Ability or potential:

can, could, could

have, be able to
Can is used to indicate the ability in
general or ability in particular
circumstances:

1. He can speak German fluently.

2. I can give him an answer
tomorrow.
He could speak German fluently
when he was younger.

I could have given him an

answer yesterday.
"Could have" - I was in position to
give him an answer.

Such sentences suggest a

conditional: I could have given
him an answer if he had asked
me.
I could have given
him an answer.

I was able to give

him an answer.
Can - may be used with a future
time reference:

I can see you tomorrow.

Here the ability is taken for

granted, in the situation where
ability exists only eventually, we
use "be able" with will:
 By the time he finishes his
course, he'll be able to speak
English well.

"Be able" cannot be used in the

progressive form (ing) or
passive voice.
 General characteristics:

general characteristic that

may show itself from time to
time:

A house in London can cost a lot

of money.
 He could be very unpleasant
when he was angry.

In such sentences "be able to" is

not used as a substitute for can
or could.