Past or Present
I'm very tired, so I ___________ come to your party. I'm sorry.
I'm very tired, so I can't / am not able to come to your party. I'm sorry.
The bicycle chain broke but luckily I _______ repair it.
The bicycle chain broke but luckily I was able to repair it.
The exam was very difficult, but John __________ get an A+.
The exam was very difficult, but John was able to get an A+.
The speaker _______ attend the conference due to illness.
The speaker couldn't /wasn't able to attend the conference due to illness.
I'm sorry I won't ______ come.
I'm sorry I won't be able to come.
I __________ go to the party last night because I was sick.
I couldn't/ wasn't able to go to the party last night because I was sick.
I _______ contact him last night.
I was able to contact him last night.
It was a terrible fire, but everyone __________ escape.
It was a terrible fire, but everyone was able to escape.
She _________ watch the final match because she was working.
She couldn't / wasn't able to watch the final match because she was working.
Ask the manager, he should _________ help you.
Ask the manager, he should be able to help you.
Sophia ___________ ride a bicycle. She rides it to school every day.
Sophia can / is able to ride a bicycle. She rides it to school every day.
When she was young, my aunt ______ run for miles.
When she was young, my aunt could/was able to run for miles.
The man in front of me fell down. He was heavy but somehow I ________ help him stand up.
The man in front of me fell down. He was heavy but somehow I was able to help him stand up.
We tried to break the doors down, but we _______ do it.
We tried to break the doors down, but we couldn't /weren't able to do it.
I ________ sleep very well recently. I am always tired in the morning. (perfect)
I haven't (have not) been able to sleep very well recently. I am always tired in the morning.
Most dinosaurs walked on land, but some _______ fly or even swim.
Most dinosaurs walked on land, but some could /were able to fly or even swim.
The fire was spreading but he _______ get out of the burning building.
The fire was spreading but he was able to get out of the burning building.
When we visited Africa last year, I _______ go on a safari.
When we visited Africa last year, I was able to go on a safari.
The smoke was so thick that he ________ see the exit.
The smoke was so thick that he couldn't / wasn't able to see the exit.
It’s not possible yet, but I think AI __________ do the housework for us in a few years.
It’s not possible yet, but I think AI will be able to do the housework for us in a few years.
David hit the tree because he ____ stop his car. The brakes weren't working.
David hit the tree because he couldn't/ wasn't able to stop his car. The brakes weren't working.
Peter was sick all week but by Saturday he _____ get back to work.
Peter was sick all week but by Saturday he was able to get back to work.
The burglar _______ get in through the bathroom window even though it was locked.
The burglar was able to get in through the bathroom window even though it was locked.
They worked on the problem for months but they ______ find a solution.
They worked on the problem for months but they couldn't / weren't able to find a solution.
I ______ focus at work recently. I don't know what the problem is. (perfect)
I haven't been able to focus at work recently. I don't know what the problem is.