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).

'താങ്കൾ കുട്ടി ആയിരുന്നപ്പോൾ താങ്കൾ പിയാനോ വായിക്കുമായിരുന്നോ?' ഇതിന്റെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് തര്‍ജ്ജമ എന്തായിരിക്കും?;

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.

'ഫുട്ബോൾ മത്സരങ്ങളുടെ ടിക്കറ്റ് കിട്ടാത്ത കാരണം അവൻ വളരെ നിരാശനായിരുന്നു.' ഇതിന്റെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് തര്‍ജ്ജമ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്താലും.;

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.

'ഞാൻ നിലവിളിക്കാന്‍ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, പക്ഷേ ഗണ്യമായ ശ്രമം കൊണ്ട് എനിക്ക് ശാന്തത കൈവരിക്കാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞു.' ഇതിന്റെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് തര്‍ജ്ജമ എന്തായിരിക്കും?;

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.

വിട്ടുപോയ വാക്ക് തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത് ഉചിതമായി പൂരിപ്പിക്കുക.

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.