Can vs able to ESL?

Can vs able to ESL?

‘Can’ is a modal auxiliary verb that expresses general ability in the present tense; ‘could’ works the same way, but in the past tense. ‘To be able to’ is not a modal auxiliary verb. It is the conjugated verb ‘to be’ + the adverb ‘able’ + the infinitive ‘to’.

What is the difference between able to and can?

You use can or be able to to talk about ability in the present. Be able to is more formal than can. You can all read and write. The animals are able to move around, and they can all lie down.

Can and be able to examples?

She is able to speak five languages. They can come on Friday. Jack will be able to come next week. He could swim when he was five.

Is can be able a correct English?

It is not correct. Either use “I can’t do that”, or use “I am not able to do that”. The reason is that ‘can’ is used to express the ability of a person to do something. If you use “can’t” and also use “able”, you are basically repeating the word “able”.

Can able and same sentence?

In the sentence “She can able to speak English well”, the adjective “able” is being used as an adverb, and this is not possible. The adverb from able is ably.

How do you use can?

Can: uses

1. Permission. We often use can to ask for or give permission:
2. Ability. We often use can to talk about ability to do something in the present or future:
3. General truths.
4. Possibility.
5. Guessing and predicting: can’t as the negative of must.
6. Requests.
7. Reproaches.
8. Offers.

Can be able to grammar?

Be able to is possible in all tenses – but “can” is possible only in the present and “could” is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, “can” and “could” have no infinitive form. So we use be able to when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive.

Can grammar rules?

Auxiliary verb can (positive) – can’t (negative) use Use can, when you ask someone to do things. Use ‘can’ to talk about possibility. Always use can with another verb. I can = I know to do something. / I know that something is possible for me.

Can ability examples sentences?

We use can and can’t to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:

• She can speak several languages. He can swim like a fish.
• I can see you. Help!
• She could speak several languages. I couldn’t see you.
• She could have learned Swahili, but she didn’t want to. I could have danced all night. [

CAN is used for?

These are: when can is used to describe ability (“I can change the oil in my car without help.”), ask for permission (“Can I go to the movies tonight?”), or say whether something is possible or not (“Do you think he can win the race?”).

Can you able or are you able?

So when you’re talking about a specific ability ‘to be able to’ is the correct choice. So, in these examples, we used different words to express ability in the past. It’s a little trickier, isn’t it? But fortunately, the negative form is the same in general and specific situations in the past.

Can uses in English grammar?

The modal ‘can’ is a commonly used modal verb in English. It is used to express; ability, opportunity, a request, to grant permission, to show possibility or impossibility.

Can Can t ESL activity?

9 Fun Activities for Can/Can’t for Ability

• Can/can’t board game.
• Make me say “Yes, I can”/Make me say “No, I can’t”
• Must say “Yes, I can”/Must say “No, I can’t”
• Can/can’t definitions game.
• Can/can’t 20 questions.
• My stickman can/can’t.
• Animal abilities bluff.
• Can brainstorming.

CAN is present or past?

The verb “can” in its present form is perfect to ask for permission or to give permission to someone. Also, its negative form, can’t, can be used to refuse permission. Its past form, could, can be used to ask for permission in a more polite way.

Can use in English grammar?

Can use in English?

What is the difference between can and be able to?

Kenneth Beare has taught English and English as a second language teacher since 1983. Updated July 16, 2018. ‘Can’ and ‘Be able to’ are both used to speak about abilities, and the possibility of doing something. ‘Can’ and ‘Be able to’ are known as modal verbs in English.

How do you use the word able in a sentence?

I can swim. I am able to swim. She can speak English well. She is able to speak English well. We can use “cannot” and “be not able to” to show that something or somebody does not have an ability or to show a weakness. People can’t fly.

How do you use the words can and be able to?

Here are the rules regarding the correct usage of can and be able to. You can use ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ to express present or future ability or possibility. Note that in the future tense, we use will be able to.

Was/were able to or was able to?

Was/were able to is also possible. Study the examples given below. She could read when she was three. OR She was able to read when she was three. Again, in spoken English, we are less likely to use was able to. As you can see in all of these sentences, we were talking about general ability.