Modal Verbs of Ability (can, could) grammar Exercise

Practise selecting “can” or “could” to express ability, requests, and possibilities in everyday situations.

Exercise Guide

How to complete:

Read each paragraph and choose the correct form of “can” or “could” for every blank. Pay attention to whether the sentence talks about present ability, past ability, or polite requests.

  • Use “can” for present ability or informal permission.
  • Use “could” for past ability or polite, tentative requests.
  • Look for time markers and context clues that signal when the action happens.

Success tips:

  • “Can” is direct and confident; “could” sounds softer or refers to the past.
  • Questions often use “could” to sound polite: “Could you help me?”
  • Remember “could” can show possibility (“It could rain later”).
  • Check surrounding verbs; if the sentence describes childhood skills, use “could”.

Knowledge:

Modal verbs like “can” and “could” help you describe what is possible, what someone knows how to do, and how politely you ask for help. These exercises mix polite requests, everyday abilities, and past skills so you can apply each form naturally.

Notice how context shifts the meaning: “I can swim” describes a present skill, while “I could swim when I was five” looks back to the past. Practising these subtle changes will strengthen both your speaking and writing.

Complete the Exercise

Paragraph 1

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When I was younger, I run for miles, but now I walk briskly, and I still finish a 5K with practice.
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Paragraph 2

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Maria speak three languages fluently, her brother understand some phrases, and together they help tourists in their city.
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Paragraph 3

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Yesterday, we borrow the projector from the library, but today we bring our own, so we finish the presentation smoothly.
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Paragraph 4

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Could you pass the salt? I reach it from here, but Jenna grab it quickly because she is closer.
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Paragraph 5

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In the 1990s, our grandmother design clothes by hand, and now she teach sewing classes so more students learn the basics.
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Paragraph 6

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Even though the trail be steep, our guide said we stop anytime, and experienced climbers handle it easily.
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Paragraph 7

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Last year, Liam not play the piano well, but after lessons he perform melodies, and now he even compose simple songs.
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Paragraph 8

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The software analyze data faster than before, so our team predict outcomes accurately, and clients rely on the reports.
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Paragraph 9

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Could we schedule the meeting for tomorrow, or we keep it today so everyone attend before lunch?
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Paragraph 10

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During childhood, they swim across the lake, but now they only wade in the shallow end; still, they enjoy the water.
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Paragraph 11

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The chef prepare vegan dishes, the servers explain every ingredient, and guests choose meals confidently.
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Paragraph 12

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In the past, this old radio pick up distant stations, yet today it barely play music, though the engineers restore it soon.
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Paragraph 13

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Could you let me know if the lab lend us equipment, so the students test their prototypes tomorrow?
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Paragraph 14

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These new assistants process applications quickly, the senior staff review complex cases, and together they deliver results ahead of deadline.
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Paragraph 15

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In emergencies, our team respond within minutes, but last winter storms slow us down, although backup crews still reach the site.
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