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MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY

They are mainly used to express the ability or possibility that someone has to perform an action.

CAN

COULD

BE ABLE TO

actions that occur in the present or in the future

actions that happened in the past

can be conjugated in any verb tense

The structure of can and could is:

AFFIRMATIVE Subject + can / could + infinitive

NEGATIVE Subject + can't / couldn't + infinitive

INTERROGATIVE Can / Could + subject + infinitive?

Can and could are followed by the infinitive but without the particle to.

The structure of be able to is:

PRESENT

+ Subject + am / is / are + able to + infinitive

- Subject + am not / isn't / aren't + able to + infinitive

? Am / is / are + subject + able to + infinitive ?

PAST

+ Subject + am not / isn't / aren't + able to + infinitive

- Subject + wasn't / weren't + able to + infinitive

? Was / Were + subject + able to + infinitive ?

PRESENT PERFECT

+ Subject + have / has + been + able to + infinitive

- Subject + haven't / hasn't + been + able to + infinitive

? Have / Has + subject + been + able to + infinitive ?

FUTURE

+ Subject + will + be + able to + infinitive

- Subject + won't + be + able to + infinitive

? Will + subject + be + able to + infinitive ?

Both can and could as be able to are used to refer to physical or mental abilities and the ability to perform an action.

The be able to form will be placed when it is preceded by a verb that needs an infinitive after it or by another modal verb.

They could hardly believe their eyes.

My car can go very fast.

You aren't able to / can't fly.

By Ronin I