Modals of ability (can, could, be able to)

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Lesson 280

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Ways to show ability:
1) We use 'can' and 'can't' to talk about 'ability' in the present. In the present, we use both 'can' and 'be able to', but can is far more common:

2) We use 'could' and 'couldn't' to talk about 'general ability' in the past.

3) We use 'be able to' to say that someone managed to do something on a specific occasion (not necessarily all the time).

'যখন আপনি ছোট ছিলেন, আপনি কি পিয়ানো বাজাতে পারতেন?' এর ইংরেজীতে কি অনুবাদ হবে?;

Could you play the piano when you were a child?

Can you play the piano when you were a child?

Can't you play the piano when you were a child?

Couldn't you play the piano when you were a child?

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Past Ability.
We use could or was/were able to to talk about an ability that existed for a long time in the past, but which isn’t true now:
When I was young, I could eat like a pig and not get fat.
When I was a teenager, I could stay up all night without getting tired.

However,

We only use was/were able to with action verbs to talk about an ability related to a single event:

CORRECT: We were able to go swimming yesterday because the weather was so nice.

INCORRECT: We could go swimming yesterday because the weather was so nice.

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But, we use either 'can' or 'was/were able to' with some stative verbs (see, hear, feel, taste) even to talk about an ability related to a single event. (Stative verbs are verbs that express a state rather than an action.)

1. Were you able to see the solar eclipse from your balcony yesterday?

2. Could you see the solar eclipse from your balcony yesterday?

Both the above sentences are correct.

'সে নিরাশ ছিল কারণ সে ফুটবল খেলার টিকিট পাচ্ছিলো না.' এর ইংরেজিতে অনুবাদ নির্বাচন করুন.;

He was disappointed because he can't get the tickets for the football match.

He was disappointed because he is not able to get the tickets for the football match.

He was disappointed because he was not able to get the tickets for the football match.

He was disappointed because he was not able to gets the tickets for the football match.

'আমি কান্নাকাটি করতে চেয়েছিলাম, কিন্তু খুব চেষ্টা করে, আমি শান্ত থাকতে সক্ষম ছিলাম.' এর ইংরেজি অনুবাদ নির্বাচন করুন.;

I wanted to cry, but with a great amount of effort, I am able to stay calm.

I wanted to cry, but with a great amount of effort, I can stay calm.

I wanted to cry, but with a great amount of effort, I could stay calm.

I wanted to cry, but with a great amount of effort, I was able to stay calm.

উপযুক্ত শব্দ নির্বাচন করে শূন্যস্থান পূরণ করুন.

I ______

can't

can

couldn't

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Future Ability. We only use 'will be able to' to talk about a future skill or ability that you don’t have yet, but you will have in the future. We never use can for an ability that you will only have in the future.

CORRECT: When I finish training I will be able to run at twice the speed.

INCORRECT: When I finish training I can run at twice the speed.

However, when not talking about a skill, we can use either 'can' or 'will be able to'.

We use either 'can' or 'be able to' when we are talking about decisions and future arrangements:

CORRECT: I’m busy now, but I can help you in an hour.

CORRECT: I’m busy now, but I’ll be able to help you in an hour.