Expressing Ability
(can, be able to, could, may, might)
Expressing ability is a fundamental skill in English communication. Whether you're discussing your talents, describing past accomplishments, successes, or anticipating future capabilities, knowing how to articulate what you can (or can't) do is essential.
Let's see the various ways to express ability in English, in the present, past, and future tenses.
Present Ability
When talking about current abilities, we primarily use "can" and "be able to.
can
"Can" is the go-to word for expressing present ability:
- I can speak three languages fluently.
- She can play the piano beautifully.
- Can you swim?
"Can" is versatile and easy to use, making it perfect for everyday conversations.
be able to
"Be able to" is slightly more formal but equally useful:
- I am able to work under pressure.
- They are able to complete the project on time.
- Is he able to attend the meeting?
This phrase is particularly handy when you need a more sophisticated tone.
Past Ability
Expressing past abilities involves a few more options, each with its nuances.
could
"Could" is used for general abilities in the past:
- When I was younger, I could run a marathon without training.
- She could speak French fluently before moving to Germany.
was/were able to
This phrase is used for both general and specific past abilities:
- I was able to finish the report before the deadline.
- They were able to solve the complex problem eventually.
managed to
Use "managed to" for specific, often challenging, past accomplishments:
- Despite the storm, we managed to reach the summit.
- He managed to fix the car without professional help.
Future Ability
Looking ahead, we have a couple of ways to express anticipated abilities.
will be able to
This is the most common way to talk about future abilities:
- After completing the course, I will be able to code in Python.
- They will be able to expand their business next year.
may/might be able to
Use these for less certain future abilities:
- I may be able to attend the conference if my schedule allows.
- She might be able to join us for dinner, but it's not confirmed.
Comparing Tenses
To better understand how these expressions change across tenses, let's look at a comparison:
Present I can swim.
Past I could swim when I was young.
Future I will be able to swim after taking lessons.
Present She is able to speak Japanese.
Past She was able to speak Japanese at the conference.
Future She may be able to speak Japanese next semester.
Positive/Negative Statements and Questions
We can make a positive statement or a negative statement with ability.
We can also, of course, form questions.
Present Ability
Examples:
can
- Positive Statement:
- I can speak three languages fluently.
- Negative Statement:
- I cannot (can’t) play the guitar.
- Question:
- Can you swim?
Alternative Phrase: be able to
- Positive Statement:
- She is able to work under pressure.
- Negative Statement:
- He is not able to attend the meeting today.
- Question:
- Are they able to complete the project on time?
Past Ability
Examples:
- could
- Positive Statement:
- When I was younger, I could run a marathon without training.
- Negative Statement:
- I couldn’t (could not) swim until I was ten years old.
- Question:
- Could you play chess when you were a child?
- Positive Statement:
- was/were able to
- Positive Statement:
- I was able to finish the report before the deadline.
- Negative Statement:
- They were not able to solve the problem last week.
- Question:
- Were you able to attend the conference last year?
- Positive Statement:
- managed to
- Positive Statement:
- Despite the storm, we managed to reach the summit.
- Negative Statement:
- He didn’t (did not) manage to fix the car before the trip.
- Question:
- Did you manage to complete your project on time?
- Positive Statement:
Future Ability
Examples:
- will be able to
- Positive Statement:
- After completing the course, I will be able to code in Python.
- Negative Statement:
- She will not be able to join us for dinner next week.
- Question:
- Will they be able to finish the project by Friday?
- Positive Statement:
- may/might be able to
- Positive Statement:
- I may be able to attend the conference if my schedule allows.
- Negative Statement:
- He might not be able to come to the party due to work commitments.
- Question:
- Might she be able to help us with this task?
- Positive Statement:
Tips for Practice
- Create personal examples: Think about your own abilities and practice expressing them in all tenses.
- Use in conversations: Incorporate these phrases into your daily English conversations.
- Write a journal: Document your past achievements, current skills, and future goals using these expressions.
- Role-play scenarios: Practice with a language partner, imagining different situations where you need to express abilities.
Whether you're discussing your current skills, talking about past accomplishments, or anticipating (expecting) future capabilities, you now have the tools to articulate yourself clearly and confidently.
Remember, practice makes perfect!
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