purposes. They can maintain peace, but they can
not prevent war.
g. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 30 31
(UNESCO) was able to launch its Peace Programme only after the end
of the Cold War.
Act. Two (p.40)
In this activity, your students will identify the different functions that can
be expressed by the modals can and could. You can tell your students to
write sentences of their own to express the same functions using the same
modals.
KEY
Column A Column B
1. Can you hear what he’s saying?
2. We could build a culture of peace by being more tolerant.
3. Contrary to what some people think, women can be tall
and strong.
4. “I’ve hurt her feelings. What shall I do ?”
“Well, you could apologize to her.”
5. I wonder if you could come here and talk it over.
6. At the age of 17, you can take your driving licence
with your parents’ consent, but you can’t vote.
7. Don’t lean out of this window; you could fall down.
8. Can I help you?
a. ability
b. possibility
c. possibility
d. suggestion
e. request
f. permission
g. warning
h. offer
Act. Three (p.41)
The aim of this activity is to illustrate the idea of achievement inherent to the use
of the irregular form of can was able/were able to.
Example
You: Did you convince them?
Your partner :Yes. It was difficult. But we were able to do it in the end.
The answers are not necessarily the ones given in this key.
You: Did they settle the dispute?
Your partner: Yes, it took them a lot of time of negotiation, but they
were able to reach an agreement at the last minute of the discussion.
You: The exercise was difficut, wasn’t it?
Your partner: Yes, we were able to solve it thanks to the collaboration of
everybody.30 31
You: My car broke down in a forest road.
Your partner: Were you able to repair it and drive back home?[CENTER][/CENTE
R]
