Can, could, be able to We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something.

We use can + infinitive (can do / can see etc.): We can see the lake from our bedroom window. Can you speak any foreign languages? I can come and see you tomorrow if you like. The negative is can't (= cannot): I'm afraid I can't come to the party on Friday. (Be) able to... is possible instead of can, but can is more usual: Are you able to speak any foreign languages? But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to.. Compare: I can't sleep. but I haven't been able to sleep recently, (can has no present perfect) Tom can come tomorrow, but Tom might be able to come tomorrow, (can has no infinitive) Could and was able to... Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with: See/ hear/ smell/ taste/ feel/ remember/ understand When we went into the house, we could smell burning.

 She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said. We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something: My grandfather could speak five languages. We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do...) We use could for general ability. But if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use was/were able to... or managed to... (Not could): The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape. or everybody managed to escape, (but 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, (but not 'could persuade') Compare: Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. (= he had the general ability to beat anybody) but Jack and Alf 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 managed to beat him in this particular game) The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations: My grandfather couldn't swim. We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.

 Alf played well but he couldn't beat Jack. Complete the sentences using can , able to , or could.
1. George has travelled a lot. He could can speak four languages. 2. I used to be able to stand on my head but I can't do it now. 3. When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He could run 100 metres in 11. 4. Sandra could can drive but she hasn't got a car. 5. Ask Catherine about your problem. She might be able to help you. 6. I was feeling sick yesterday. I can't couldn't eat anything. 7. Sue wasn't at home when I phoned but I can was able to contact her at her office. 8. When we went into the house, we could smell burning. 9. Will she could be able to cope with the work? 10. I can't see you on Friday but I can meet you on Saturday evening.

could Could can be used in many different ways, to ask for permission, to make a request or to express ability when referring to the past.Was able to is sometimes used as an alternative to could when we are discussing ability or possibility. We tend to use could when we are talking about ability generally. Compare the following: By the time she was seven, she could already speak three languages. She started the viola at the age of eight and after only six months she could play it quite well. Her brother Jack was an excellent swimmer. He could beat anybody in his class.

was able to / managed to We tend to use was able to or managed to if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation or are referring to a specific achievement: Were you able to / Did you manage to speak to him before he left home? ~ No, I'm sorry, I wasn't able to / didn't manage to reach him. The fog came down and I wasn't able to / didn't manage to get to the top of the mountain. My brother wanted to carry on, but we managed to / were able to talk him out of it. However, with verbs that refer to the five senses, see, hear, smell, feel, taste, and with verbs that refer to thought processes,understand,

believe, remember, decide, we normally use could, even when we are talking about specific occasions: He was standing very close to me and I could smell the garlic on his breath. He asked me when Julie's birthday was, but I couldn't remember. I couldn't decide whether to ask him for a lift or not. I could see that he'd been running. unable to / not succeed in Note that unable to is an alternative negative form of not able toand succeed in is a slightly more formal alternative to manage to. But remember that succeed in is followed by verb + ing, rather thanverb + infinitive: We were unable to leave the room until the locksmith arrived and succeeded in unlocking the door. I was unable to complete the report as several pieces of information were missing. Having obtained them, I succeeded in completing it after a further two days. be able to Note that can has no infinitive form, no -ing form, no perfect formand no future form. It cannot follow another modal auxiliary verb. On all of these occasions, we have to use be able to instead. Compare the following: I'd like to be able to swim like Jack. He swims like a fish. When I'm at the sea-side, I enjoy being able to take a swimevery morning. Unfortunately, Jack hasn't been able to swim since his accident. Lets' hope he'll be able to resume his daily swimming training soon. I'm not a member, but can I swim in this pool? ~ Why don't you speak to the secretary? She may / might / should be able to help you. manage = succeed / cope We use the verbs manage to and manage a great deal in current English when we want to say that we are able to cope with a difficult situation or find time for a particular task. Compare the following: It was very icy, but I managed to keep the car on the road. Veronica was very upset when Ben left her, but she managed to smile nevertheless. She didn't really want to go to Mexico, but Tony managed to persuade her somehow. Can you help me put up my new shed? ~ I can manage a few hours in the morning, but I'm busy in the afternoon. This is an ideal job for those who can only manage a few hours each week. Can I give you a hand with that? ~ No, it's all right. I'll manage./ I

can manage.

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Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something: Can you play the piano? It is also used with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc: I can hear someone calling, and with passive infinitives: The DVD can be rented from your local store. Can or be able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something: Can you/are you able to come on Saturday?You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive: Youll be able to get a taxi outside the station. I havent been able to get much work done today. Shed love to be able to play the piano.Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past: Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old.You use was/were able to or manage (but not could) when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past: I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library. I could find some useful books in the library. In negative sentences, could not can also be used: We werent able to/didnt manage to/couldnt get there in time. Could is also used with this meaning with verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc: I could see there was something wrong. Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try: I could have won the game but decided to let her win.

To be able to I will be able to play a few chords Present Simple I can go Past Simple I could go Future WILL I will be able to go Present Perfect I have been able to go

Could
The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb could: 1. Formerly past tense of can. 2. To be able; to have the power, ability, or capacity. 3. Expressing a possible contingency: To be allowed to, to be given permission to. 4. Expressing possibility: To be permitted or enabled by the conditions of the case. 5. Expressing an inclination in a conditional form. The modal verb could firstly expresses ability, specifically past ability. For example: He could eat thirty pickles in a minute. (He used to be able to eat thirty pickles in a

minute.) My grandfather could fly a plane. (My grandfather used to be able to fly a plane.) The teacher could not grade all the papers last night. (The teacher was not able to

grade all the papers last night.) The modal verb could secondly expresses permission. For example: You could borrow my sweater. (It is permissible for you to borrow my sweater.) She could have taken the car. (It was permissible for her to take the car.) You could turn the assignment in tomorrow morning instead of today. (It is permissible for you to wait until tomorrow to turn in the assignment.)

Can
The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb can: 1. To be able; to have the power, ability, or capacity. 2. Expressing a possible contingency: To be allowed to, to be given permission to. 3. Expressing possibility: To be permitted or enabled by the conditions of the case. 4. Expressing an inclination in a conditional form. Can expresses ability. For example: I can ride a bike. (Having the power, ability, or capacity, I am able to ride a bike.) You can drive a car. (Having the power, ability, or capacity, you are able to drive a

car.) He can fly a plane. (Having the power, ability, or capacity, he is able to fly a plane.)

The modal verb can expresses permission. For example: You can see the movie. (You have permission to see the movie.) He can borrow my car. (He has permission to borrow my car.) Can they have some tomatoes? (Do they have permission to have some tomatoes?)

We use could to talk about an ability somebody had in the past. We use was/were able to to talk about a specific event in the past. Examples I could ride a bike when I was six. Last Saturday evening was cool, I felt good and I was able to cycle 10 miles. He could speak French quite well. He was able to speak French to the policeman to explain what had happened. They could write computer programmes. They were able to write a computer programme which solved his problem. We can also use managed to in place of was/were able to. Examples: He was able to help her. He managed to help her. I was able to tidy up just before they arrived. I managed to tidy up just before they arrived.

We use can and could to talk about ability. We use can in the present and could in the past.

can

She can play the guitar. Can you speak Spanish? They can't ride a bike. She could read when she was three. My grandmother could play the piano very well. They couldn't come last year because of the bad weather.

could

Can and could are modal verbs and so have no infinitive, gerund or past participle. If we need to use these forms we use to be able to.

to be able to

I want to be able to speak Japanese. (NOT: I want to can speak Japanese) I am tired of not being able to sleep. (NOT: I'm tired of not can speak Japanese) I have been able to drive since I was 18. (NOT: I can drive since I was 18)

DO SOMETHING DIFFICULT
1 [TRANSITIVE, INTRANSITIVE]to succeed in doing something, especially something difficultmanage something In spite of his disappointment, he managed a weak smile.I don't know exactly how we'll manage it, but we will, somehow.Can you manage another piece of cake? (= eat one)manage (to do something) We managed to get to the airport in time.How did you manage to persuade him?(HUMOROUS) He always manages to say the wrong thing.They managed to find a place to stay.We couldn't have managed without you.Need any help? No, thanks. I can manage.

DEAL WITH PROBLEMS

2 [INTRANSITIVE]to be able to solve your problems, deal with a difficult situation, etc.
SYNONYM

COPEShe's 82 and can't manage on her own any more. manage with/without somebody/something How do you manage without a car?I don't know how she manages on

her own with four kids.

We use can to say that something is possible or that someone has the ability to do something. The negative is can't (cannot). Let's see the following examples : You can see the sea from our bedroom window. Can you speak Spanish ? I'm afraid I can't come your party tomorrow.

Be able to is sometimes used to replace can. Let's see the following examples : Are you able to speak Spanish? I'm not able to see the sea from your bedroom window.

Because can has only two forms : can (present) and could (past), and has no present perfect, you have to use be able to in the present perfect form. Also, can has no infinitive. Let's see the following examples : I haven't been able to create any songs recently. I will not be able to come to your birthday party tomorrow.

The past of can is could. We use could especially with these verbs: see hear smell taste feel remember understand

Let's see the following examples : When we went into the house, we could smell burning. She spoke in a low voice but I could understand what she was saying

We also use could to say that someone had the general ability to do something. Let's see the following examples : My grandfadher could speak five languages. When Tom was 16, he could run 100 metres in 11 second.

But if you mean that someone managed to do something in one particular situation, you have to use was/were able to (not could). Let's see the following examples : The fire spread through the building very quickly but everyone was able (= managed ) to escape (not 'could escape ') They didn't want to come with us at first but in the end we were able (=managed)to persuade them. (not 'could persuade ')

Let's see the difference between could and was able to in this example: John was an excellent tennis player . He could beat anybody.(= He had the ability to beat anybody.)

But once he had a difficult game against George. George played very well but in the end John was able to beat him (= He managed to beat him in this particular game.)

The negative couldn't is possible in all situations. Let's see the following examples : My grand father couldn't swim. We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.

Exercise 1
Complete the sentences below with can or be able to ! 1. Tom .................. drive but he hasn't got a car. 2. I can 't understand martin. I've never............. understand him . 3. I used to .................. stand on my head but I can't do it now. 4. Ask Ann about your problem. She should ............... help you. 5. I ... speak five languages.

Execise 2
Complete the sentences with could, was/were able to or couldn't ! 1. He had hurt his leg, so he...walk very well. 2. She wasn't at home when I phoned but I ... contact her at her office . 3. I looked very carefully and I ... see a figure in the distance. 4. They didn't have any tomatoes in the first shop I went to ,but I........................ get some in the next shop. 5. My grandmother loved music. She ........................... play the piano very well.

Can and could are modal verbs.

They are used with other verbs to transmit ideas such as possibility, permission, etc.

Can We use can to say that something is possible or allowed, or somebody has the ability: talk about possibility and ability. example: - I can ride a motorbike. He canspeak three languages.

make requests or give orders. example: - Can you buy me a pencil? - Can you complete your job before you leave the office.

ask for or give permission. example: - Can I borrow your mobile for a second?

Could We use could: as the past tense of can. example: - Guys, Tom is on his way and he said shecould get the pizzas for us.

to show what was possible in the past. example: - He could ride the bike since he was nine years old.

to ask someone to do something. example: - Could you hold this bag for a second, please?

to ask if someone is able or allowed to do something. example: - My grandmother could speak Spanish. - Could I ask you an information? We could use could especially with verbs like: SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE, FEEL, REMEMBER, UNDERSTAND examples:- I could hear the sound of your voice from the upper floor. - Yesterday afternoon was very hard to drive, I couldn't see anything.

Be able to

Be able to is used when we refer to somebody who has the ability to do something: - Marta is able to drive, but she hasn't got a car. - My grandfather was able to repair motorbikes. - Applicants for the job, must be able to speak two foreign languages. NOTE: For general ability, the most common form is could. But if we want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, is possible to usewas/were able to or managed to, rather than could. examples: - I wanted to buy some bread, the first shop I went didn't have any, but I managed to goin another bakery. - There was nobody to disturb me, so I was able to study the whole morning. COMPARE: - Marco was an excellent motorcycle racer, he could drive really fast in races. (Marco had the general ability to drive very well in competitions) - Marco managed to win the Italian Minimoto Championship in 1999 (Marco won the title in that specific competition)