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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Modal verbs and phrases 'be able to'
Hi,
are these all possible? I thought whenver we see the phrase " would be able to", we should replace it with the word "could"; but that doesn't seem to be true.
I would be able to buy 10 pens today.
I will be able to buy 10 pens today.
I might be able to buy 10 pens today.
I may be able to buy 10 pens today.
I ought to be able to buy 10 pens today.
I don't think this is correct. Are there any others like this that possibly are not correct that you can think of?.
I could be able to buy 10 pens.
are these all possible? I thought whenver we see the phrase " would be able to", we should replace it with the word "could"; but that doesn't seem to be true.
I would be able to buy 10 pens today.
I will be able to buy 10 pens today.
I might be able to buy 10 pens today.
I may be able to buy 10 pens today.
I ought to be able to buy 10 pens today.
I don't think this is correct. Are there any others like this that possibly are not correct that you can think of?.
I could be able to buy 10 pens.
Top answer
Those are all fine-- except 'could be able to', which is not right. I think you have your guideline reversed. Could = can (past), and be able to = can.
- Those are all fine-- except 'could be able to', which is not right.
- I think you have your guideline reversed.
- Could = can (past), and be able to = can.
- I would be able to buy 10 pens today if I had any money.
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1 Answers
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.
Those are all fine-- except 'could be able to', which is not right. I think you have your guideline reversed. Could = can (past), and be able to = can.
I would be able to buy 10 pens today if I had any money.
.
Those are all fine-- except 'could be able to', which is not right. I think you have your guideline reversed. Could = can (past), and be able to = can.
I would be able to buy 10 pens today if I had any money.
.
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