Page 53 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

t o :
C a n , c o u l d a n d b e a b l e to: a b i l i t y
Can,
able
could
and
be
ability
or something has or doesn't have the ability to do something, we can
say that someone
difficult, • * Helen can / is is able to read well, even though she's only three.
When we
When we say that someone or something has or doesn't have the ability to do something, we can
(or
(for the present)
cannot)
or
(for the past):
could(n't)
use
use can(‘t) (or cannot) (for the present) or could(n't) (for the past):
analyse people's handwriting.
bill.
to pay the
can't afford
We
He can analyse people's handwriting.
He
was
languages
six.
• *
Anita could speak three languages before she was six.
Anita
can
use
an
about
someone
ability that
to talk
able
be
instead
to
We can use be able to instead of can/could to talk about an ability that someone has or had:
We • ¢ can('t) can could speak three of can/could before • ¢ she We can't afford to pay the bill. has or had:
able
only three.
even though she's
to read well,
Helen can /
able to
draw on
support of over 20,000 troops.
the
could / was
He
• *
He could / was able to draw on the support of over 20,000 troops.
В In general, we use be able to when we talk about a specific achievement (particularly if it is
use be
talk about
able to when we
specific
we
a
achievement
if it
(particularly
general,
is
In
ability.
some
general
a
effort)
rather than
Study this table:
requiring some effort) rather than a general ability. Study this table:
difficult, requiring

general ability specific achievement
specific achievement
general ability

We prefer can (but can also use be We prefer be able to (but can also use can):
present | We prefer can (but can also use be
present We prefer be able to (but can also use can):
able to): • * He has now recovered from his injury
able to):
He has now recovered from his injury
can speak Spanish. and is able to drive again.
• * He can speak Spanish. and is able to drive again.
He

past We prefer could (but can also use be We use be able to (not could):
past We prefer could (but can also use be We use be able to (not could):
able to):
able to):
• ¢ could play the violin quite well. • ¢ only six was able to leave baby was born.
only
Suzanne
six months,
hospital
the
Jenny
After
After only six months, Suzanne
Jenny was able to leave the hospital
hours
after the
only six hours after the baby was born.
could play the violin quite well.

we commonly use can or could, even when we are talking about specific occasions,
However, we commonly use can or could, even when we are talking about specific occasions,
However,
with verbs of the senses, feel, hear, see, smell, taste, and with verbs of 'thinking', e.g. believe,
with verbs of the senses, feel, hear, see, smell, taste, and with verbs of ‘thinking’, e.g. believe,
decide, remember, understand:
decide, remember, understand:
could feel the spray on her face as the boat raced through the water.
She
n n • e She could feel the spray on her face as the boat raced through the water.
• • * I I can't decide where to go for my holidays. 3 iy
can't decide where to go
for my holidays.
don't use be able to
We
We don't use be able to
Cc
when we talk about something that
when we talk about something that
• e is happening as we are speaking: e
• * • ¢ before be + past participle: by anyone, with just a screwdriver.
is happening as we are speaking:
before be + past participle:
assembled
can be
furniture
This
This furniture can be assembled by anyone, with just a screwdriver.
We use be able to, not can or could, if the idea we want to express needs a to-infinitive, an -ing
We use be able to, not can or could, ifthe idea we want to express needs a to-infinitive, an -ing
D form, or a perfect tense, or if it follows another modal verb:
form, or a perfect tense, or if it follows another modal verb:
very lucky to be able to live in the country during our childhood.
We were
• ¢ We were very lucky fo be able to live in the country during our childhood.
It was awful, not being able to see you for so long.
• * It was awful, not being able to see you for so long.
he left, none of the other team members have been able to match his enthusiasm.
Since
• ¢ Since he left, none of the other team members have been able to match his enthusiasm.
may be able to move some of the staff to a different department.
• * We may be able to move some of the staff to a different department.
We
We use will be able to, not can, to say that something will be possible in the future:
We use will be able to, not can, to say that something will be possible in the future:
However, when we make a decision now about something in the future, we use can:
get to the concert.
able to
will be
a
on
few people
very
like this,
If the snow carries on like this, very few people will be able to get to the concert.
• *
Ifthe snow carries
able to drive to work in under half an hour.
•
I'll be
When the new road is built, I'll be able to drive to work in under half an hour.
• *
When the new road is built,
make
can:
use
a decision now about something in the future, we
However, when we
can go
home when you've finished writing your composition.
You can go home when you've finished writing your composition.
• *
You
we
can
meet next week.
• *
Perhaps we can meet next week.
Perhaps

Can and could: permission and offers =
Can and could: possibility; =>
Canand could: permission offers: = PREY
and
Can andcould: possibility