ABILITY = capacité

in the present

CAN

BE ABLE TO ( am , is , are )

LAMIA CAN SWIM

LAMIA IS ABLE TO SWIM

CAN + VERB STEM

BE ABLE TO + VERB INFINITIVE

VERB STEM = play

ABILITY IN THE PAST :

was : were able to

was = I HE SHE IT

WERE = YOU WE THEY

YOU have to / has to / must = obligation in the present had to = obligation in the past

I WAS ABLE TO SWIM YESTERDAY .

OBLIGATION :

musn't = must not

must + verb stem have to
= prohibition
interdiction
I must walk . You have to eat

You are obliged to

OBLIGATION IN THE PAST :

LAST WEEK I HAD TO REVISE FOR MY EXAMS

HAD TO + VERB INFINITIVE

POSSIBILITY :

it's possible = c'est possible could , may

LAMIA COULD COME TO THE PARTY

INTERDICTION = PROHIBITION

You aren't allowed to do something it's forbidden = c'est interdit

It's forbidden to use your mobile phone in the classroom

Musn't

You musn't use your mobile phone in the classroom .