Complete the sentences with was/were able to or could 1. My grandpa was very clever. He
speak five languages.
2. The fire spread quickly, but everyone
escape.
3. He hun his leg, so he
(not walk) very well.
4. She wasn't at home when I called but I
contact her at her office.
5. They didn't have any tomatoes in the first store I went to, but I
get some
6. My grandmother loved music. She
play the piano very well.
7. They boy fell into the river, but fortunately we
rescue him
8. I
swim when I was 4.
hear you.
pass it.
9. He tried very hard but he
swim back to the boat.
10. We
put out the fire before much damage was done.
11. My daughter
walk when she was only 11 months old.
12. I
finish all the work you wanted me to do yesterday,
13. You were talking quite loudly. I
14. How was the test? Easy, all the students
15. He
repair the car but it took him a lot of time.
16. We wanted to go to the opera but we
get tickets.
17. Fortunately, I
get his address from his office.
18. I don't know how the cat
get through the window, but he did.
19. After the accident she somehow
walk home.
20. After several hours fire fighters
put out the fire.
21. Jan gave me a lift home so I
stay at the party till late,
22. he had a motorbike accident at the age of 18 and after that he
walk.
23. I
sleep very well for the last four nights. It has been too hot.
24. I
play tennis really well a few years ago, but not anymore.
25. 'When I was a child, I
see much better, but now I wear glasses,
26. After the accident he
(no longer/walk).
27. 1
run fast when the dog chased me.
28, When we went into the house, we
smell burning
29. During the weekend we
do some gardening
30, Mozart
compose little pieces of music even when he was 5.
извини не могу
Explanation: The sentence suggests that the speaker's grandpa possessed the skill of speaking five languages. Since the skill is mentioned in the past, "was able to" is the appropriate choice here. It indicates that he had the capability or skills to speak five languages.
2. The fire spread quickly, but everyone was able to escape.
Explanation: Despite the fire spreading quickly, everyone managed to escape. The phrase "was able to" emphasizes the successful outcome of escaping.
3. He hurt his leg, so he couldn't walk very well.
Explanation: The sentence states that he hurt his leg, resulting in difficulty walking. "Couldn't" is used here to indicate that the ability to walk was affected or impaired.
4. She wasn't at home when I called, but I could contact her at her office.
Explanation: The speaker wasn't able to find her at home when they called, but they were able to contact her at her office. "Could" is used to indicate the speaker's ability to contact her.
5. They didn't have any tomatoes in the first store I went to, but I was able to get some.
Explanation: The first store didn't have any tomatoes, but the speaker managed to obtain some elsewhere. "Was able to" emphasizes the successful outcome of getting tomatoes.
6. My grandmother loved music. She could play the piano very well.
Explanation: The sentence implies that the speaker's grandmother had the ability to play the piano skillfully. "Could" is used to indicate her capability or skill in playing the instrument.
7. They boy fell into the river, but fortunately, we were able to rescue him.
Explanation: The boy fell into the river, but the speaker and others managed to save or rescue him. "Were able to" emphasizes the successful outcome of the rescue.
8. I could swim when I was 4.
Explanation: The speaker had the ability to swim at the age of 4. "Could" is used to indicate the speaker's capability or skill.
9. He tried very hard but he couldn't swim back to the boat.
Explanation: Despite putting in effort, he was unsuccessful in swimming back to the boat. "Couldn't" indicates the inability to swim back.
10. We could put out the fire before much damage was done.
Explanation: The sentence suggests that the speaker and others were successful in extinguishing the fire before significant damage occurred. "Could" emphasizes the successful outcome of putting out the fire.
11. My daughter could walk when she was only 11 months old.
Explanation: The sentence states that the speaker's daughter had the ability to walk at an early age. "Could" indicates her capability or skill.
12. I could finish all the work you wanted me to do yesterday.
Explanation: The speaker completed all the work requested by the individual. "Could" emphasizes their ability to finish the work.
13. You were talking quite loudly. I could hear you.
Explanation: The speaker was able to hear the individual despite their loud talking. "Could" indicates their capability of hearing.
14. How was the test? Easy, all the students could pass it.
Explanation: The test was easy, and all the students had the ability to pass it. "Could" emphasizes the students' capability or skill.
15. He could repair the car but it took him a lot of time.
Explanation: He had the ability to repair the car, although it required a significant amount of time. "Could" indicates his capability or skill.
16. We wanted to go to the opera, but we couldn't get tickets.
Explanation: The sentence suggests that the speaker and others were unsuccessful in obtaining tickets for the opera. "Couldn't" indicates the inability to get tickets.
17. Fortunately, I could get his address from his office.
Explanation: The speaker was able to obtain the person's address from their office. "Could" emphasizes the successful outcome of obtaining the address.
18. I don't know how the cat could get through the window, but he did.
Explanation: The cat managed to get through the window, and the speaker is unsure of how it was able to do so. "Could" indicates its capability or skill.
19. After the accident, she somehow could walk home.
Explanation: Despite the accident, she managed to walk home. "Could" indicates her capability or skill.
20. After several hours, firefighters could put out the fire.
Explanation: After a prolonged duration, the firefighters were successful in extinguishing the fire. "Could" emphasizes the successful outcome of putting out the fire.
21. Jan gave me a lift home, so I could stay at the party till late.
Explanation: Jan's offer of a ride home allowed the speaker to remain at the party until a late hour. "Could" indicates the speaker's ability or permission to stay.
22. He had a motorcycle accident at the age of 18, and after that, he couldn't walk.
Explanation: After the motorcycle accident, he was unable to walk. "Couldn't" indicates the inability to walk.
23. I couldn't sleep very well for the last four nights. It has been too hot.
Explanation: The sentence suggests that the speaker experienced restless sleep due to the hot weather. "Couldn't" indicates the inability to sleep well.
24. I could play tennis really well a few years ago, but not anymore.
Explanation: The speaker was once capable of playing tennis skillfully, but their ability has diminished. "Could" and "not anymore" indicate the change in their tennis-playing skills.
25. When I was a child, I could see much better, but now I wear glasses.
Explanation: The speaker had better eyesight as a child, but now they require glasses. "Could" indicates their past capability or ability to see well.
26. After the accident, he couldn't walk anymore.
Explanation: The accident resulted in his inability to walk. "Couldn't" indicates the loss of walking ability.
27. I could run fast when the dog chased me.
Explanation: The speaker had the ability to run quickly when being chased by the dog. "Could" emphasizes their capability or skill.
28. When we went into the house, we could smell burning.
Explanation: Upon entering the house, they were able to detect the scent of something burning. "Could" indicates their capability to smell the burning odor.
29. During the weekend, we could do some gardening.
Explanation: The sentence implies that they had the ability to engage in gardening activities during the weekend. "Could" emphasizes their capability or opportunity.
30. Mozart could compose little pieces of music even when he was 5.
Explanation: The sentence suggests that Mozart had the ability to compose small pieces of music at the young age of 5. "Could" indicates his capability or skill in composing music.