Can, could, be able to, manage to
Neil and Catherine take a look at the meaning and use of some key words and phrases that English speakers use to talk about ability in the present and the past.
Listen to some example sentences and test what you’ve learnt with our quiz.
Catherine
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me Catherine…
Neil
And me, Neil. Hello.
Catherine
In this programme we’re talking about modal verbs of ability.
Neil
Yes, we are. We’ll explain what they are…
Catherine
We’ll give you some useful tips on using them…
Neil
There’ll be lots examples…
Catherine
And of course we’ll finish with a quiz.
Neil
So here we go. First of all, what are modals of ability?
Catherine
Well, there are lots of different modal verbs like must, might and have to. And we use them together with main verbs, to add meaning to what we say.
Neil
So in this programme we’re talking about the modal verbs can and could. We’re looking at how we can use these modals with main verbs to add meaning related to ability. Here’s Mike with an example.
Mike
Humans can only live without water for three to five days.
Catherine
So that’s can with the verb live to express ability. And in this example, the ability to live without water. And in this programme we’re also going to talk about ability with the phrase be able to plus a verb. It’s similar to can, but it’s particularly useful when we’re suggesting that something is a bit surprising like this from Mike.
Mike
Humans can only live without water for three to five days.
However, they are able to live without food for up to three weeks.
Neil
Okay. In those examples we’re talking about ability in the present. Now for the past.
Catherine
Yeah, the past. And the past of can is could. We also use be able to in the past but of course it becomes was able to or were able to. Listen.
Mike
People in Asia could write before people in Europe.
Catherine
Or…
Mike
People in Asia were able to write before people in Europe.
Neil
But sometimes you have to use be able to and not could.
Catherine
And that happens when we’re talking about a single event in the past, not general ability.
Neil
Exactly. Another example please, Mike.
Mike
After climbing for six hours, they were able to reach the top of the mountain.
Catherine
You can’t use could in that example because could is for general ability, not a single occasion like climbing one mountain.
Neil
But there is another verb that you can use in that last sentence. Have a listen.
Mike
After climbing for six hours, they managed to reach the top of the mountain.
Neil
Thank you Mike. We often use manage to with a verb for ability if something is very difficult to do or if something is very successful.
Catherine
Exactly. Remember that can and could are always followed by the infinitive without to. And they are the same for all subject pronouns.
Neil
Right. But be able to changes for different persons. It’s am/is/are able to for the present and was/were able to for the past.
IDENT
6 Minute Grammar, from bbclearningenglish.com.
Catherine
And we’re looking at modal verbs of ability.
Neil
Yes, we are. And we’ve got a few extra tips for you today.
Catherine
We have. And the first tip is, you know sense verbs like see, hear and smell? And verbs of thinking like believe, understand and remember? Well, we usually use can and not be able to with those. Examples please, Mike.
Mike
I can’t understand this question.
Catherine
Good. Second tip. When we have two main verbs together, we can’t put can or could between them. For example, with the sentence I’d like to swim. It’s okay to say…
Mike
I’d like to be able to swim.
Catherine
But it’s not okay to say…
Mike
I’d like to can swim.
Neil
Oh no, you can’t say that! It sounds a bit strange.
Catherine
Yes, horrible.
Neil
Next tip: There is also no present perfect form of can. If we need the present perfect for ability, we use be able to. An example, please?
Mike
He hasn’t been able to walk since the accident.
Catherine
Thank you, Mike. And now a tip about manage to in the negative form. We say can’t manage to in the present, but it’s couldn’t manage to or didn’t manage to in the past.
Mike
I can’t manage to swim that far!
Fifty-five pies?! I can’t manage to eat all those.
The men couldn’t manage to lift the piano.
He didn’t manage to get the grades he needed for university.
Catherine
Okay, thank you, Mike. And now – it’s quiz time. Will you manage to get three correct answers?
Neil
Let’s see. Are these sentences correct or incorrect? Number one: The villagers were good hunters, but they couldn’t grow crops.
Catherine
And that’s correct.
Neil
Well done! Number two: My phone wasn’t working but the receptionist could phone for a taxi.
Catherine
And that’s not correct. The correct sentence is the receptionist was able to phone for a taxi.
Neil
And number three: I want to can do this.
Catherine
And that’s not correct. Between two main verbs, we have to use be able to. So the correct sentence is I want to be able to do this.
Neil
And that is the end of the quiz. Congratulations if you managed to get them all right!
Catherine
Yes. Well done! There’s more about this on our website at www.bbc-story.com. Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar.
Both
Bye.
Grammar Reference
Present and past modals of ability
Meaning and use
We use can or be able to for saying that somebody or something has the ability to do something. Can and be able to mean the same, but we often use be able to when something is surprising or unusual.
Camels can carry up to 600 pounds on their backs.
They are able to close their noses to keep out the sand.
To talk about ability in the past, we use could or be able to.
20 years ago, the Kalahari bushmen could make fire without matches.
They were able to survive without fresh water for three weeks.
For a single event in the past, we use be able to (not could)in positive statements.
Our guide was able to show us the caves where the bushmen lived.
NOT: Our guide couldshow us the caves where the bushmen lived.
However, in negative statements and questions about single events, we can use could or be able to.
Could you talk to the bushmen? Were you able to talk to the bushmen?
We couldn’t talk to them. We weren’t able to talk to them.
If something is very difficult to do or is very successful, we often use the verb manage to instead of a modal verb.
The bushmen managed to live happily in their natural environment for at least 20,000 years.
Form
After can/can’t and could/couldn’t we use the infinitive without to. We also use the same form for all persons: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. After be able to we use the infinitive without to as well, but the form of be changes: am/are/is able to for the present and was/were able to for the past.
Positive
In Yakutia, the people can speak both Yakut and Russian.
They are able to survivein temperatures of -70.
Negative
They can’t grow vegetables in winter, so they eat a lot of meat and fish.
Most people aren’t able to travel in winter because of the freezing weather.
Questions
In questions with can, could and be able to, we change the word order. We don’t use Do/Does. Can, could or the verb be come before the subject or subject pronoun.
How can the people survive in temperatures of -70?
Why aren’t they able to travel in winter?
Could they leave the area by April?
Take note: ‘be able to’ with infinitives and present perfect
Can has no infinitive form or present perfect form. So in some sentences, we have to use be able to.
I’d like to be able to speak Russian. (infinitive)
We haven’t been able to contact them by phone yet. (present perfect)
Take note: form of ‘manage to’
Manage to is a regular verb in the positive form. But in the negative form we say can’t manage to in the present and couldn’t or didn’t manage to in the past. We also use did for questions.
I can’t manage to eat all that!
They couldn’t/didn’t manage to finish the race.
Did you really manage to swim across the Channel?
Take note: sense verbs and verbs of thinking
We usually use can and not be able to with sense verbs and verbs of thinking such as see, hear, smell, believe, remember.
I can see the Lena River from here.
I can’t believe that it gets so cold there.
The bushmen could remember their way around the desert from day to day.