Able to vs could

Question

All I could see is a lampAll I'm able to see is a lampHow they difference in conveying the thoughts to the reader/listener?

Rover_KE · Accepted Answer

You have mixed up your tenses.

'All I could see was a lamp' means 'All I was able to see was a lamp'.

'All I can see is a lamp' means 'All I am able to see is a lamp'.

Rover

Wonder123 · Answer

Ok thanks, So, could and able to are interchangeable? and is 'could' usage only allowed in the past tense?

BarbaraPA · Answer

"Could" is also conditional.
I can't reach the top shelf, but if I had a step-stool, I could.

Wonder123 · Answer

OK, so could can be used only in conditional sentences, when taking about past, and for polite requests, right?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Wonder123OK, so could can be used only in conditional sentences, when taking about past, and for polite requests, right?

No.

I wish I could speak Czech = now.
If you came into town tomorrow, I could meet you somewhere = future.
Could you lend me £5, please? = now.
Could you drive me to the airport tomorrow? = future.

CalifJim · Answer

Wonder123OK, so could can be used only in conditional sentences, when taking about past, and for polite requests, right?

Those three categories seem to cover most of the uses, but I wouldn't be surprised to find other uses as well — not that anything comes to mind just now. The conditional use and the 'polite requests' use are both about present or future time of course.

Incidentally, could can be used in either clause of a conditional sentence, or in both clauses. In the if-clause it's were able to; in the consequent clause it's would be able to.

If you could fly, you could see the clouds up close.
If you were able to fly, you would be able to see the clouds up close.

CJ

Able to vs could

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