0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

"could" and "be able to" ?

Would a native English speaker please exemplify the differences between the two modals? Enlarge upon situations in which the two cannot interchange.

Thank you very much.
  

Top answer

"Could" is often used when someone has the ability, but may not want to do something. "Be able to" is used to describe if someone has the skill/ability/time to do something.

— Vorpar

  • "Could" is often used when someone has the ability, but may not want to do something.
  • "Be able to" is used to describe if someone has the skill/ability/time to do something.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
"Could" is often used when someone has the ability, but may not want to do something.

"Be able to" is used to describe if someone has the skill/ability/time to do something.
0
0
AnonymousEnlarge upon situations in which the two cannot interchange.
When you write an imperative in your post, it makes it sound as if it is a homework assignment. Are you taking a course in which your teacher asked you to "enlarge upon situation in which 'could' and 'was able to' cannot interchange"? If so, what did your teacher, or what does your textboo
0
0
Hello!

I'm an English teacher, but not a native speaker. The other day a student came up with this sentence:

"If cell phones hadn't been invented, we couldn't reach people whenever we wanted to"

This sentence doesn't sound right, and I suggested a change into:

"If cell phone hadn't been invented, we wouldn't be able to reach people whenever we wanted to".
0
0
Anonymous"If cell phones hadn't been invented, we couldn't reach people whenever we wanted to"
"If cell phones hadn't been invented, we wouldn't be able to reach people whenever we wanted to".These are both fine. I see no substantial difference in meaning.
0
0
Hi,

If cell phones hadn't been invented, we wouldn't have been able to communicate with people whenever we want to.

It's much more idiomatic to use the third if-clause here.

Regards
0
0
Anonymous"If cell phones hadn't been invented, we couldn't reach people whenever we wanted to"
This sentence doesn't sound right, and I suggested a change into:
"If cell phone hadn't been invented, we wouldn't be able to reach people whenever we wanted to".
Your desire to make that change may have been because of interference with another meaning of "
0

Related Questions