BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

English In A Minute
Could vs was able to
This is not a word-for-word transcript

Phil

When do we use could and was able to to talk about past abilities?

If it's a positive sentence, ask yourself if it's a general ability - which uses could, or
a specific achievement - which usually uses was able to

I could run fast when I was younger.

I was able to win a medal.

But we do use could for a specific event, if we use verbs related to senses or
thought processes.

I could feel the wind in my face. I could remember my coach's advice.

If the sentence is negative, it's much easier – we can use either.

I couldn't do much at school the next day. I wasn't able to concentrate at all!

Negative or positive? Specific or general? Are there any senses or thought

processes?

What could you do when you were younger? What were you able to achieve?
What could you see or hear while you were doing it?

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