Unit 26. Can, could and (be) able to.
Unit 26; Part A

We use can + infinitive (can do / can see etc.):
• We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
• \'I haven\'t got a pen.\' \'You can use mine.\'
• Can you speak any foreign languages?
• I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
• The word \'play\' can be a noun or a verb.
The negative is can\'t (= cannot):
• I\'m afraid I can\'t come to the party on Friday.
Unit 26; Part B

• We are able to see the lake from our bedroom window.
But can has only two forms: can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to. Compare:
• I can\'t sleep. • Tom can come tomorrow. • Maria can speak French, Spanish and English. | • I haven\'t been able to sleep recently. • Tom might be able to come tomorrow. • Applicants for the job must be able to speak two foreign languages. |
Unit 26; Part C

Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:
see hear smell taste feel remember understand
• We had a lovely room in the hotel. We could see the lake.
• As soon as I walked into the room, I could smell gas.
• I was sitting at the back of the theatre and couldn\'t hear very well.
We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something:
• My grandfather could speak five languages.
• We were totally free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do)
Unit 26; Part D

We use could for general ability. But if you want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, use was/were able to or managed to (not could):
• The fire spread through the building very quickly, but fortunately everybody was able to escape / managed to escape. (not could escape)
• We didn\'t know where David was, but we managed to find / were able to find him in the end. (not could find)
Compare:
Mike was an excellent tennis player when he was younger. He could beat anybody.
(= he had the general ability to beat anybody)
but Mike and Pete played tennis yesterday. Pete played very well, but Mike managed to beat him.
(= he managed to beat him in this particular game)
The negative couldn\'t (could not) is possible in all situations:
• My grandfather couldn\'t swim.
• We looked for David everywhere, but we couldn\'t find him.
• Pete played well, but he couldn\'t beat Mike.
Exercises
![]() | Unit 25 Unit 26 Unit 27 | ![]() |