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Rules›Ability: Can, Could, Be Able To
A2

Ability: Can, Could, Be Able To

Use can for ability now, could for general ability in the past, and be able to for future, perfect, and more formal structures.

  1. ability now and in the past

    When to use it
    Say what someone can do now: she can drive.
    Talk about a past skill with could: he could read at five.
    Deny ability with can't / couldn't: he can't ski.
    Ask with Can / Could before the subject: Can you swim?

    Build an example

    Modal
    Verb
    Shecanswim

    She can swim.

    can shows ability now; the verb stays in the base form.

    Signal words
    nowtodayat the momentwhen I was tenin the pastlast year
    Common mistake
    Maria can to swim very well.Maria can swim very well.
    After can, use the base verb with no to.
    ✗ Every modal verb needs to before the next verb.
    ✓ After can and could, the next verb is bare: can swim, could drive.