EASY ENGLISH CAN VS TO BE ABLE TO
EASY ENGLISH CAN VS TO BE ABLE TO
EASY ENGLISH CAN VS TO BE ABLE TO
There is often some confusion about can and be able to, so let’s see if I can clear
that up a bit for you.
Can and be able to are often interchangeable and you can usually use either one
without a difference in meaning. But not always.
Can is a modal auxiliary verb that expresses general ability in the Present tense,
or could for general ability in the Past tense.
Be able to is not a modal auxiliary verb, it’s just the verb “be” + the adverb “able”
+ the infinitive “to”.
Present Ability. We use both can and be able to, but can is much more common:
Future Ability. We only use will be able to to talk about a future skill or ability that
you don’t have yet, but you will have in the future. We never use can for an ability
that you will only have in the future:
We use either can or be able to when we are talking about decisions and future
arrangements:
When I was young, I was able to eat like a pig and not get fat.
When I was young, I could eat like a pig and not get fat.
When I was a teenager, I could stay up all night without getting tired.
When I was a teenager, I was able to stay up all night without getting tired.
We only use was/were able to with action verbs to talk about an ability related to
a single event:
But we use either can or was/were able to with some stative verbs (see, hear, feel,
taste) to talk about an ability related to a single event:
Were you able to see the fireworks from your balcony last night?
Could you see the fireworks from your balcony last night?
Because I was sitting in the front row, I was able to hear the teacher clearly.
Because I was sitting in the front row, I could hear the teacher clearly.
6. She _____________ come on holiday next month if her parents give her
permission.
a. could
b. 'll be able to
c. can't
7. The fishing boat sank but luckily all the crew ____________ save themselves.
a. were able to
b. could
c. was able to