Can, Could Be, Be Able to: Exercises and Differences

12/05/2025 Learning & Grammer created by Sprachcaffe Team

Easy Exercises to learn in English - Can, Could, Be able to | English verbs never cease to amaze and challenge: today you'll find out with the exercises on can, could, and be able to! If you're already taking the skills test, it means you've already studied their meanings and the cases in which they're used. But don't worry: in this lesson, before moving on to the exercises, we'll also review some theory, so you have the concepts fresh and avoid the risk of making trivial, careless mistakes.

Can, Could, and Be Able to can be tricky, it's true, but when approached with the right mindset, they're not only easier than they seem, but knowing them will also greatly help you improve your spoken English and sound more like a native. So, let's not waste any time and get started with this lesson right away!

Can, Could, Be Able to: What Changed?

As promised, before diving into the exercises, let's review the meanings of these three verbs together. First, let's specify that they are modal verbs, a category of auxiliary verbs that express modalities such as ability, possibility, permission, obligation, necessity, and other attitudes of the speaker towards the action of the main verb.

In the case of can, could, and be able to, the meaning we want to express is that of possibility, permission, or making requests: we generally translate them with the verb "potere" or "sapere," in the sense of "be capable."

I can play the piano. → I can play the piano.
I am able to play the piano. → I can play the piano.
Could I play the piano? → Could I play the piano?

Already from how we have translated them, however, you can notice some substantial differences in the use of one verb or the other.

Indeed:

Can is an informal verb used to express ability, possibility, or to informally ask for permission.

Examples:

You can come with me if you want.
He can swim very well.
Can I open the window? → Can I open the window? (e.g., you're at a friend's house)

Could , on the other hand, is a more formal version of the verb "can" as far as requests are concerned, while it expresses possibility or ability but in the past or hypothetical tense.

Examples:

I could run fast when I was young.
It could rain later. → It could rain later.
Could I open the window? → Could I open the window? (e.g., You're at school and you ask the teacher.)

Finally, "be able to" is a more specific verbal construction, mainly used to express ability or skill and often replaces "can" in the future tense.

I will be able to swim very well one day.
If I had more time, I would be able to help you.
He is able to speak three languages.

Exercises Can, Could, Be Able to: Rules and Explanation

Now that we've done this brief-but comprehensive!-review, you should be ready to tackle some exercises on can, could, and be able to!

These exercises will help you practice and strengthen your understanding of how to use these modal verbs correctly in various contexts.

At the end, we'll also leave you with the solutions, so you can decide whether the topic is truly clear to you or whether you should review it before moving on to studying and learning more.

-Completa la frase con could, be able to

When I was younger, I ________ run for miles without getting tired.
By next year, I ________ speak three languages fluently.
He wasn't feeling well, so he ________ come to the meeting yesterday.
If you study hard, you ________ pass the exam.
She ________ play the piano beautifully when she was a child.
After a lot of practice, I finally ________ solve the puzzle.
They ________ finish the project by the end of the month if they work overtime.
He lost his keys and ________ get into his house last night.
Next year, we ________ travel to Japan for the summer.
Despite the heavy rain, they ________ complete the hike.

Solutions
could
will be able to
couldn't
will be able to
could
was able to
couldn't
will be able to
were able to

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-Correct the exercises with can, could, be able to

Let's now move on to the second exercise: complete the following sentences and check the correct verb with the solutions below.

When I was a teenager, I ________ stay up all night without feeling tired the next day.
By the end of this year, they will be able to finish the construction of their new house.
She isn't available right now, so she ________ take your call at the moment.
If you practice every day, you will soon be able to play the guitar very well.
As a child, he ________ solve complex math problems easily.
After the surgery, he finally ________ walk without pain.
With enough funding, the researchers ________ continue their important work. → Without enough funding, research for their important work cannot continue.
She forgot her password and couldn't access her email last night.
Thanks to the new software, we ________ complete our tasks more efficiently now.
Despite the injury, he ________ finish the marathon last week.

Solutions

could
be able to
can't
will be able to
could
was able to
will be able to
couldn't
was able to

-Write sentences with can, could, be able

Now, try to create your own sentences using the verbs can, could and be able to: based on what you have learned, try to imagine the right contexts in which to use them and play with the verb tenses.

Don't stop applying the concepts you've learned until you feel the topic is truly clear to you. Remember: it's always better to take a little longer, but to fully understand and memorize the rules, than to quickly "study" all the grammar points and then not know how to apply them.

Only when you can write sentences with can, could, and be able to without difficulty can you move on to the next topic: join us in the next Sprachcaffe lesson where we'll discuss the lesser-than-less comparative in English and all its characteristics!

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