Be able, Could and Managed to
Could, Be able and Managed to are used to express ability in the past but the difference is in the moment and situation.
Could is used to express the ability in the general situation (there is no explanation about the moment) .
I could swim before
Be able and Managed are used in the specific moment.
I was able to stand by my own legs when I was a year.
Manage to also used to show the ability o doing something but through difficult process.
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After waiting for hours, finally I managed to see my advisor.
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Be able, Could and Managed to Exercise
0
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We couldn't see
very well as our seats were a long way from the court.
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1
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Luckily we
.............................. to catch the last train.
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2
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..............................
you play the piano when you were younger?
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3
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I ..............................
do much sport as a child because I wasn't very well.
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4
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Tom
.............................. pull off the deal – he was very
disappointed.
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5
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I have always
.............................. to touch my toes.
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0
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Were
you able to get any tickets for the tennis this year? (manage)
Did
you manage to get any tickets for the tennis this year?
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1
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I
couldn't speak French very well as a child. (be able)
.............................................................................................................
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2
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Mum
wasn't able to cook until she went on a cookery course. (can)
.............................................................................................................
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3
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Brad
couldn't overcome his fear of flying so he never travelled.
(manage)
.............................................................................................................
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4
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I
was able to spend hours on my own when I was younger. (can)
.............................................................................................................
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5
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Phil's
really excited because he managed to get Nadal's autograph. (be
able)
.............................................................................................................
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0
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Dan _____
play cricket well from an early age.
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a) could
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b) was able
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c)
managed
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1
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I'm really sorry but I only
________ to get one ticket.
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a) could
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b) managed
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c)
was able
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2
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Paula ________ work since the
accident.
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a) couldn't
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b) didn't manage to
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c)
hasn't been able to
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3
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________ get everything done in
time yesterday?
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a) Could you
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b) Were you able to
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c)
Did you manage
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4
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I never ________ to see Avatar
in 3D.
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a) wasn't able to
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b) could
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c)
managed
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5
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Steve ________ hide his
disappointment at coming second.
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a) couldn't
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b) wasn't able
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c)
didn't manage
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1.
I ______ speak Italian really well when I lived in Venice.
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2.
It was quite difficult but I ______ get it all done.
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3.
It was very frustrating. I ______ make her understand what I wanted.
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4.
I missed the last train but I ______ get a taxi.
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5.
I ______ do the Times crossword ten years ago but I can't nowadays. I'm
getting too old!
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6.
I looked everywhere but I ______ find it.
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7.
There were very few seats left but I ______ get us two tickets.
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8.
I ______ run much faster when I was 20.
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9.
I would have liked to have gone but I ______ get a ticket.
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10.
I ______ see what was wrong with what I had put but I kept getting an error
message.
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11.
I ______ read when I was only four.
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12.
I don't speak much Russian but I ______ make the taxi driver understand where
I wanted to go.
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13.
I asked Tom if he ______ help.
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14.
How on earth did you ______ find it? It's just what I wanted.
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15.
Sorry I'm late. I ______ start my car.
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16.
When I was young, I ______ run fast but now I cannot.
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17.
I ______ find the correct answer anywhere.
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18.
In spite of his broken arm, he ______ come into the office for the meeting.
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