Expressing Ability

Expressing ability is something that may be confusing in English because there are many ways of expressing what you can or can't do. Let's put yourselves to test by working this online quiz!!

Have a nice week,
Profesores del CUI

Make a choice by clicking on a button then compare your answer with the correct one hidden under the answer button.

1. Although it contains many difficult words, I ___ read this book now.
   can
   could
   may
   Answercan
2. But I ___ have read it last year.
   mayn't
   couldn't
   can't
   Answercouldn't
3. Because there were many long words which I ___ understand.
   couldn't
   can't
   aren't able to
   Answercouldn't
4. When you receive the new books ___ try to read one of them?
   can I
   could I
   may
   Answercould I
5. I ___ understand why you won't let me.
   couldn't
   can't
   mayn't
   Answercan't
6. Can you find your way to the hotel? Yes I ___.
   could
   am able
   can
   Answercan
7. Can you pronounce my name properly? I ___ if you would speak more slowly.
   could
   may
   can
   Answercould
8. Are you strong enough to lift that box.? Yes, I ___.
   could
   am
   can
   Answeram
9. Will you speak more clearly please? I ___ hardly hear you at all.
   could
   can
   can't
   Answercan
10. I ___ only listen to my radio when my mother was not at home.
    did
    can
    could
    Answercould
11. Can you fix my car today? Yes, I ___.
    may
    could
    can
    Answercan
12. I ___ do that because I will get a sunburn.
    can't
    couldn't
    can
    Answercan't
13. Is it low enough ___ you to be able to step over it?
    to
    for
    of
    Answerfor
14. I ___ reach that apple, I'll have to use a ladder.
    don't
    can't
    couldn't
    Answercan't
15. ___ you just jump?
    Can't
    Don't
    If
    AnswerCan't
16. I ___ have known when she was coming home because I didn't have a watch.
    can't
    couldn't
    won't
    Answercouldn't

(C) 2000 by Jack Bradshaw

Interested or Interesting?

Adjectives ending with -ed and -ing

Click the answer button to see the answer.

Sue: Hi, Jane. Have you had an (interest) day?

Answerinteresting

Jane: I've had a very (excite) day. It's my birthday today.

Answerexciting

Sue: I'm a little (confuse). I thought your birthday was next month.

Answerconfused

Jane No, that's my brother's birthday. Mine is today.

Sue: Oh! Now I'm (embarrass). I didn't get you a present.

Answerembarrassed

Jane: That's (disappoint). But it's OK.

Answerdisappointing

Sue: Now I'm (depress), too.

Answerdepressed

Hey, I've just had a (fascinate) idea.

Answerfascinating

Why don't we go shopping and get you a present right now? That way we can get you something really (please).

Answerpleasing

Jane: What an (enchant) idea. Where shall we start?

Answerenchanting

Sue: What about right here?

---

Bill: Hi, Mark. You look (tire).

Answertired.

Mark: I am. I'm totally (exhaust)

Answerexhausted.

Bill: Why? What have you been doing?

Mark: I've been getting my house ready for the painters to come tomorrow. Now they ring me to tell me, yet again, that they can't come till next week. I'm getting very (annoy) with them..

Answerannoyed

Bill: That's (disappoint).

Answerdisappointing

I'll bet that you'll be (please) when it's finished.

Answerpleased

Mark: You're not wrong! I'm starting to get very (bore) with all the delays.

Answerbored

It's (distress).

Answerdistressing.

Bill: You must be so (frustrate). When do they think they will finish painting you house.

Answerfrustrated

Mark: They say that it will take about two weeks to finish. But when they will start I don't know.

Bill: Don't be too (depress).

Answerdepressed

Just think of how (relieve) you'll be when it's finished.

Answerrelieved

Mark: That's the (frighten) thing. I'm starting to believe that it will never be finished.

Answerfrightening

Bill: What a (shock) thought.

Answershocking

Never mind. One day soon you'll wake up with the (relax) thought that it's finished and you don't have to worry about it anymore.

Answerrelaxing

Mark: I hope you're right.

---

Amy: Have you heard the (suprise) news about Alice and Ted?

Answersuprising

Cathy: You mean about their getting married. Yes, I have. I was absolutely (astonish) when I heard about it.

Answerastonished

I thought it was the most (astound) thing I'd heard in a long time. They're always fighting like cats and dogs.

Answerastounding

Amy: I agree with you. I was pretty (shock) when I heard about it myself.

Answershocked

Cathy: Actually, I'm (relieve).

Answerrelieved

I was always (worry) that they would break up. Now I can relax.

Answerworried

Amy: What a (depress) idea.

Answerdepressing

But you're right. That would be an (upset) thing to happen.

Answerupsetting

Cathy: Now we can all relax knowing that they will live a life of (content), (wed) bliss.

Answercontented Answerwedded

Amy: You're so right. I just love weddings. They're so (fascinate).

Answerfascinating

Copyright (C) 1998 Douglas Gilbert

Visita a un Museo en USA

Hi everyone,

as a new term begins we bring you a virtual visit to a museum in the USA. This museum would lodge immigrants 200 years ago.

The working sheet includes the answers and below you will find the audio file.

May you find it useful and any doubt you might have, contact your teacher.

ACTIVITIES (with answers)

Kind regards,

Prof. Mariano Ignacio

Centro Univ. de Idiomas

Total English - Revisión de las Unidades

Hola a todos!

El cuatrimestre ya está finalizando, y queremos que el proceso de exámenes sea un tiempo de evaluación objetivo y a la vez personal. Objetivo, cuando todos ustedes alumnos rinden sus exámenenes en los que se evalúa el progreso y los contenidos adquiridos. Y personal, cuando son ustedes mismos quienes miden y ven su propio progreso. Es por eso que hoy les acercamos un examen unidad por unidad, para que hagan una evaluación personal antes del examen. Pero... es importante que NO los realicen como un ejercicio más, sino como el resultado del estudio previo. Hagan los ejercicios del Workbook, trabajen con el CD-ROM -tiene muy buena ejercitación y explicaciones claras y concisas-. Y recién después, realicen estos "exámenes" de práctica.
Que les resulte de utilidad y que los exámenes finales sean un tiempo de cosechar el trabajo del cuatrimestre.

Unidad 5 -examen y respuestas-
Unidad 6 -examen y respuestas-
Unidad 7 -examen y respuestas-
Unidad 8 -examen y respuestas-


Saludos,
Prof. Mariano Ignacio
Centro Univ. de Idiomas

Argentinians in London

Hi there!

A bonus track video clip this weekend! CNN visited a London bar where Argentine fans were watching the World Cup match between Argentina and Greece. Peek inside!
Have a look at Argentinians in London as they enjoy a football match as much as we do... but in English!

Cheers!
Mariano

Spanish and English living together!

Dear all,

Bilingual education is the practice of teaching non-English speaking students the principal subjects in their native language as they learn another language. Developed in the 1970's, those programs were intended to help children keep up with their classmates in subjects such as Math, Science and Social Studies while they studied English.
This week, we bring you a report that explores the experience of a school in the USA.

Click here to download the exercise for you to work.

And this is the AUDIO needed for the task.




Once you have finished, we invite you to watch an additional report based on Bilingual Education.




Enjoy!
Prof. Mariano Ignacio
Centro Univ. de Idiomas.

Sentenced to... Shakespeare!

Dear all,

Every night in Boston, Massachusetts, 13 actors take the stage at Shakespeare & Company in “Henry V.’’ Nothing so unusual in that — except that they are teenagers, none older than 17, and they have been sentenced to perform this play.

The show is the culmination of a five-week intensive program called Shakespeare in the Courts, a nationally recognized initiative now celebrating its 10th year. Berkshire Juvenile Court Judge Judith Locke has sent these adjudicated offenders — found guilty of such adolescent crimes as fighting, drinking, stealing, and destroying property — not to lockup or conventional community service, but to four afternoons a week of acting exercises, rehearsal, and Shakespearean study.

This week, we bring you an interesting report on how adolescents are re-educated by means of drama. There is no exercise to be done. Only to listen and enjoy. And in case there are words you do not understand, we provide you with the transcription. Then, if you wish, there is a video that illustrates the report.

Enjoy!

TRANSCRIPTION TO THE AUDIO PROGRAM

____________________

Prof. Mariano Ignacio

Centro Univ. de Idiomas