Course on Expressing Abilities - TOEIC® Preparation

In English, it is important to know how to express what you can do, what you cannot do, or what you could do in the past. This chapter shows you how to use words like can, could, and be able to, as well as other useful expressions to talk about abilities or achievements.

1. "Can" to express ability (in the present)

The modal can is the most common way to express ability in the present. It is simple to use and does not require modification for the third person singular (he/she/it).

A. How to use "can"?

B. When to use "can"?

• To talk about a general ability (physical, intellectual, …)
  • I can lift 50 kilos.
    (physical ability)
  • She can solve complicated math problems.
    (intellectual ability)
• To express permission (by extension of the notion of possibility)
  • You can use my phone if you want.
    (idea of "permission")
  • In this course, we mainly focus on ability, but you can read this course on permission to learn more.
• To talk about a possible fact (in an informal context)
  • It can get really hot here in summer.
    (it's possible, it's in the nature of things)

C. When to use "can't"?

• To talk about a general inability (physical, intellectual, …)
  • I can't lift 50 kilos.
    (physical inability)
  • She can't solve complicated math problems.
    (intellectual inability)
• To express a logical or contextual impossibility
  • You can't be serious!
    (it's impossible, in the logical context)
  • He can't be at home; I just saw him at the store.
    (logical impossibility based on facts)
• To indicate a prohibition (in an informal register)
  • You can't park here.
    (you are not allowed to park here: idea of informal prohibition)
  • They can't enter the building without a badge.
    (they are not allowed to enter without a badge)
• To express frustration or a limit
  • I can't understand this math problem.
    (I can't understand)
  • She can't stop laughing.
    (she can't stop laughing, personal or contextual limit)

2. "Could" to express ability in the past (or hypothetical)

The modal could is mainly used to express ability in a past context or in a hypothetical context.

A. How to use "could"?

B. When to use "could"?

• Ability in the past (general)
  • When I was young, I could climb trees easily.
    (habitual ability in childhood)
• Ability in a hypothetical / conditional context
  • I could help you if I had more time.
  • They could win the match if they trained harder.
• Polite request / suggestion (softer value than "can")
  • Could you lend me a pen?
  • We could go to the cinema tonight.

C. When to use "couldn't"?

• To talk about an inability in the past (physical, intellectual, …)
  • I couldn't lift 50 kilos when I was younger.
    (physical inability in the past)
  • She couldn't solve complicated math problems as a child.
    (intellectual inability in the past)
• To express a logical or contextual impossibility in the past
  • He couldn't have been at the meeting; he was out of town.
    (logical impossibility in the past)
  • They couldn't have finished the project so quickly.
    (it's impossible, according to the logic of past facts)
• To indicate a prohibition or refusal in the past
  • We couldn't enter the building without a badge.
  • She couldn't go to the party because her parents said no.
• To express a failed attempt or lack of success
  • I couldn't find my keys yesterday.
  • They couldn't fix the computer on time.
• To indicate a hypothetical inability
  • I couldn't live without my phone.
  • He couldn't do that, even if he tried.

3. "Be able to" to express ability at all tenses

Unlike can and could, be able to can be conjugated in all tenses. This is why it is sometimes referred to as a "semi-modal" rather than a pure modal.

A. How to use "be able to"?

Basic form: Subject + be (conjugated) + able to + base verb + optional complement

1. Present

   Form	Structure
   Affirmative form	I am able to swim across the lake.
   Negative form	I am not able to understand this concept.
   Interrogative form	Are you able to help me with this exercise?

2. Past

   Form	Structure
   Affirmative form	We were able to contact the manager yesterday.
   Negative form	We were not able to contact the manager yesterday.
   Interrogative form	Were you able to contact the manager yesterday?

3. Future

   Form	Structure
   Affirmative form	She will be able to travel next month.
   Negative form	She will not be able to travel next month.
   Interrogative form	Will she be able to travel next month?

4. Present perfect

   Form	Structure
   Affirmative form	He has been able to improve his English a lot this year.
   Negative form	He has not been able to improve his English this year.
   Interrogative form	Has he been able to improve his English this year?

B. When to use "be able to"?

• When "can" or "could" are not possible in certain grammatical tenses. You cannot say "I have can…" or "I will can…". You must then use "be able to".
  • I have been able to save some money.
    _(and not _"I have can save…")*
• To emphasize success (punctual or specific)
  • We were able to solve the problem at the last minute.
    (we succeeded, we managed)
• To express future actions with certainty
  • I will be able to drive next year.
    (I will have the age / ability to drive next year)

4. Other ways to express ability

Although can, could, and be able to are the most common, there are other ways to express the ability or success in doing something:

• Manage to + base verb: emphasizes the idea of achieving something despite difficulties.
  • I managed to fix the bike despite having no tools.
• Succeed in + V-ing: similar to "manage to" but a bit more formal. It emphasizes success after effort.
  • She succeeded in persuading her boss.
  • He succeeded in finishing all his tasks before the deadline.
• Know how to + base verb: emphasizes skill, knowledge of a technique.
  • He knows how to program in Python.
• Be capable of + V-ing / noun: more formal expression of ability.
  • They are capable of solving complex problems.

5. Comparisons and nuances between expressions of ability

After reviewing all the modals and semi-modals (as well as their forms), let's examine their differences and subtleties of use.

A. "Can" vs. "Could"

• Can (present): current, direct ability, or permission in a simple register.
  • I can swim.
    (I know how to swim / I am able to swim)
• Could (past / hypothetical): ability in the past (habitual) or conditional ability.
  • I could swim when I was five.
    (general ability in childhood)
  • I could help you if I had some free time.
    (hypothetical ability)

B. "Can" / "Could" vs. "Be able to"

Comparison 1: "Be able to" can be conjugated in all tenses (present, past, future, perfect, etc.), unlike "can / could"

• He has been able to find a better job.
  (present perfect)

Comparison 2: "Could" generally expresses a general ability in the past, while "Was able to" emphasizes that one succeeded in doing something once, at a specific moment.

Conclusion

Here is a summary table that provides an overview of how to express ability in English

Other Courses on Modals

To learn more about modals, you can read our various courses on the subject:

• 🔗 Overview on modals for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing permission for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing obligation for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing prohibition for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing lack of obligation for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing advice for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing suggestion and proposal for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing intention or near future for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing probability and uncertainty for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Course on expressing preference and wish for the TOEIC®