Ability Chapter 7 GE 8

CAN DO	CAN NOT DO
Manage to do something Be (q-v-r) good at doing something Can do something Find something  (q-v-r) easy to do Know how to do something Be able to do something	Be useless at doing something Have not / has not got a clue how to do something Have no idea to do something Find something (q – v – r) difficult to do Be no good at doing something
I usually manage to find what I want, but not always. I managed to download some new software, but it took me ages to find out how to do it. I am quite good at doing this. I can always find what I want. I could do these things after I read the instructions. I find this quite easy to do. I think I know how to do this, but I haven’t done it for a while. I am able to use the most new stuff after a very short time. I was able to learn this very quickly.	I am still useless at doing these things. I haven’t got a clue how to do this. I have no idea to do this. I find it difficult to use anything new unless someone shows me. I am no good at using new stuff without help. I did not have a clue how to use it. I am really useless at football, but he is brilliant at it.
I am (brilliant – great – excellence – not bad) at writing.	I am ( hopeless – bad – terrible – awful- rubbish) at singing and art.

Ability in the past:

Was / were not able to do something: I was not able to learn this quickly.

Could /could not do something: I could not do these things immediately.

I can do this easily.

I am able to do this easily.

I don’t know how to play football.

I am useless at playing football.

Fixing problem on my computer is very easy.

I find fixing problem on my computer easy to do.

I can speak English well.

I am good at speaking English.

I don’t know how to use a computer.

I have no idea how to use a computer.

I can’t play football at all.

I haven’t got a clue how to play football.

I couldn’t swim when I was five.

I wasn’t able to swim when I was five.

I can’t make cakes.

I am not good at making cakes.

I passed my exams, but they were very difficult.

I managed to pass exams, but they were very difficult.

COLIN  

I don’t play very often and I’m useless at remembering the rules, but I’m actually quite good and annoy people by saying I haven’t got a clue how to play and then winning!

I learned when I was a teenager but I never managed to make much progress. I found it really hard to remember the notes. In the end my mum couldn’t stand the noise and I gave up.

MORAG

It’s embarrassing but I don’t know how to. I mean at school we had lessons but I really hated it. It was always so cold. And I never go to the sea on holiday because I’m really into climbing.

It’s only a hobby although I have sold a few things. My husband says I’m brilliant, but I think that’s exaggerating. I think I’m quite good with colour, that’s all.

AMY                     

I’m absolutely hopeless – I just can’t hear the notes. I mean it sounds alright to me but it’s not very nice for other people.

I’m not bad, actually! I train every evening for about two hours. I’ve never managed to win a race – but I know I’m going to win something soon.