Can and be able to

Nina_NiaWhy is 'be able to' not as often used as 'can'?

It is longer.

Nina_NiaIn present and in past tenses both can be used, but for future only be able can be used and not 'can', if I am not wrong.

I can see him tomorrow.
I could see him yesterday.

But why textbooks say that using can for future is wrong?

Nina_NiaBut whydo textbooks say that using can for future is wrong?

I think you may have misunderstood your textbook.
If you have the ability to do something in the future, 'can' is fine, as in Mr M's "I can see you tomorrow".

If you will not have the ability until a future time, then 'can' is not appropriate: "I've only just started learn

It was mentioned not only in some textbooks, but also on this site:http://www.en365.ru/urok46.htm
This example is given to show a situation in which it would be wrong to use 'can'.
"?????? ?????????? ??????, ????? ?? ??????????? ?????? to be able to ? ??? ????????, ??? ?? ??

Nina_NiaIt was mentioned not only in some textbooks, but also on this site:http://www.en365.ru/urok46.htm This example is given to show a situation in which it would be wrong to use 'can'."?????? ?????????? ??????, ????? ?? ??????????? ?????? to be able to ? ??? ????????, ??? ?? ?? ????? ?????????

But would you also say "I've only just started learning Czech, but my teacher says I can hold a reasonable conversation within three months"? I was sure until I asked this question on EnglishForward, that using can for future statements would be worng. Especially with tomorrow, in two months, etc..

No, because we only use can for the future if we have the ability now, but will be using the ability later.
Strictly speaking, we probably should say I will be able to fix the laptop tomorrow but in practice we usually use can.

Nina_NiaWhy is 'be able to' not as often used as 'can'?

1. It's more words.
2. 'can' is capable of expressing a greater number of shades of meaning.

'be able to' is only about ability. 'can' is also about (logical) possibility.

Nina_NiaIn present and in past tenses both can be used, but for future only be able can be use

CalifJimFrom a purely formal point of view this is true. 'can' is a modal verb, so it cannot appear in the formal future with any other modal verb, including the verb 'will', which is used to form the future tense. In other words, 'will can' is absolutely wrong.

I was asking if it would be possible to use 'can' with future situations like this;
In five

No. The sense of "I can do it tomorrow" is that "I have the ability to perform the task already, but not the opportunity (I am too busy today, or I don't feel like doing it now, or I don't have my tools with me, etc.). However, I can make definite plans now to perform the task tomorrow."
If you are talking about an ability you do not yet possess, but will later, (I'm learning Fre