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please tell me difference between "I can swim" and "I am able to swim"

When we talk about "ability" i have heared that "can" and "be able to" can be used..

But some said that between "I can swim" and "I am able to swim" there are a little tiny difference.

these kind of questions such as "can vs be able to" , "will vs be going to"...make me have brain constipation....

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Grammar GO;
Please tell me difference between "I can swim" and "I am able to swim"
When we talk about "ability" I have heard that "can" and "be able to" can be used.
But some said that there is a slight difference between "I can swim" and "I am able to swim"

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In conversation, people would usually use the simpler statement:
Can you swim?
Yes, I can swim.

But it's a bit different if there is some unusual circumstance. Say, for example my friend had broken their ankle three weeks ago and I want them to go swimming with me. I know that they normally can swim, because we used to go swimming all the time...

Are you able to swim?
No, not until the doctor tells me that my ankle is strong enough.
Do you know when you'll be able to swim?
The doctor told me that I should be able to in about three weeks.

Another example. We are in a bar, and have had some beer. We are ready to go home:

Are you able to drive?
No, I'd better not. You had only one small beer, and I drank six big ones. I'll give you the keys. You can drive.

CalifJim · Answer

I'd say that Alphecca Stars is entirely right. "be able to" is used instead of "can" when the situation seems to suggest doubt about whether a person has a certain ability.

"can" is a neutral statement about ability or know-how.

"be able to" is like "be able to in spite of appearances to the contrary".

CJ

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