Question

0014 2 We weren't able to stop laughing. We [[weren't able to]] stop laughing. couldn't With verbs of perception (e.g. see, hear, smell) and verbs of the mind (e.g. understand, decide, remember), we usually use can, can't, etc: 'I can't hear you. Could you speak a bit louder, please?' 'I think I can smell something burning.' 'Having met her new boss, I can see why she doesn't like him.' Note also the phrase can't/couldn't stop doing something: 'The book was so fascinating I couldn't stop reading it.'See also COULD 1 (↑could)

Accepted Answer

able ✗ We couldn't stop laughing. We [[couldn't]] stop laughing. weren't able to | couldn't

Idx	0014
Keyword	able
Sub Entry Number	2
Type of Sentence	✗
Error Sentence	We weren't able to stop laughing.
Correct Sentence	We couldn't stop laughing.
Cloze Error Sentence	We [[weren't able to]] stop laughing.
Cloze Sentence	We [[couldn't]] stop laughing.
Cloze Answer	couldn't
Choices	weren't able to \| couldn't
Explanation	With verbs of perception (e.g. see, hear, smell) and verbs of the mind (e.g. understand, decide, remember), we usually use can, can't, etc: 'I can't hear you. Could you speak a bit louder, please?' 'I think I can smell something burning.' 'Having met her new boss, I can see why she doesn't like him.' Note also the phrase can't/couldn't stop doing something: 'The book was so fascinating I couldn't stop reading it.' See also COULD 1 (↑could)

Stop Laughing I Verbs E.G Hear Smell Perception