Modals of Ability
Let’s start with expressing ability! We use can, be able to and could to show that someone has (or doesn’t have) an ability to do something. Look at these examples:
Present/Future Ability |
Negative |
Past Ability |
Negative |
Alan can swim well. | Jackie cannot play piano. | Paul could speak Chinese when he was a child. | Mary couldn’t finish her homework last night. |
I can meet you after school. | We can’t visit Vancouver this weekend. | Last night, there were no clouds in the sky and they could see all the stars. | You couldn’t find the website this morning, could you? |
I am able to speak two languages. | I am not able to speak Arabic. | After three weeks in an Italian restaurant, I was able to bake a decent pizza. | I wasn’t able to finish my test yesterday. |
Did you notice that the verbs after “can/could/be able to” are always in the simple form?
For example: Alan can swim well (subject + auxiliary verb + simple verb + ...)
Do NOT change the modal auxiliary OR the main verb for he/she/it subjects.
In addition, do NOT add “ing” or “ed”.
How can we make questions about ability? It’s easy!
Note: We do not need the verbs “do/does/did” when we make questions!
The modal verb “be able to” includes the word “to”; the “to” is not an infinitive.