Afford

Question

1* She was able to afford living here. 2* She was able to afford to live here. 3* She wasn't able to afford living here.4* She wasn't able to afford to live here. I just wonder if both the constructions "(not) afford doing" and "(not) afford to do" are grammatically correct, and what the difference between them is.Would you teachers kindly tell me something? Thank you in advance.

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

norwolf1* She was able to afford living here. 2* She was able to afford to live here.

In this context, "able to" didn't quite cut it. I would use "..... if she can afford to live here, she can pay me back the money she owed for 2 years."

There is a very subtle difference between "be able" and "can" and in this case, " was able..." is not a the right choice based on the context presented.

Norwolf · Answer

Well, let us change them:
1* She could afford living here.
2* She could afford to live here.
3* She couldn't to afford living here.
4* She couldn't to afford to live here.

What's happening?

CalifJim · Answer

norwolf-
1* She was able to afford living here.
2* She was able to afford to live here.
3* She wasn't able to afford living here.
4* She wasn't able to afford to live here.

1. When you want a verb after afford, the correct form is (not) afford to + verb. For example, the following are wrong, at least in my opinion.

*I can't afford buying that coat.
*She couldn't afford eating in that restaurant.
*Tom is able to afford leasing a different luxury car every year.
__

afford -ing doesn't sound so ungrammatical in the case of some verbs, but even so, I don't recommend it.
__

2. With afford, can/could is much more idiomatic than a form of be able.

I can't afford to go on vacation this year. Better. More usual.
I am not able to afford to go on vacation this year. Not as good. Less usual.

3. Negation does not affect the grammar. Both of these are equally grammatical.

Steve can afford to hire a maid to clean his house every week.
Steve can't afford to hire a maid to clean his house every week.

CJ

Dimsumexpress · Answer

norwolf2* She could afford to live here. - Idiomatically speaking only " afford to live " is correct

With the context, referring to "here", it suggests that "can" is a better choice

norwolf She couldn't to afford to live here.

Immediately after any auxiliary word, only the base form of the verb is allowed. " She worked for Walmart last time I saw her. I just don't see how she can afford to live here (referring to a luxury condo)." That makes sense.

Norwolf · Answer

Thank you both very much.

Afford

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