More questions

[belly_ttt]

1)I sat on the terrace, drinking coffee. From there I could see the vineyard and olive groves bellow me
- Why do we use drinking here but not drank?
- Why use could here since could doesn't imply the idea" achievement on a particular occasion in the past", I think it would be better if we have were able to here. How about you?

2)She was planning to ring her friend but she forgot
Can I use: She was to ring her friend....
?

3) Every child will have chance to go to vocational school or schools?

Thanks in advance

 

[Anglika]

1)I sat on the terrace, drinking coffee. From there I could see the vineyard and olive groves below me
- Why do we use drinking here but not drank? As he is doing one thing, he is also doing another. He sat on the terrace, drinking his coffee - it is an ongoing action.
- Why use could here since could doesn't imply the idea" achievement on a particular occasion in the past", I think it would be better if we have were able to here. How about you? You can use "were able to" but the author preferred "could see". It is his/her preference.

2)She was planning to ring her friend but she forgot
Can I use: She was to ring her friend.... No, because she has a plan to ring her friend.
?

3) Every child will have chance to go to vocational school or schools? Will each child go to more than one school?

Thanks in advance

.