MODAL VERBS DENOTING ABILITY

 Present can = to be able to

 Past
General situations Specific Situations
(general ability in the Past) (achievements)

Affirmative could could was able/ managed to do sth

succeeded in +ing
Negative couldn’t/ wasn’t able to/ didn’t manage to do sth
didn’t succeeed in + ing
Questions
Could sb do sth/ ? Was sb able to/ Did sb manage to do sth

 Future can (=arrangements)

will be able (= predictions about future ability)