Expressing ability
Use can, could, be able to to talk about skills and abilities.
Use can, could, be able to to talk about skills and abilities.
Unit 73 – Expressing ability (A1)
Introduction
In daily life, we often talk about what we can do: speak a language, swim, cook, or use a computer. In this unit, you will learn simple and useful ways to express ability in English. You will use can for present ability, could for past ability, and be able to when you need a different form (for example, after will or in more formal sentences).
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you can: use can to talk about ability now; use could to talk about ability in the past; use be able to in present, past, and future forms; make affirmative, negative, and question forms; use short answers with can.
1) Ability in the present: CAN
We use can to talk about ability now (today, in general, or at the moment). It is very common in everyday English.
Form
Affirmative: Subject + can + base verb
Negative: Subject + cannot (can’t) + base verb
Question: Can + subject + base verb?
Examples:
I can swim.
She can speak English.
They can’t drive.
Can you cook?
Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
Important concept
After can, we use the base form of the verb: can play, can read, can speak. We do not add -s, -ed, or -ing.
2) Ability in the past: COULD
We use could to talk about ability in the past. It often describes a general ability when you were younger or at a time in the past.
Form
Affirmative: Subject + could + base verb
Negative: Subject + could not (couldn’t) + base verb
Question: Could + subject + base verb?
Examples:
When I was six, I could ride a bike.
He couldn’t read English last year.
Could you swim when you were a child?
Warning
For one specific successful action in the past, English often uses was able to (not could). Example: The door was locked, but I was able to open it. At A1, remember this idea: could = general past ability; was able to = ability in a specific past situation.
3) BE ABLE TO: a flexible way to express ability
Be able to also means “can.” We use it when we need a form that can does not have (for example, after will), or when we want to be a little more formal.
Present
I am able to use a computer.
She is able to help you.
They are not able to come today.
Past
I was able to finish the test.
We were not able to find the address.
Future
I will be able to call you tomorrow.
He will not be able to join the lesson next week.
4) Questions and short answers
Questions with can are very common, especially in class, at work, and in daily conversations.
Examples:
Can you play the guitar?
Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
Can she drive?
Yes, she can. / No, she can’t.
With be able to, questions use the verb be:
Are you able to come today?
Was he able to fix it?
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence or question using can, can’t, could, couldn’t, or be able to. Write the full answer.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) I ______ speak English. (present ability) | I can speak English. |
| 2) She ______ drive. She is 12. (negative present ability) | She can’t drive. She is 12. |
| 3) ______ you swim? (question) | Can you swim? |
| 4) When I was five, I ______ read. (past negative ability) | When I was five, I couldn’t read. |
| 5) My grandfather ______ play the piano when he was young. (past ability) | My grandfather could play the piano when he was young. |
| 6) I am busy today. I am not ______ meet you. (be able to, present negative) | I am busy today. I am not able to meet you. |
| 7) Tomorrow, we will ______ finish the project. (future ability) | Tomorrow, we will be able to finish the project. |
| 8) The phone was broken, but I ______ call you from my friend’s phone. (specific past situation) | The phone was broken, but I was able to call you from my friend’s phone. |
| 9) ______ she speak French? (question) | Can she speak French? |
| 10) We ______ come yesterday because we were sick. (past negative ability) | We couldn’t come yesterday because we were sick. |
Unit 73 – Expressing ability (A1)
Introduction
In daily life, we often talk about what we can do: speak a language, swim, cook, or use a computer. In this unit, you will learn simple and useful ways to express ability in English. You will use can for present ability, could for past ability, and be able to when you need a different form (for example, after will or in more formal sentences).
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you can: use can to talk about ability now; use could to talk about ability in the past; use be able to in present, past, and future forms; make affirmative, negative, and question forms; use short answers with can.
1) Ability in the present: CAN
We use can to talk about ability now (today, in general, or at the moment). It is very common in everyday English.
Form
Affirmative: Subject + can + base verb
Negative: Subject + cannot (can’t) + base verb
Question: Can + subject + base verb?
Examples:
I can swim.
She can speak English.
They can’t drive.
Can you cook?
Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
Important concept
After can, we use the base form of the verb: can play, can read, can speak. We do not add -s, -ed, or -ing.
2) Ability in the past: COULD
We use could to talk about ability in the past. It often describes a general ability when you were younger or at a time in the past.
Form
Affirmative: Subject + could + base verb
Negative: Subject + could not (couldn’t) + base verb
Question: Could + subject + base verb?
Examples:
When I was six, I could ride a bike.
He couldn’t read English last year.
Could you swim when you were a child?
Warning
For one specific successful action in the past, English often uses was able to (not could). Example: The door was locked, but I was able to open it. At A1, remember this idea: could = general past ability; was able to = ability in a specific past situation.
3) BE ABLE TO: a flexible way to express ability
Be able to also means “can.” We use it when we need a form that can does not have (for example, after will), or when we want to be a little more formal.
Present
I am able to use a computer.
She is able to help you.
They are not able to come today.
Past
I was able to finish the test.
We were not able to find the address.
Future
I will be able to call you tomorrow.
He will not be able to join the lesson next week.
4) Questions and short answers
Questions with can are very common, especially in class, at work, and in daily conversations.
Examples:
Can you play the guitar?
Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
Can she drive?
Yes, she can. / No, she can’t.
With be able to, questions use the verb be:
Are you able to come today?
Was he able to fix it?
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence or question using can, can’t, could, couldn’t, or be able to. Write the full answer.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) I ______ speak English. (present ability) | I can speak English. |
| 2) She ______ drive. She is 12. (negative present ability) | She can’t drive. She is 12. |
| 3) ______ you swim? (question) | Can you swim? |
| 4) When I was five, I ______ read. (past negative ability) | When I was five, I couldn’t read. |
| 5) My grandfather ______ play the piano when he was young. (past ability) | My grandfather could play the piano when he was young. |
| 6) I am busy today. I am not ______ meet you. (be able to, present negative) | I am busy today. I am not able to meet you. |
| 7) Tomorrow, we will ______ finish the project. (future ability) | Tomorrow, we will be able to finish the project. |
| 8) The phone was broken, but I ______ call you from my friend’s phone. (specific past situation) | The phone was broken, but I was able to call you from my friend’s phone. |
| 9) ______ she speak French? (question) | Can she speak French? |
| 10) We ______ come yesterday because we were sick. (past negative ability) | We couldn’t come yesterday because we were sick. |
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