difference between can and able

0No. '01i00Can02i00' and '01i00be able to02i00' have the same meaning. Use '01i00I can't read02i00' or '01i00I am not able to read02i00'.0-

0 01blockquote

01cite10Anonymous12cite10is this sentence correct "I cant able to read"12blockquote

10Hi Anon,02br
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00The difference is subtle. 01font00[Can]02font00 can be used interchangeably with 01font00[to be able to]02font

0 00While the booz is still flowing(note below), I would like to add that "to be able to" can be tricky.02br
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00Use "can" if you're not so good at grammar.02br
00"to be able to" is generally used talking about specific achievements, but "can" is used talking about general abilities02br
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01font00You can't us

0 01blockquote

01cite10Goodman12cite12br
10We can say “He 11i11font10was able to12font12i10 finish the job in 1 hour” which is fine and it meant the job was completed. 11u10But “he 11i11font10could12font10 12i10

0 01blockquote

01cite10Anonymous12cite10Am I wrong? Particularly, I can't understant why you think that with 11i10could12i10 the action is not complete.12br
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10Yes, I can't understand that too. At least, I couldn't find it in my textbook(Advanced Grammar In Use, "22. Can, could and able to:

0Um…Let me see how this can be explained without sinking deeper into mud…02br
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00Let’s say “Mary 01font00was able to02font00 make the date with Mike last night because she finished her work in time”. – The date took place and she went out with Mike.02br
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0

0 050040pid132706

0 01blockquote

01cite10CalifJim12cite15012br
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10Everything I wanted to say but "was unable to" come up with it!051040pid13270611id10

0No, you must say "I can't read".0-

" Can be able or can't be able " are both grammartically incorrect .The reason being CAN or ABLE mean one and the same thing , and are used interchangeably ( never together )..They derive from the LATIN word " Possum" meaning CAN or ABLE.

I think this answers your question.

Simon.