Ability: Can, Could and Be Able To

Can and Could for Ability

General Abilities

Some abilities are general: you have the skill to do it at any time you like.
I can play the accordion.
I could play the violin when I was a child.
Remember: modal verbs don't need an 's' for he/she/it, and always have an
infinitive verb (without 'to') after them.
He cans play the piano. X
He can play the piano.
They can to make delicious cakes. X
They can make delicious cakes.

General Abilities
+ I can speak 3 languages.
Present - I can't speak Arabic.
? Can you speak any languages?
+ I could speak some German when I was 15.
Past - I couldn't speak any Spanish when I was 15.
? Could you speak French when you were 15?

Note: if you want to talk about abilities in the future, or use other tenses, you
need to use be able to.
I will be able to speak perfect French one day.
I have been able to swim since I was a child.

Specific Abilities in the Past

Not all abilities are general. Some abilities happen only once (or a certain
number of times) in a particular situation. In positive sentences, we only
use was able to.
I was very tired but I could stay awake all night. X
I was very tired but I was able to stay awake all night.
If the sentence is negative, we use could or was able to.
I couldn't hear him because of the music.
I wasn't able to hear him because of the music.

Choose one word to complete each sentence (note: contractions such as "couldn't" count as
one word).

1. I'm right-handed. I write with my left hand.

2. Spiderman climb up walls.

 3. you usually remember your dreams?

4. People used to think that witches able to do magic.

5. When I was young I eat anything I liked, I never got fat.

6. you able to come to the pub tonight?

7. I think my computer's broken. I'm not to send any emails.

8. I'm able start work tomorrow.

9. How long have you able to speak English?

Past, Present or something else?

Choose the best expression to complete these sentences.

1. I swim since I was 11.

2. I'm an interpreter. I speak 7 different languages.

3. I drive very well. I failed my test again today.

4. One day I run a marathon, but I need to practise first.

5. I would love to see the future.

6. I live in Florida. I love go to the beach every day.

General or Specific?

Choose the best answer to complete these sentences. Remember, sometimes both answers
are possible - read the grammar rules again here if you can't remember them!

1. I find a birthday present for my

mum this year.
2. The ambulance arrived quickly and they
save everyone.
3. It was really noisy, so I sleep
last night.

4. I type 40 words a minute when I was

a student.

5. I crashed my car, but the mechanic fix

it.

6. Some dinosaurs walk on two legs.

7. Although I woke up 40 minutes late, I

get to work on time.