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Could vs. Be able to
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Tip1:hello
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ਟਿਪ
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COULD vs. WAS/WERE ABLE TO
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We use could OR was/were able to to talk about a 'general' ability that existed for a long time in the past.
CORRECT: I could eat an entire cake when I was five, but I can't anymore.
CORRECT: I was able to eat an entire cake when I was five, but I can't anymore.
The situation existed in the past for a long time. Hence, we can use either 'could' or 'was able to' here.
CORRECT: I could eat an entire cake when I was five, but I can't anymore.
CORRECT: I was able to eat an entire cake when I was five, but I can't anymore.
The situation existed in the past for a long time. Hence, we can use either 'could' or 'was able to' here.
ਟਿਪ
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COULD vs. WAS/WERE ABLE TO
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1. We ONLY use 'was/were able to' if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation or are referring to a specific achievement in the past.
CORRECT: I was able to get a ticket to the concert.
INCORRECT: I could get a ticket to the concert.
Here, getting tickets to a particular concert indicates ability related to a single event (it isn't like the person couldn't get tickets in general. Hence, we ONLY use 'was/were able to' here)
2. However, with stative verbs (verbs of perception such as see, hear; or verbs of thinking such as understand), we can use 'could' as well as 'was/were able to'. Although, 'could' is more common in such cases.
CORRECT: I could see the rainbow from my window.
CORRECT: I was able to see the rainbow from my window.
3. In the negative form, (even if it is a single event), we can use either.
We use wasn't/weren't able to OR couldn't to talk about an negative ability related to a single event.
CORRECT: I wasn't able to get a ticket to the concert.
CORRECT: I couldn't get a ticket to the concert.
Because, the sentence is negative, we can use either of the two.
CORRECT: I was able to get a ticket to the concert.
INCORRECT: I could get a ticket to the concert.
Here, getting tickets to a particular concert indicates ability related to a single event (it isn't like the person couldn't get tickets in general. Hence, we ONLY use 'was/were able to' here)
2. However, with stative verbs (verbs of perception such as see, hear; or verbs of thinking such as understand), we can use 'could' as well as 'was/were able to'. Although, 'could' is more common in such cases.
CORRECT: I could see the rainbow from my window.
CORRECT: I was able to see the rainbow from my window.
3. In the negative form, (even if it is a single event), we can use either.
We use wasn't/weren't able to OR couldn't to talk about an negative ability related to a single event.
CORRECT: I wasn't able to get a ticket to the concert.
CORRECT: I couldn't get a ticket to the concert.
Because, the sentence is negative, we can use either of the two.
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
______
Could you |
Can you |
Were you able to |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
When she was a child she ______
could |
was able to |
Both (could/was able to) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
I ______
couldn't |
wasn't able to |
Both (couldn't/wasn't able to) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
Fortunately they ______
could |
were able to |
Both (could/were able to) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
Since the exam was difficult only a few students ______
could |
are able to |
were able to |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
She woke up early so she ______
was able to went |
was able to gone |
was able to go |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
There were mosquitoes so I ______
wasn't able to |
couldn't |
Both (couldn't/was not able to) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
She hadn't saved money so she ______
wasn't able to |
couldn't |
Both (couldn't/wasn't able to) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
It stopped raining so they ______
were able to |
could |
both (were able to/could) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ. (Trick Question!)
He studied hard so that he ______
could |
was able to |
(both) |
ਮਿਸਿੰਗ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਚੁਣ ਕੇ ਖਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਰੋ.
There was no sun so the clothes ______
were not able to |
couldn't |
'Summary - Use of could/ Was able to'^~^'typefacestyle'
| General ability in the past | both could / was able to can be used |
| Specific achievement or success at a particular situation | only was able to can be used |
| With verbs of sense or thinking (see, hear, smell, understand, remember) | both could / was able to can be used (could is better) |
| In negative situations | both could / was able to can be used |
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