Talk about what you could do in the pastتحدّث عن قدرتك في الماضي

The idea, simply

Use could for a general ability in the past: I could swim when I was six. For success in one particular situation, use was able to or managed to: The road was closed, but we managed to arrive on time. In the negative, both work: I couldn’t find my keys. Do not use could arrive for a single event you succeeded in.

Examples

• The road was closed, but we managed to arrive on time.

• I could read before I started school.

• I couldn’t find my keys this morning.

Lesson words

• manageيتمكّن، ينجح في
  Did you manage to sleep?
• ableقادر
  I was not able to call you.
• closedمغلق
  The bank is closed on Friday.
• on timeفي الموعد
  The train left on time.
• abilityقدرة
  She has a great ability to listen.

Lesson exercises

1. Put the words in the correct order.

   Words: arrive / but / closed, / managed / on / road / The / time. / to / was / we

   Answer

   The road was closed, but we managed to arrive on time.

2. Complete the gap: The exam was hard, but she was ___ to pass it.

   Answer

   able

3. Choose the correct English sentence.

   • He managed to fix the car himself.
   • He managed fix the car himself.
   • He managed to fixed the car himself.
   Answer

   He managed to fix the car himself.

4. Which sentence describes success in one situation?

   • We were able to get the last two tickets.
   • We could speak French as children.
   • We can get tickets online.
   Answer

   We were able to get the last two tickets.

   Were able to describes one particular success; could here is a general ability, and can is for the present.

5. Mention something you managed to do although it was hard.

   Model answer

   The road was closed, but we managed to arrive on time.

   Compare your answer with the model and check word order, capitals, and punctuation.