An afternoon at home The Robinsons are spending the afternoon at home.
Father – Hey, Peter. I think your brother has some problems with his maths exercises. Why don't you stop playing with the logs and the fireplace and go to his room to help him?
Peter – Can't he solve his maths problems himself?
Father – No, he can't. I'd like to help him, but you know I can't, because I've forgotten what I was taught when I was at school. And your mother could help you when maths was easier. Now it is very complicated.
Peter – Mum, what are you doing?
Mother – I'm sewing the curtains.
Peter – When are you going to teach me how to sew?
Mother – Very soon. If you help your brother, I'll teach you to sew. There are not many boys of your age who can sew. And don't talk so loud. The baby can't sleep, because you are making too much noise.
Peter – Dad, what are you doing?
Father – I'm very busy. Yesterday mum told me something about changing the armchair and the sofa, and I'm just trying to convince her that they are still comfortable. You know it's difficult to convince your mother. Please, go and help your brother. You are the only one who can do it. Your mother and I don't remember anything of what he is doing.
Peter – OK. I'll do it. Mum, don't forget to tell daddy that the TV and the video cassette recorder don't work properly and that it would be a good idea to change them too.
| cannot | am not / is not / are not
able to |
| can? | am / is / are
able to? |
We express ability in all other tenses by
means of the right form of be able to. |
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General ability
could | Specific ability
was / were able to
was / were able to |
General ability
could not | Specific ability
was not / were not able to
was not / were not able to |
General ability
could? | Specific ability
was / were able to?
was / were able to? |
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| Uses | • Both can and am/is/are able to may be used to express ability in the present although can is the more usual form.
• When we refer to past ability we use could or was/were able to whereas we only use was/were able to when we want to say that somebody managed to do something in a particular situation in the past. However, in the negative we may use couldn't to talk about a particular action not successfully completed.
• We normally use can and could with verbs of senses instead of the simple present. |
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