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Nina_Nia Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Can and be able to

Hello,

If you try hard, you can/will be able to pass your examinations. Does the speaker refer to an ability that someone doesn't have yet? If so 'can' shouldn't be used here, if I am not mistaken?

I could not/was not able to speak to him on the phone for three weeks last month. (Is Could used to talk about what someone was not generally able to do in the past?)

Thanks
  

Top answer

Nina_Nia Hello, If you try hard, you can/will be able to pass your examinations. Does the speaker refer to an ability that someone doesn't have yet? If so 'can' shouldn't be used here, if I am not mistaken?

— Fivejedjon

  • Nina_Nia Hello, If you try hard, you can/will be able to pass your examinations.
  • Does the speaker refer to an ability that someone doesn't have yet?
  • If so 'can' shouldn't be used here, if I am not mistaken?
  • If there is a possibility, perceived in the present, of the addressee passing the examinations, then 'can' is fine.
  • If the speaker is thinking of the addressee's future acquisition of the ability, then it's 'will be able'.
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1 Answers
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Nina_Nia Hello, If you try hard, you can/will be able to pass your examinations. Does the speaker refer to an ability that someone doesn't have yet? If so 'can' shouldn't be used here, if I am not mistaken?
If there is a possibility, perceived in the present, of the addressee passing the examinations, then 'can' is fine.

If the speaker is thinking of
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