EXPRESSING

ABILITY - CAPABILITY

CAN
COULD
BE ABLE TO
MANAGE TO
We can express the
ability/capability of doing
something or knowing how
to do something in several
ways.
Sometimes we can use one or
more of the verb forms “can,
could, be able to, manage to” and
the meaning does not change.
 Sometimes there is a subtle
difference in the meaning of the
sentence depending on the verb
form we choose.
Sometimes the meaning of the
sentence changes depending on
which of these verb forms we use.
 PRESENT TENSE
• I can play tennis. • I have learnt how to do
this and I now have the
ability to do it.
• I am able to play • There are no
tennis twice a week. circumstances which
stop me from doing
this.
• I manage to play
• I have to overcome
tennis twice a week.
some difficulties in
order to do this.
 • This is not ability. This
• I can play tennis
means that I have
twice a week.
PERMISSION to do this.

• This is not ability. This is

• Can I play tennis with asking for PERMISSION.
you?
• Do you have the
• Are you able to do necessary abilities? Are
this on your own? you capable of doing
• Can you do this on this on your own?
your own?
 PAST TENSES
• I could/was able to • At this age I had the
play tennis when I necessary abilities to do
was eleven. this.
• I was able to play • Circumstances allowed
tennis twice a week. me to do this.
• I managed to play • It was difficult but I did
tennis twice a week. this.
• I could play tennis • This is not ability. I had
twice a week. PERMISSION to do this.
 PAST TENSES
• I’ve been able to • Circumstances made this
play tennis once a possible. Nothing stopped
week all summer. me from doing this.
• Although I have had to
overcome some
• I have managed to difficulties to do this.
play tennis once a
week all summer.
The Perfect Tense uses ‘be
able to’ and ‘manage to’ for
ability/capability.
 PAST TENSES
• I could get tickets for • I was always capable of
concerts whenever I doing this.
wanted to.
• I was able to get two • I am speaking of a
tickets for Madonna’s single occasion.
concert.
• I managed to get a • I obtained it with some
ticket for the concert. difficulty.
• Perhaps I could get a • This is not an ability.
ticket for the concert This is a POSSIBILITY.
too.
 PAST TENSES
• John was able to send • He sent it.
a message.
• John managed to send • It was difficult but he did it.
Could + perfect tense is not ability
a message
• He didn’t send it or we
• John could have sent a don’t know whether he
sent one or not.
message.
• Expresses irritation
• John COULD have sent because he did not send
a message! one.
 PAST TENSES
• The man was able to • He was capable of doing
escape from the this.
house on fire.
• The man managed to • Although it was difficult
escape from the to do.
house on fire.
• The man could have • He had the POSSIBILITY
escaped from the to do this but
house on fire if the unfortunately he didn’t
roof hadn’t succeed.
collapsed.
 FUTURE TENSE
• I’ll be able to visit • I will be capable of
Paris next year. doing this Nothing
should stop me.
• I hope you’ll be able • Hopefully, no
to come to Paris with circumstance will stop
us. you from doing this.
• I hope you’ll manage • Even though you may
to come with us. encounter difficulty in
doing this.
• I won’t be able to • I will be incapable of
come with you. doing this.
 FUTURE TENSE
• Will John be able to • Will he have acquired
speak English well at the ability to do this?
the end of the
course?
• Could you run the • Is it possible? Do you
business by have the necessary
yourself? ability to do this?
• Would you be able to • Should it be necessary,
run the business by would you be capable
yourself? of doing this?