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Old Eladio Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Can vs To be able to

0Hi everyone! Please, help me with this:02br
02br
00We all know than the modal can is used to talk about 01u01b00Possibility02b02u00 and 01b01u00Ability02u00. 02b00Now, if we have both meanings 01b00in the same sentence02b00, what is the correct way to manage this situation? For example:02br
02br
00"I can dance but right now I'm not able to do it because I've broken my leg" Or maybe I can say as well:02br
02br
00I can dance but right now I can't because I've broken my leg"?02br
02br
00I could (ability) sing, but now I can't (possibility)02br
02br
00And thanks in advance!02br
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00Eladio0-
  

Top answer

0 Hi Eladio02br 02br 00Unfortunately English is a little vague and inexact with regard to the meaning of 01i 00can02i 00 and 01i 00could02i 00. If one is talking to somebody, the meaning often depends on where one puts the stress in the sentence and what is said in other clauses of the sentence. If you want to emphasise 01b 00ability 02b 00and avoid ambiguity, it may be a good idea to use 01i 00be able02i 00 unless it sounds too awkward.

— Cool Breeze

  • 0 Hi Eladio02br 02br 00Unfortunately English is a little vague and inexact with regard to the meaning of 01i 00can02i 00 and 01i 00could02i 00.
  • If one is talking to somebody, the meaning often depends on where one puts the stress in the sentence and what is said in other clauses of the sentence.
  • If you want to emphasise 01b 00ability 02b 00and avoid ambiguity, it may be a good idea to use 01i 00be able02i 00 unless it sounds too awkward.
  • 02i 02br 00I would prefer:02br 01i 00We knew that he could01sup 00102sup 00 swim but yesterday, to our surprise, he was able to swim two miles.
  • 02i 02br 02br 00Cheers02br 00CB0-
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6 Answers
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0 Hi Eladio02br
02br
00Unfortunately English is a little vague and inexact with regard to the meaning of 01i00can02i00 and 01i00could02i00. If one is talking to somebody, the meaning often depends on where one puts the stress in the sentence and what is said in other clauses of the sentence. If you want to emphasise 01b00
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0
0 01i00------------02br
00 I am at last 01font00able02font00 to do it02i02br
00 is an01b00 objective02b00 statement of fact02br
00 but in 02br
01i00I 01font00can02font00 do it!02i02br
01i
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Old Eladio12cite10"I can dance but right now I'm not able to do it because I've broken my leg" Or maybe I can say as well:12br
12br
10I can dance but right now I can't because I've broken my leg"?12br
12br
10I could (ability) sing, but now I can't (possibility)12br
10Hi Eladio,
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0Thanks everyone! I will try to follow your tips.02br
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00Eladio0-
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0 To avoid 01i00can02i00 in both meanings in succession, you can use 01i00know how02i00.02br
02br
01i00I know how to dance, but I've broken my leg, so obviously I can't dance now.02br
00 I know how to sing, but I have a bad throat infection, so I can't sing for you today.02i02br
02br
0
0
0
0 00great method.... we use know how to replace can & be able to .02br
02br
00Thanks for CJ0-
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