Can, Could, (be) able to trong tiếng Anh
Can, Could, và Be able to đều mang nghĩa “có thể”, diễn tả khả năng làm gì. Tuy nhiên, chúng vẫn có những sự khác nhau nhất định.
1. Can
Can được dùng để diễn đạt:
a. Khả năng ở hiện tại hoặc tương lai
Eg: I haven’t got time today, but I can see you tomorrow.
(Hôm nay tôi không có thời gian, nhưng tôi có thể gặp bạn vào ngày mai.)
b. Sự xin phép và cho phép, và thể phủ định (cannot) chỉ sự cấm đoán trong văn nói
Eg: Can I use your phone? (Tôi có thể dùng điện thoại của bạn không?)
c. Yêu cầu, đề nghị hoặc gợi ý
Eg: Can you wait a moment, please? (Vui lòng đợi một lát nhé?)
d. Khi dùng với động từ tri giác thì nó mang nghĩa tiếp diễn
Eg: Listen! I think someone is singing = Listen! I think I can hear someone singing.
(Nghe này! Tôi nghĩ có ai đó đang hát.)
2. Could
a. Could là dạng quá khứ của Can, chỉ khả năng ở quá khứ
Eg: My sister could play the piano when she was 4.
(Em gái tôi biết chơi dương cầm từ khi 4 tuổi.)
b. Could là trợ động từ tình thái, dùng để diễn đạt:
– Điều có thể xảy ra ở hiện tại hoặc tương lai nhưng không chắc chắn
Eg: The phone is ringing. It could be Tom.
(Điện thoại đang kêu kìa, có thể là Tom đấy.)
– Sự xin phép (trịnh trọng hơn dùng Can)
Eg: Could I ask you something? (Tôi có thể hỏi bạn vài đều không?)
– Yêu cầu lịch sự, trịnh trọng hơn Can
Eg: Could you mail this letter for me? (Bạn có thể chuyển bức thứ này giúp tôi không?)
c. Could được dùng trong câu điều kiện loại II
Eg: If you tried, you could do that work. (Nếu bạn cố gắng, tôi đã có thể làm công việc đó.)
3. Be able to
– Am/ is/ are + able to = Can (chỉ khả năng)
– Was/ were + able to = Could (chỉ khả năng)
Lưu ý: Nếu câu nói hàm ý một sự thành công trong việc thực hiện hành động mà chủ thể đã cố gắng, xoay sở để thực hiện thì Be able to được sử dụng chứ không phải Could.
Eg: The plane was able to take off after the fog had lifted.
(Máy bay đã có thể cất cánh sau khi sương mù tan.)
4. Bài tập Can, Could, Be able to
Exercise 1. Write the phrases in brackets in their correct forms into the gaps.
0. Lisa has been able to clean her dress. She can wear it again. (can/to clean)
1. Last week we………… swimming, this week we can’t. (can/to go)
2. Maybe the Smiths………… a new house next year. (can/to build)
3. If you try hard, you………… your examinations. (can/to pass)
4. When I was five, I…………. (not/can/to swim)
5. Dennis…………the trumpet after four months. (can/to play)
6. Luke has passed his driving test, now he………… a car. (can/to drive)
7. I…………to him on the phone for three weeks last month. (not/can/to speak)
8. Alex…………his homework when his desk is in such a mess. (not/can/to do)
9. They were so busy, they…………me. (not/can/to text)
1. could go
2. will be able to build
3. can pass
4. could not swim
5. could play
6. can drive
7. could not speak
8. will not be able to do
9. could not text
Exercise 2. Choose the best options to complete the sentences.
0. Lan has learnt English for 7 years so she __________speak English fluently now.
A. can B. could
1. She __________ sing an English song at the age of 5.
A. can B. could
2. ___________ robots talk to people some years ago?
A. Can B. Could
3. He _________ read and write when he was 6 years old.
A. could B. might
4. ___________ they climb Mount Fansipan now?
A. Can B. Could
5. John ___________ play the piano very well 5 years ago.
A. will B. could
6. In the past, robots __________ only do very simple things.
A. can B. could
7. I _________ swim until I was 10 years old.
A. can’t B. couldn’t
1B
2B
3A
4A
5B
6B
7B
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences using can or (be) able to. If can is not possible, use (be) able to.
0. I haven’t been able to sleep very well recently.
1. Nicole ………..drive, but she doesn’t have a car.
2. I used to ………..stand on my head, but I can’t do it any more.
3. I can’t understand Mark. I’ve never ………..understand him.
4. I can’t see you on Friday, but I ………..meet you on Saturday morning.
5. Ask Katherine about your problem. She might……….. help you.
6. You have to be careful in this part of the city. It ………..be dangerous
1. can
2. be able to
3. been able to
4. can/ will be able to
5. be able to
6. can
Exercise 4. Complete the sentences with can/can’t/could/couldn’t + the following:
| believe come hear run sleep wait |
0. I’m afraid I can’t come to your party next week.
1. When Dan was 16, he …………….100 metres in 11 seconds.
2. ‘Are you in a hurry?’ ‘No, I’ve got plenty of time. I ……………..’
3. I don’t feel good this morning. I …………….last night.
4. Can you speak a little louder? I …………….you very well.
5. I was amazed when I heard the news. I …………….it.
1. could run
2. can wait
3. couldn’t sleep
4. can’t hear
5. couldn’t believe
Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using could, couldn’t or managed to.
0. My grandfather travelled a lot. He could speak five languages.
1. Jessica had hurt her foot and …………….walk very well.
2. There was a small fire in the kitchen, but fortunately I …………….put it out.
3. The walls were thin and I …………….hear people talking in the next room.
4. I ran my first marathon recently. It was very hard, but I …………….finish.
5. My grandmother loved music. She …………….play the piano very well.
1. couldn’t
2. managed to
3. could
4. couldn’t
5. managed to
Exercise 6. Choose the best answer
0. ___ play professional tennis, you must be extremely fit.
a. Couldn’t
b. Will you be able to
c. To be able to
1. _______ you hear the fireworks from your house last night?
a. Can
b. Can’t
c. Could
2. Do you think you _______ write that report by Tuesday? I know you’re very busy.
a. will be able to
b. couldn’t
c. have been able to
3. I _________ touch my toes. See!
a. could
b. can
c. will be able to
4. I ________ spend another moment in that restaurant. It was too noisy.
a. can’t
b. couldn’t
c. have been able t
5. I _________ never seem to get the temperature right.
a. can
b. can’t
c. to be able t
1c
2a
3b
4b
5a
Bài tập bổ sung
Exercise 1. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
1. (Could you/ Were you able to) find a job when you lived in Spain?
2. The shop is closed. We (can’t/ aren’t able to) go there on Sunday.
3. Ann feels much better. She (can/ will be able to) go out tomorrow, I hope.
4. The police (could/ were able to) catch the burglar because he’d set off the alarm.
5. I am sorry for my English. I (could never have/ never been able to) speak without mistakes.
6. Can you remember Jane? You (could/ were able to) see her at Brian’s party last Saturday.
7. Are you free tomorrow night? (Can we/ Are we able to) meet at Mario’s pizzeria?
8. Mum is ill. I’m afraid she (can’t/ won’t be able to) cook next weekend.
9. Fortunately, I can speak Spanish a little bit. I (could/ was able to) give them directions.
10. Peter had nothing to do yesterday morning. He (could/ was able to) cut the grass before it started to rain.
Đáp án:
|
1. were you able to |
2. can’t |
3. will be able to |
|
4. were able to |
5. have never been able to |
6. could |
|
7. Can we |
8. won’t be able to |
9. was able to |
|
10. could |
||
Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with can, could, or be able to.
1. I’m right-handed. I _______ write with my left hand.
A. could
B. can
C. can’t
D. won’t be able to
2. _______ you usually remember your dreams?
A. Can
B. can’t
C. cannot
D. could
3. People used to think that witches _______ do magic.
A. will be able to
B. could
C. won’t be able to
D. can
4. When I was young, I _______ eat anything I liked, I never got fat.
A. can
B. cannot
C. will be able to
D. could
5. _______ come to the pub tonight?
A. Will you be able to
B. Won’t be able to
C. Could you not
D. Can you to
6. I _______ swim since I was 11.
A. cannot
B. could
C. will not
D. will
7. I am an interpreter. I _______ speak 7 different languages.
A. can
B. could
C. will can
D. can be
8. One day I _______ run a marathon, but I need to practice first.
A. won’t
B. could
C. can
D. will be able to
9. _______ when you were 10?
A. You could swim
B. Could you swim
C. Could swim
D. Will you be able to swim
10. We _______ get to the meeting on time yesterday, because the train was delayed by one hour.
A. couldn’t not
B. cannot
C. couldn’t
D. will be able to
Đáp án:
|
1. B |
2. A |
3. B |
4. D |
5. A |
|
6. B |
7. A |
8. D |
9. B |
10. C |
Exercise 3. Choose the right answer to complete each sentence.
1. She _________ sing an English song at the age of 5.
A. can B. could
2. _________ robots talk to people some years ago?
A. Can B. Could
3. He _________ read and write when he was 6 years old.
A. could B. might
4. _________ they climb Mount Fansipan now?
A. Can B. Could
5. John _________ play the piano very well 5 years ago.
A. will B. could
6. In the past, robots _________ only do very simple things.
A. can B. could
7. I _________ swim until I was 10 years old.
A. can’t B. couldn’t
Đáp án:
|
1. B |
2. B |
3. A |
4. A |
5. B |
6. B |
7. B |
Exercise 4. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
1. _______ he understand what you were talking about?
A. Could
B. Cans
C. Coulded
2. My sister _______ play tennis now.
A. can to
B. can
C. will can
3. I _______ walk when I was less than a year old.
A. can
B. could
C. have can
4. (Polite) _______ you tell me what time it is, please?
A. Could
B. Can
C. Will
5. My grandfather ________ walk without any help last night.
A. can
B. could
C. was able to
6. I would like to ________ play the piano.
A. can
B. could
C. be able to
7. How long have you ________ drive?
A. can
B. coulded
C. been able to
8. I’ll ________ help you later.
A. can
B. could
C. be able to
9. Can you help me? I ________ never understand this.
A. can
B. cannot
C. am able to
10. Will people ________ live forever one day?
A. could be
B. be able to
C. could be able to
11. _______ you hear the fireworks from your house last night?
A. Could
B. Can
C. Can’t
12. Do you think you _______ write that report by Tuesday? I know you’re very busy.
A. will be able to
B. have been able to
C. couldn’t
13. I _______ touch my toes. See!
A. could
B. can
C. will be able to
14. I _______ spend another moment in that restaurant. It was too noisy.
A. have been able to
B. can’t
C. couldn’t
15. I _______ never seem to get the temperature right.
A. can’t
B. can
C. to be able to
16. _______ play professional tennis, you must be extremely fit.
A. Will you be able to
B. Couldn’t
C. To be able to
17. _______ you play an instrument?
A. Can
B. Couldn’t
C. Able to
18. I’m afraid I _______ attend the meeting, I’m on business in Japan.
A. will be able to
B. can
C. won’t be able to
19. _______ you have brought it to me at work?
A. Will be able to
B. Couldn’t
C. Cannot
20. They _______ save the men from the sinking ship.
A. was able to
B. were able to
C. could to
Đáp án:
|
1. A |
2. B |
3. B |
4. A |
5. C |
6. C |
7. C |
8. C |
9. A |
10. B |
|
11. A |
12. A |
13. B |
14. C |
15. B |
16. C |
17. A |
18. C |
19. B |
20. B |
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