Can, could, be able to

Understanding the difference between "could" and "was/were able to"

"Could" for General Abilities in the Past

- **General Use:** "Could" is used to describe a general ability or possibility in the past. It signifies something someone was capable of doing at any time, not pertaining to a specific occasion.

- **Examples:**

  - When I was a child, I could swim very fast. (General ability)

  - She could read before she started school. (General skill)

"Was/Were Able To" for Specific Situations or Overcoming Difficulties

- **Specific Use:** "Was/Were able to" is often used when referring to a specific instance in the past where someone successfully used their ability to achieve something or overcome an obstacle.

- **Examples:**

  - Despite the storm, he was able to reach home safely. (Specific success/overcoming difficulty)

  - She was able to solve the problem after working on it for hours. (Specific instance)

 Key Differences

1. **General vs. Specific:**

   - Use "could" for general abilities or skills.

   - Use "was/were able to" for one-time achievements or overcoming specific challenges.

2. **Successful Outcome:**

   - "Was/Were able to" often implies a successful outcome in a particular situation.

   - "Could" does not imply whether the action was successful in any given instance.

3. **Negative Forms:**

   - Both "could not" and "was/were not able to" can denote a lack of ability or success in the past. However, "could not" is also used generally, while "was/were not able to" stresses a specific instance.

   

   - Examples:

     - She couldn't/wasn't able to come to the party. (General or specific inability)

     - Despite trying, he wasn't able to lift the heavy box. (Specific failure)

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with "could" or "was/were able to":

   a) When he was young, he _________ easily memorize entire poems.

   

   b) Despite the noise, she ________ focus on her work.

   

   c) Before her injury, she ________ run a mile in six minutes.

2. Correct the sentences if needed:

   a) Yesterday, I could finish the entire book in one sitting.

   

   b) While computer programming was challenging, she could eventually debug her code.

### Solutions

1. a) could; b) was able to; c) could

2. a) Yesterday, I was able to finish the entire book in one sitting. (More specific achievement than general ability)  

   b) While computer programming was challenging, she was able to eventually debug her code. (Specific instance of overcoming difficulty)

This lesson should help learners distinguish between "could" and "was/were able to" when discussing past abilities and specific accomplishments.

Complete the sentences with can, can't, could, couldn't, be able to, to be able to, being able to, was able to, were able to, been able to

1. _______ you speak more clearly, please? I _______ understand what your point is.

2. My father _______ play the guitar quite well. Actually he taught me how to play.

3. Yesterday's maths exam was too hard for me. I _______ solve only three problems out of ten.

4. It looks like I meet the requirements for this job position. I _______ apply for it.

5. The boy _______ eat the soup. It was too spicy for him.

6. Although the river was flowing very fast that day, she _______ swim across. 

7. Dan was a great athlete at school. He _______ do many sports well and win most of the competitions.

8. Have you ______ do the physics assignment yet?

9. If you had a super power, what would it be? What would you like  ______ do?

10. At the end of this course, you will ______ write codes for simple video games.

11. When I was a teenager, I ______ make friends easily. Now I have few friends.

12. Ashley enjoys _______ talk with foreign people in their mother tongue. She ______ speak four languages already.

Answers

1 can / can't

2 could

3 was able to

4 can 

5 couldn't

6 was able to

7 could

8 been able to

9 to be able to

10 be able to

11 could

12 being able to / can