Could Was/were able to
It expresses general
abilities, in the past tense:
 By the time I was
eight I could play
basketball.
With sense verbs, such as
“smell” and “taste,” and
thought process verbs,
such as “believe” “decide”
and “understand,” we
usually use “could” even
when talking about specific
occasions:
 I could smell her
amazing perfume.
Managed to
It expresses specific abilities, in
the past tense.
 They were able to make
a good deal.
It is less often used to express
general abilities:
 When I was in primary
school, I was able to
read and write well.
It suggests effort:
 I was able to finish the
marathon.
It expresses specific
abilities, in the past tense:
 We managed to
conceal the
matter.
It suggests effort. However,
it puts a little more
emphasis on how hard the
challenge was or how
much effort it took:
 I managed to get a
good grade in the
test.
  I could decide to
do it.

Negative form Negative form Negative form

Couldn’t: Wasn’t/weren’t able to: Didn’t manage to:
 When I was  When I had the chance, I  I did my best, but I
younger, I couldn’t wasn’t able to do it. didn’t manage to
dance well. change their mind.
Couldn’t manage to:
 Unfortunately,
they couldn’t
manage to win the
match.