can/could/to be able to

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Goals:

 Can/ Could - be able to

can, could + (be) able to

By the end of the lesson you will know when to use can

when to use could 

and

when to use (be) able to

Ability/Possibility

Can you speak French?

Can you help me with my maths homework?

'I haven't got a pen.' - 'You can use mine.'

negative of can is can't or cannot

Most of the time there is no difference. 'Be able to' is more formal. 

We use can + infinitive 

can see

can speak

can play 

can read

can come

With 'able to' use the correct form of 'be'

I am able to see

You are able to speak

He/she/it is able to play

We are able to read

They are able to come

Can you phone me this afternoon? I would like to know how you are.

Are you able to phone me this afternoon? Or are you busy?

could is sometimes the past of can

We can see the lake from our  hotel window. (You are on holiday now.)

We could see the lake from our hotel window. (About a holiday in the past)

could is also for general ability

My grandmother could speak four languages.

She could ride a bike when she was three years old.

For a specific situation in the past used was/were  + able to:

The fire spread through the country, but fortunately everybody was able to escape.

(Not: everybody could escape.)

Peter was an excellent tennis player when he was younger. He could beat anyone.

James and Peter played tennis yesterday. Peter played well, but Mike was able to beat Peter.

We use could + infinitive 

could see

could speak

could play 

could read

could come

With 'able to' use the correct form of 'be'

I was able to see

You were able to speak

He/she/it was able to play

We were able to read

They were able to come

The patient can / will be able to walk again in a few days.

1. can
2. will be able to

I ___ swim very well.

1. can
2. am able to
3. be able to

Wat gebruik je om aan te geven dat je wel of niet in staat bent iets te doen?

1. can
2. to be able to

It is little Sue's birthday tomorrow, she ......... sleep

1. Cannot
2. is not able to

When Donald Trump was only 4, he ............count to 20 in Japanese!

1. could
2. was able to

John ....................... participate tomorrow, he has broken his leg!

1. cannot
2. will not be able to

Without your help, I would never have..............

1. been able to do it
2. could do it
3. can do it