Transcript `can` and `be able to` - Albert

Can, could , can’ t and couldn’t
Example: I can play foot ball.
(I am able to play foot ball)
Ex: I could play foot ball when I was in school.
 Marc cannot play the music now as he forgot the tune . He
could play it so well before
Lucy could not go to her aunt’s house as it was raining.
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Can, could contractions
Contractions of cannot and could not are
and
can’t
couldn’t
The above sentence can be read like this:
 Marc can’t play the music now as
he forgot the tune . He could play it
so well before
 Lucy couldn’t go to her aunt’s house as it was
raining.
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Can + direct verb
We use can to say that something is possible and somebody has the
ability to do something.
We use can + direct verb. (can see/ can do
etc)
We can see the river from our living room.
Can you speak English fluently?
The questions starts with can followed by the subject and
then a verb
She can come and meet you tomorrow if
you want.
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Can’t and be able to
 I am afraid I can’t come for shopping now.
( Be) able to ……………. Is used
sometimes,
but can is more usual.
instead
of can
Ex: - Are you able to play foot ball?.
 Can has only two forms, can (present) and could
(past). So sometimes it is necessary to use ( be) able to
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Can and be able to
I can’t sleep.
but
I haven’t been able to sleep recently. (can has no prefect
tense)
Don can come tomorrow.
but
Don might be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)
Note: to see, to come are infinitive forms of verbs.
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could
We use could especially with:
see/ hear/ smell/ taste/ feel/ remember/
understand
When we entered into the safari, we could see many
lions.
She spoke English in French accent but I could
understand what she said.
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General ability
Could- to say that somebody had the general ability or
permission to do something.
 Could + verb’s first form
 My grandfather could play tennis.– ( abilitly)
 We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. (= we
were allowed to do...)—( permission)
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But
If we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use
was/were able to..... .. (Not could):
The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was
able to escape or everybody managed to escape, (not 'could
escape')
They didn't want to come with us at first but we managed to
persuade them or ...we were able to persuade them, (not
'could persuade')
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compare
Alex was an excellent soccer player. He could beat anybody. (=
he had the general ability to beat anybody)
But
Alex and Jack had a game of tennis yesterday. Alf played very
well but in the end Jack managed to beat him or ...was able to
beat him. (= he was able to beat him in this particular game)
Note: can or could are used for general ability but something which was
unusual there to be able to or manage to is used
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Exercise
Exercise
Put the correct form of either "can" or "be able to" for each sentence. Only use
"be able to" if absolutely necessary!
1. I haven't _____________ concentrate recently at
work. don't know what it is.
2. My brother __________ cook very well. He is a chef in a French
restaurant.
3. When he was only 2, my friend Lee __________ speak quite well.
4. I have to go to a business dinner tomorrow night so I
___________ (not) come to the party. I'm very sorry.
5. Kevin lived in Italy for six years, so he must ________ speak Italian
quite well. He will help you with your homework.
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Exercise
6. This telephone is terrible. I __________ (not) hear you at all.
7. When the car drove into the lake, one of the passengers
__________ (not) open the door and had to be rescued.
8. Despite the arrival of the storm, they ________ finish the football
match.
9. The house was totally empty all day yesterday and I ________ finish
that book I was reading.
11. My mother tells me that her grandfather was one of the best
musicians of his time in the city and ________ play the piano like a
professional.
12. I hope to __________ speak English very well after this course
finishes.
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