Can, Could

&
Be able to
Can, Could & Be able to
Can is used to show present ability.
e.g. I can run very fast.
Could is used to show past ability.
e.g. I could not talk when I was a child.
Be able to is also used to show ability.
Examples:
Are you able to speak any foreign languages?
I was not able to come to class
yesterday because I was sick.
 Could & Be able to
Could & Be able to both are used to show
past ability.
Examples:
When I was a child, I could not run very fast.
When I was child, I was not able to run very
fast.
Note: Be able to (not could) is used to show that
somebody managed to do something at a
particular situation.
 Could & Can
Can & Could both can be used to make a
request. But can is considered a bit informal.
Examples:
Can I come in?
Could I come in?
Note: Could can also be used to show
present or future possibility.
Stu A. I am bored in my house.
Stu B. You could come to my house.
 Could have done
(Past Possibility)
The past form of “could” is could have done.
We use it to say that someone had the ability
to
do something but did not do it.
Examples:
We could have gone to the class, but we
decided to stay with the guests.
Tom could have gotten the job if he had
applied