Unable

Lead-in

  • Can you think of any activities people can do in different places around the world?

Example: In forests, people are able to go hiking, birdwatching, or even camping, which is harder to do in places without many trees.

Presentation

Pre

  • How do you think people’s lives change depending on where they live?

Top Down

  • What is the main idea about what people are able to do in different environments? Read the text and find out.
  1. People are able to only experience the same activities, regardless of where they live.
  2. People are able to enjoy unique activities suited to the characteristics of the place where they live.
  3. People are unable to adapt their activities based on their surroundings.
  1. People are able to only experience the same activities, regardless of where they live.
  2. People are able to enjoy unique activities suited to the characteristics of the place where they live.
  3. People are unable to adapt their activities based on their surroundings.

The world is full of diverse places, each with its own unique characteristics and landscapes. In some areas, people are able to experience vast stretches of sand and warm, dry climates, while in others, they are able to explore dense forests that teem with life and experience regular rainfall. There are also regions with towering peaks where snow remains year-round, allowing visitors to be able to enjoy cool, crisp environments.

In many parts of the world, communities are able to settle near large bodies of water, where they are able to enjoy activities such as boating and fishing. Other groups are able to establish themselves in flat, open areas, ideal for farming, where they are able to cultivate fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. Some places are able to experience dramatic changes in temperature, with hot summers and snowy winters, while others are able to maintain a mild climate throughout the year.

Many people are able to find regions where they can enjoy a mix of urban and natural surroundings, allowing them to experience both the energy of city life and the tranquility of open spaces. Others are able to find peace in more remote areas, surrounded by nature, where they are able to connect with the environment in a quiet, serene setting.

Bottom Up

  • True or False
  1. Some areas of the world are known for their dense forests and regular rainfall.
  2. All places with towering peaks experience warm, dry climates year-round.
  3. Communities near large bodies of water often enjoy activities such as boating and fishing.
  4. Flat, open areas are generally unsuitable for farming.
  5. Some regions experience both hot summers and snowy winters.
  6. There are no places where people can enjoy both city life and natural surroundings.
  7. Certain regions maintain a mild climate throughout the year without extreme temperature changes.
  8. Some people prefer to live in remote areas, close to nature, in a quiet and serene environment.
  1. Some areas of the world are known for their dense forests and regular rainfall. True
  2. All places with towering peaks experience warm, dry climates year-round. False
  3. Communities near large bodies of water often enjoy activities such as boating and fishing. True
  4. Flat, open areas are generally unsuitable for farming. False
  5. Some regions experience both hot summers and snowy winters. True
  6. There are no places where people can enjoy both city life and natural surroundings. False
  7. Certain regions maintain a mild climate throughout the year without extreme temperature changes. True
  8. Some people prefer to live in remote areas, close to nature, in a quiet and serene environment. True

Post

  • If you could choose any type of place to live (near a beach, in a forest, on a mountain, or in a city with both urban and natural surroundings) where would you choose and why?

Target Language

Be Able To

Be able to and can are similar in meaning but can is normally used only for the present tense. 

  • The riders will be able to compete again.
  • They are afraid they won’t be able to afford it.
  • I wasn’t able to learn it when I was younger.
  • She’s been able to talk to him after all.

Controlled Practice

  •  Complete the sentences with the correct form of “be able to” in the past, present, or future tense.

Example: Last year, I __________ (not/be able to) go on vacation because of work.

  1. Next week, they __________ (be able to) finish the project on time.
  2. He __________ (be able to) speak three languages fluently.
  3. They __________ (not/be able to) attend the meeting yesterday.
  4. By the end of the course, you __________ (be able to) understand basic French.
  5. After practicing for months, she finally __________ (be able to) play the piano smoothly.
  6. Even though he was tired, he __________ (be able to) finish the race.
  1. Next week, they will be able to finish the project on time.
  2. He is able to speak three languages fluently.
  3. They weren’t able to attend the meeting yesterday.
  4. By the end of the course, you will be able to understand basic French.
  5. After practicing for months, she finally was able to play the piano smoothly.
  6. Even though he was tired, he was able to finish the race.

Freer Practice

  • Use the target language and complete the sentences according to your own ideas.
  1. In the future, I hope to be able to __________.
  2. Last year, I wasn’t able to __________, but now I can.
  3. By the end of this course, I will be able to __________.
  4. One thing I’ve always wanted to be able to do is __________.
  5. After a lot of practice, my boss was finally able to __________.
  6. My friends weren’t able to __________ yesterday, but they might try again next time.

Production

  • Create a bucket list using the target language.

Example: I have 15 items on my bucket list. The first is that I want to be able to speak Chinese fluently. The second is that…

Homework

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

  1. If I save enough money, I will ___ to buy a new laptop.

    • a) been able
    • b) be able
    • c) able

  2. After her surgery, she wasn’t ___ to walk for a month.

    • a) able
    • b) be able
    • c) been able

  3. They haven’t ___ to find a solution to the problem.

    • a) be able
    • b) able
    • c) been able

  1. When I was younger, I wasn’t ___ to understand difficult concepts.

    • a) be able
    • b) able
    • c) been able

  2. Hopefully, she’ll ___ to visit us next summer.

    • a) able
    • b) been able
    • c) be able

  3. We were ___ to complete the project on time.

    • a) able
    • b) been able
    • c) be able

  1. If I save enough money, I will ___ to buy a new laptop.

    • a) been able
    • b) be able
    • c) able

  2. After her surgery, she wasn’t ___ to walk for a month.

    • a) able
    • b) be able
    • c) been able

  3. They haven’t ___ to find a solution to the problem.

    • a) be able
    • b) able
    • c) been able

  1. When I was younger, I wasn’t ___ to understand difficult concepts.

    • a) be able
    • b) able
    • c) been able

  2. Hopefully, she’ll ___ to visit us next summer.

    • a) able
    • b) been able
    • c) be able

  3. We were ___ to complete the project on time.

    • a) able
    • b) been able
    • c) be able

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “be able to.”

Example: She has never _______ cook very well. > She has never been able to cook very well.
  1. She hopes she will _______ finish the report by tomorrow.
  2. They haven’t _______ solve the puzzle yet.
  3. He wasn’t _______ attend the meeting last week.
  4. I will _______ visit you next month.
  5. Have you _______ help her move?
  1. She hopes she will be able to finish the report by tomorrow.
  2. They haven’t been able to solve the puzzle yet.
  3. He wasn’t able to attend the meeting last week.
  4. I will be able to visit you next month.
  5. Have you been able to help her move?

Rewrite each sentence using “be able to.”

Example: She will have the chance to participate. > She will be able to participate.
  1. She can speak three languages.
  2. I couldn’t solve the problem last night.
  3. They will have the opportunity to attend the event.
  4. He can’t go on the trip because of work.
  5. They managed to finish the project in time.
  1. She is able to speak three languages.
  2. I wasn’t able to solve the problem last night.
  3. They will be able to attend the event.
  4. He isn’t able to go on the trip because of work.
  5. They were able to finish the project in time.

Put the words in the correct order

Example: have partner. you your an argument polite when Be with > Be polite when you have an argument with your partner.

  1. tomorrow / I / to / will / be / meet / able / him
  2. the / they / perform / be / show / able / were / to
  3. able / speak / She’s / to / four / languages / been
  4. wasn’t / able / He / to / call / me / night / last
  5. to / you / help / able / be / me / Will / fix / this?
  6. always / My / be / jokes / able / brother’s / to / tell
  1. I will be able to meet him tomorrow.
  2. They were able to perform the show.
  3. She’s been able to speak four languages.
  4. He wasn’t able to call me last night.
  5. Will you be able to help me fix this?
  6. My brother’s always able to tell jokes.

Find and correct the mistakes.

Example: They weren’t been able to solve the issue. > They weren’t able to solve the issue.

  1. She was been able to finish her homework on time.
  2. I hope to being able to travel next year.
  3. They wasn’t able to attend the concert last night.
  4. He will able to complete the assignment by tomorrow.
  5. She haven’t been able to sleep well lately.
  6. Will you be able finish this before the deadline?
  1. She was able to finish her homework on time.
  2. I hope to be able to travel next year.
  3. They weren’t able to attend the concert last night.
  4. He will be able to complete the assignment by tomorrow.
  5. She hasn’t been able to sleep well lately.
  6. Will you be able to finish this before the deadline?

Writing

Write a short text about things you are able to do and things you’re not able to do.

Example: I’m very good at Math, I’m able to solve math problems just by…