How to use "operate" in a sentence

She became aware of the familiar, spiritlike presence that had been in Angela's office when the computer had begun to operate by itself

The cab controls would not operate unless one first inserted an acceptable ID card into a slot above them

One thing I am sure of: my brother's wife certainly did not know how to set and operate this hammer.'

Helene, as I have said, had shown the commissaire that she knew how to operate the steam hammer

We had been unable to co-operate