Activity 4. Complete the sentences using can or be able to.
1. A dividendonly be paid out of profits but not out of capital.
2. In 1894 Michal Marks and Tom Spenserto organize what was to become the most famous business partnership in English history.
3. The owners of a private companybe members of the same family.
4. Typewriting coursescombine keyboard training with the theory and practice of typewriting.
5. We install a fax machine yesterday.
In this sentence, we use the modal verb "can" to express the ability or possibility of something happening. In this case, it means that it is possible for a dividend to only be paid out of profits and not out of capital. The word "only" emphasizes the limitation or restriction.
2. In 1894, Michael Marks and Tom Spencer were able to organize what was to become the most famous business partnership in English history.
Here, we use the phrase "were able to" to indicate the past ability of Michael Marks and Tom Spencer to organize a business partnership. This phrase is used to show that they had the necessary skills or resources to achieve this success.
3. The owners of a private company can be members of the same family.
In this sentence, we use "can" to highlight the possibility or ability of the owners of a private company being from the same family. This means that it is possible for family members to own and run a private company together.
4. Typewriting courses combine keyboard training with the theory and practice of typewriting.
Here, we don't use "can" or "be able to" because it is stating a general fact or a common practice. It is a general statement that typewriting courses always combine keyboard training with the theory and practice of typewriting.
5. We were able to install a fax machine yesterday.
In this sentence, we use "were able to" to talk about a specific past action - installing a fax machine. By using this phrase, we indicate that we had the necessary skills, resources, or opportunity to successfully install the fax machine on the day mentioned (yesterday).