Expressing Ability

When we talk about ability, we mean two things.

First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do any time you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language, for example.

The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do in one particular situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find somewhere you are looking for.


Form
Examples
Verb+ Infinitive
Be able/ be unable/ manager
Verb+ Base form
Could/ couldn’t/ can/can’t
Verb + Gerund
Be good at/ succeed in/ be capable of



Could

Could can be used in many different ways, to ask for permission, to make a request or to express ability when referring to the past. Was able to is sometimes used as an alternative to could when we are discussing ability or possibility. We tend to use could when we are talking about ability generally. 

  • By the time she was seven, she could already speak three languages.
  • She started the viola at the age of eight and after only six months she could play it quite well.
  • Her brother Jack was an excellent swimmer. He could beat anybody in his class.

Can (poder) and be able to (ser capaz de) can express present and future ability:
  • Tom can play the piano.
  • We can't enter this street because it's blocked.
  • I am not able to help you at the moment.
  • If you ask him, he can probably help you.
  • I will probably be able to get there by 9.

Exercises


Be / Able to.
  •     I am able to cook coctail shrimp and octupus.
  •     I am unable speak English.

Manage.

  •     I manage to travel to Cancun.
  •     I don’t manage to play the guitar.

Could/ couldn’t
  • I could learn French.
  • I could not clean the mansion.


Can /can’t.
  •     I can drive motorcycle.
  •     I can ‘t swim.

Good at/ succeed in/ be capable of.
  •    He is good at eating vegetables.
  •     I succeed in flying.
  •     I  am capable of drinking wine.
  •     He is incapable of playing the piano. 

Resultado de imagen para expressing ability


Resultado de imagen para expressing ability



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