PRESENT ability: can, be able to

• Nina can drive a car, but she can’t drive a

truck.
• Nina is able to drive a car, but she is not able
to drive a truck.

• both sentences have the same meaning

• the first sentence is more common
 PAST ability: could, be able to
• When I was a kid, my brother could speak
English, but my sister couldn’t speak English.
• When I was a kid, my brother was able to
speak English, but my sister wasn’t able to
speak English.
• both sentences have the same meaning
• the first sentence is more common
 PAST ability: SPECIAL
• For ONE event in the past, DON’T USE “could” USE “was able to”
or “were able to.”

• John Smith passed Level 3.

• John Smith was able to pass Level 3.
• John Smith could pass Level 3.

• The U.S. hockey team lost in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

• The U.S. hockey team wasn’t able to win the 2010 Winter
Olympics.
• The U.S. hockey team couldn’t win the 2010 Winter Olympics.
 FUTURE ability: be able to
• I will be able to speak English in two years.
• I’m going to be able to speak English in two
years.
• They won’t be able to go to the party.
• They are not going to be able to go to the
party.

• will/won’t is more common

 FUTURE ability: can*
• Use: plans or arrangements
• My sister can pick you up on Sunday.
• My dad can give you a ride.

• *To talk about things you learn in the future,

you should use “will be able to”
• My son will be able to ride a bike next year.
 FUTURE ability: can or be able to
1. I ___ call you after 6:00.
2. The doctor said next month she ___ walk.
3. I ___ (not) come to the party tonight.
4. I only took two driving lessons – I ___ (not)
park yet, but by the end of next week, I ___
park.
 Summary
• can/can’t: present, future*
• could/couldn’t: past
• be able to: present, past, future