Corrigé could ou was able to : exercices de terminale

1. A : aptitude liée à l’âge.
2. R : une ascension précise.
3. A : savoir parler une langue.
4. R : un atterrissage réussi malgré la tempête.
5. A : capacité habituelle (when I was younger).
6. R : in the end signale une réussite.

1. could : aptitude pendant une période (was able to serait possible mais plus lourd).
2. was able to : réussite d’une évasion précise ; could est exclu.
3. could : aptitude générale à un âge donné.
4. was able to : réussite ponctuelle.
5. were able to : réussite précise grâce à la carte.
6. could : aptitude habituelle.

1. In the end, she managed to convince her parents.
2. They managed to save the injured whale.
3. Did you manage to get a refund? Après did, base verbale manage.
4. The firefighters managed to put out the fire after six hours.
5. He didn’t manage to finish the marathon.

1. I couldn’t hear the speaker.
2. She wasn’t able to open the jar.
3. They didn’t manage to find a hotel.
4. We couldn’t understand his accent.
5. He wasn’t able to answer the last question.

1. could see.
2. could smell.
3. couldn’t understand.
4. could feel.
5. could hear.
6. couldn’t remember. Avec ces verbes, could s’emploie même pour un moment précis.

1. will be able to vote.
2. haven’t been able to sleep : since impose le present perfect.
3. to be able to play.
4. Being able to speak : gérondif sujet.
5. be able to get : après un modal, base verbale be.
6. be able to run.

1. Faux : « As a teenager he could climb almost anything. »
2. Faux : « he couldn’t see more than ten metres ahead ».
3. Vrai : « he managed to reach the summit ».
4. Faux : « he wasn’t able to take a single photograph ».
5. Vrai : « he could hear the wind roaring over the cliffs ».
6. Il s’agit d’une réussite unique obtenue après un gros effort ; could exprimerait seulement une aptitude générale et ne dirait pas que Liam a atteint le sommet.

1. Permission : we were allowed to wear jeans on Fridays.
2. Capacité : Grandma was able to knit a jumper in two days.
3. Permission (un droit) : women in Switzerland weren’t allowed to vote in federal elections.
4. Capacité : my brother was able to swim before he was able to walk.
5. Permission : visitors were allowed to take photos inside the museum.
6. Capacité : ten years ago, I wasn’t able to read Japanese.

1. After three attempts, I was able to (managed to) pass my driving test. Réussite ponctuelle.
2. She succeeded in winning the race. (ou She managed to win the race.)
3. I will be able to help you tomorrow. Deux modaux ne se suivent pas.
4. He could swim when he was four. Pas de to après un modal.
5. They managed to find the keys under the sofa.
6. Yesterday, at last, I was able to (managed to) open the door with the old key.

1. When she was little, she could swim.
2. Despite the strike, we were able to (managed to) catch the last train.
3. He couldn’t (wasn’t able to) come to the meeting.
4. I haven’t been able to sleep since Monday.
5. They managed to convince the jury.
6. We could hear the sea from the bedroom.

Exemple de réponse modèle :

1. When I was eight, I could recite every capital city in Europe.
2. I couldn’t swim until I was eleven.
3. Last summer I managed to swim across the lake despite the cold.
4. Thanks to my coach’s advice, I was able to beat my personal record.
5. Next year I will be able to compete at national level.