Grammar: can/could/be able to

Grammar: can/could/be able to

Open Ended

What do you think?

What do we use can for?

We use can for the present and the future to

• talk about ability: I can ride a bike.

• ask for and give permission: Can I go home because I don't feel well?

• talk about what is possible: You can keep fit by walking every day.

• Ask somebody to do something for you: Can you go to the chemist's?

Open Ended

What do you think?

What do we use could for?

We use could to talk about ability in the past.

Could you walk when you were one year old?

We use a bare infinitive (without to) after can and could.

Open Ended

What do you think?

What do we use be able to for?

Be able to

• We use be able to to talk about ability.

• We can use it in all tenses except for continuous tenses.

• We use a bare infinitive after be able to.

• Harry is able to run faster than Jim.

• You will be able to get out of bed in two days.

• They have been able to get fit with judo.

was / were able to vs could

• We use was/were able to to talk about what someone managed to do on a specific occasion in the past: He didn't feel well, but he was able to eat dinner.

• Could is usually used only for general ability in the past: I could read when I was 5.

• The negative forms couldn't and wasn't /weren't able to can be used for both general and specific ability in the past: The boy couldn't / wasn't able to walk after the accident.

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Multiple Select

He trained very hard and he ... win a medal in 2020.

• can

• was able to

Multiple Select

The doctors ... save the man.

• wasn't able to

• couldn't

Multiple Select

... use your mobile phone?

• Can I

• I am able to

Multiple Select

Kate ... speak because she's got toothache.

• isn't able to

• can't

Multiple Select

... go to the library yesterday?

• Could you

• Were you able to