Expressing Abilities Across Time
Let's start by talking about YOUR abilities and skills!
Answer these questions:
Select ALL the things you can do. Then tell your teacher about them!
Look at what you selected. Tell your teacher:
Look at these sentences. What patterns do you notice?
Discuss with your teacher:
Why do we need "be able to" when we already have "can" and "could"?
Hint: Think about future tense and perfect tenses...
This is the tricky part! There's an important difference in the PAST.
| Could | Was/Were Able To |
|---|---|
| General ability in the past "I had this skill" |
Specific achievement - one time success "I managed to do it" |
| "I could swim when I was 5." (general skill I had) |
"The boat sank, but I was able to swim to shore." (I succeeded in that moment) |
| "She could speak French fluently." (general past ability) |
"She was able to convince them to help." (she succeeded once) |
1. "When I was a child, I climb trees really well."
2. "The exam was hard, but I pass it."
3. "My grandmother cook amazing food."
4. "The traffic was terrible, but we arrive on time."
5. "By next year, I speak English fluently."
| Time | Can/Could | Be Able To |
|---|---|---|
| Present | can / can't | am/is/are able to |
| Past (general) | could / couldn't | was/were able to |
| Past (specific success) | ❌ Don't use "could" | ✅ was/were able to |
| Future | ❌ No "will can" | ✅ will be able to |
| Perfect tenses | ❌ No "have could" | ✅ have been able to |
Click the button to get a prompt. Make a sentence using can, could, or be able to!
Click the button above to get your first prompt!
Talk about abilities at different times in your life. Use the correct form!
What could you do? What couldn't you do?
What new abilities did you have? What were you able to achieve?
What can you do now that you couldn't do before?
What will you be able to do? What do you hope to learn?
Talk for 2 minutes about how your abilities have changed over time:
How good are you at these things? Rate yourself and explain!
Discuss: "I can... but I can't... yet. I'm learning to..."
Discuss: "I can cook... but I can't... I'd like to be able to..."
Discuss: "I can easily... I'm able to... but I still can't..."
Choose 3 questions to discuss:
Choose and explain using ability language!
A: Be able to speak every language in the world
B: Be able to play every musical instrument perfectly
A: Be able to fly
B: Be able to breathe underwater
Practice talking about your abilities in a professional context!
The interviewer will ask about your skills and abilities. Answer using:
Click each question when you've answered it!
Ask your teacher these questions about THEIR abilities:
You meet an old classmate. Talk about what you could do at school and what you can do now.
You're talking to a personal trainer about your fitness abilities and goals.
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can / can't | Present ability | "I can swim." |
| could / couldn't | Past general ability | "I could run fast as a child." |
| was/were able to | Past specific achievement | "I was able to pass the exam." |
| will be able to | Future ability | "I will be able to drive soon." |
| have been able to | Perfect tense ability | "I've been able to save money." |
❌ WRONG: "I will can come tomorrow."
✅ RIGHT: "I will be able to come tomorrow."
❌ WRONG: "I have could finish the project."
✅ RIGHT: "I have been able to finish the project."
❌ WRONG: "After trying hard, I could pass the test." (specific achievement)
✅ RIGHT: "After trying hard, I was able to pass the test."
Talk about a skill you've developed over time. Include:
Check your student review document for:
Next lesson: Lesson 12 - Must, Have To, Should
You'll learn to talk about obligations, rules, and giving advice!