Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Grammar
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/WERE 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.
FCE
Grammar
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 (1) no infinitive form, (2) no -ing form, (3) no perfect form and (4) no future form. It cannot follow another(5) modal auxiliary verb. On all of these occasions, we have to use be able to instead. Compare the following: (1) I'd like to be able to swim like Jack. He swims like a fish. (2) When I'm at the sea-side, I enjoy being able to take a swim every morning. (3) Unfortunately, Jack hasn't been able to swim since his accident. (4) Lets' hope he'll be able to resume his daily swimming training soon. (5) 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.