Be Able To Verb

Be Able To Verb

1. Be Able To x Can

   • "Be Able To" is generally an alternative to "can"
   • Examples
     • Affirmative
       • I can cook pasta = I am able to cook pasta
       • I can go later = I'm able to go later
     • Negative
       • I can't drive now = I'm not able to drive now
       • I can't help you now = I'm not able to help you now
     • Interrogative
       • Can you give me a hand please? = Are you able to give me a hand please?
       • Can you study chinese? = Are you able to study chinese?

2. Be Able To x Could

   • In the past, "Was / Were + Able To" may have another meaning, different from could, that is, to be able to do something in
   • Examples
     • Affirmative
       • I could help him = I was able to help him
       • I could watch television now = I was able to watch television now
     • Negative
       • I couldn't drive that night because I was sleepy = I wasn't able to drive that night because I was sleepy
       • She couldn't sleep in the afternoom = She wasn't able to sleep in the afternoom
     • Interrogative
       • Could you carry those boxes? = Were you able to carry it?
       • Could your brother play soccer? = Was able to your brother play soccer?

3. Be Able To for Future

   • To express future possibilites we NEVER use "can", but "be able to", for instance
   • Examples
     • Affirmative
       • We will be able to fly to New York tomorrow
       • I will be able to make the speak test next saturday
     • Negative
       • Luke won't be able to come to our home next meeting
       • Tony won't be able to go to the movies with you tonight, he has to study for a test
     • Interrogative
       • Will they be able to finish the report until next friday?
       • Will you be able to do that by tomorrow?
       • Will you be able to have speak test next saturday?

4. Can Verb

   • Used to talk about specific abilities that things about someone or something can do it or not do it
   • Used to express
     • Ability
       • Can you dance well?
         • Yes, I can
         • No, I cannot
       • I can speak english
     • Informal Request
       • Can you tell me where the post office is please?
       • Can you help here for a while?
     • Permission
       • Can I go to your house tomorrow?
       • Can I leave early today?
       • Can I ask you a question?
   • Negative form
     • CAN'T / CANNOT

5. Would Rather Verb

   • It talks about preferring one thing to another. It means "To Prefer"
   • Examples
     • Affirmative
       • Robert would rather drive in the morning
       • I would rather read science-fiction books
     • Negative
       • Charles would rather not cook pasta at night
       • I would rather not go out tonight
       • I would rather not walk in the afternoom
     • Interrogative
       • Would Peter rather study at night?
       • Would you rather walk in the morning?
       • Would she rather go to the gym tonight?
   • It's not necessary to use the preposition "to" after "would rather"

6. Modal Verbs

   • Is a kind of auxiliar verb, it has been utilized to help the main verbs. The main characteristic is complement or adjust the sense of main verbs, expressing ideas like: permission, request, capacity, possibility, wish, etc
   • 3 (three) important things about modal verbs
     • We don't use "to" when we use modal verbs
       • Examples
         • It might rain today
         • It's late, you should go home
     • We don't have conjugation of verbs (S, ES, IES) when using modal verbs
       • Examples
         • He can dance well
         • She can arrive after dinner
     • We don't use auxiliares (do, does, v. to be) with modal verbs
       • Examples
         • May you clean the house?
         • She can't play soccer
         • Could you open the door?