Be able to

Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb. It is simply the verb be plus
an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive. We look at be able to here because we
sometimes use it instead of can and could.
We use be able to:

to talk about ability

Structure of Be able to
The structure of be able to is:
subject + be + able + infinitive
subject

be
main verb

able
adjective

infinitive

am

able

to drive.

She

able

to drive.

Are

able

to drive?

is not
isn't
you

Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:

I was able to drive...

I will be able to drive...

I have been able to drive...

Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:

I would like to be able to speak Chinese.

Use of Be able to
Be able to is not a modal auxiliary verb. We include it here for convenience, because it
is often used like "can" and "could", which are modal auxiliary verbs.

be able to: ability

We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power,
skill or means to do something. If we say "I am able to swim", it is like saying "I can
swim". We sometimes use "be able to" instead of "can" or "could" for ability. "Be able
to" is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is
possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive
form. So we use "be able to" when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Look at
these examples:

I have been able to swim since I was five. (present perfect)

You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future simple)

I would like to be able to fly an airplane. (infinitive)

Could
Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use could to:

talk about past possibility or ability

make requests

Structure of Could

subject + could + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
subject

auxiliary verb

main verb

My grandmother

could

swim.

She

could not

walk.

couldn't

?
Notice that:

Could

your grandmother

swim?

Could is invariable. There is only one form of could.

The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

The main verb is always the bare infinitive. We cannot say:

Use of Could
could: Past Possibility or Ability
We use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to
do:

I could swim when I was 5 years old.

My grandmother could speak seven languages.

When we arrived home, we could not open the door. (...couldn't open the door.)

Could you understand what he was saying?

We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative) for general ability in the past. But when
we talk about one special occasion in the past, we use be able to (positive) and couldn't
(negative). Look at these examples:
Past
General

Specific Occasion

My grandmother could speak

Spanish.

A man fell into the river yesterday. The police

were able to save him.

My grandmother couldn't
speak Spanish.

A man fell into the river yesterday. The police

couldn't save him.

COULD for Past Ability Games

could: Requests
We often use could in a question to ask somebody to do something. The use of could in
this way is fairly polite (formal):

Could you tell me where the bank is, please?

Could you send me a catalogue, please?

We often use to be able to or to be allowed to instead of "can". We can only form the Past
of "can" (could). To put "can" into other tenses we need the phrases to be able to or to be
allowed to.

Affirmative sentences
Tense

Modal

Form
I am able to play football.
I'm able to play football.

Simple Present

I can play football.

Simple Past

I could play football.

will-future

I will be able to play football.

Do not use can in the will- I'll be able to play football.
future.
I will be allowed to play football.
I'll be allowed to play football.

I am allowed to play football.

I'm allowed to play football.
I was able to play football.
I was allowed to play football.

Other possible tenses:

e.g. Present Perfect: I have been able to play football.

Negations
Tense

Modal

Simple Present

I cannot play football.

I can't play football.

Form
I am not able to play football.
I'm not able to play football.
I am not allowed to play football.
I'm not allowed to play football.

Simple Past

I could not play football.

I couldn't play football.

will-future

Do not use cannot in the

will-future.

I was not able to play football.

I wasn't able to play football.
I was not allowed to play football.
I wasn't allowed to play football.
I will not be able to play football.
I won't be able to play football.
I will not be allowed to play football.
I won't be allowed to play football.

Questions
Tense

Modal

Form

Simple Present

Can he play football?

Simple Past

Could he play football?

will-future

Do not use can in the

will-future.

Is he able to play football?

Is he allowed to play football?
Was he able to play football?
Was he allowed to play football?
Will he be able to play football?
Will he be allowed to play football?

Can, could, be able to

Heres a refresher lesson on two modal verbs and be able to, which functions as one.
Lesson by Caroline Devane

Can
Is used to talk about possibility. e.g. Can you meet me at 5?
Is used to talk about ability. e.g. I can ride a bike.
Is used to make informal requests and orders. e.g. Can you bring me my jumper?
Has two negative forms,. cant and cannot.

Could
Is used to talk about past abilities. e.g. When I was a child I could do handstands.
Is used to make formal requests. e.g. Could you fax me that document by Tuesday?
In the negative form, is couldnt.

Be able to
Is sometimes used instead of can or could.
Can be used with all tenses. e.g. I will be able to see you next week.
Is used to talk about ability. e.g. Are you able to write formal letters?