Another bit of English Grammar – Modals… they are everywhere!
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that on its own has no meaning. It only adds meaning to the main verb, giving more details about the action.
They are really useful and express ideas like ability, permission, possibility, and necessity and most of them have more than one use… confusing, right?
But don’t worry, to help you remember we will explore when and how to use them in context… Ready?
BE ABLE TO is a phrasal modal verb; it is the conjugated verb βto beβ + the adverb βableβ + the infinitive βtoβ, and it expresses ABILITY, like CAN, which is what this lesson is about. It is best used to talk about skills in the PAST, PRESENT or in the FUTURE. But be aware! In the PRESENT it is used less often than CAN.
WARNING!! it is a phrasal modal that can also be used to express POSSIBILITY (That lesson will be released in the coming weeks).
How to use BE ABLE TO to talk about the PRESENT…
It is a verb form that is LESS OFTEN USED to talk about general ability in the PRESENT, especially skills; things that were learnt once (or not!) and the ability to repeat them again and again.
I am able to play the bagpipes.
HeΒ isn’t able toΒ read well.
Are they able to swim?
It can also be used to talk about specific ability; to do something specific or as a one-time event, in one particular situation that is happening now.
I am able to see the stars in the sky tonight.
He is able to reach the top of the shelf.
Are they able to leave it for later?
How to use BE ABLE TO to talk about the FUTURE…
It is also the preferred modal to talk about the ability to do things in the future. But it is used together with ‘will‘.
I‘ll be able to help you tomorrow.
He will not be able to come to the party on Saturday.
Will we not be able to pick them up on the way?
How to use COULD to talk about the PAST…
It is a verb form that is most often used to talk about the general ability to do something in the past.
I was able to play the bagpipes back then!
HeΒ wasn’t able toΒ read well when he was 8.
Were they able to swim by the time they went to school?
It is the verb USED MOST OFTEN to talk about specific ability; to do something specific or as a one-time event in the past.
I was able to see the stars in the sky that night.
He was able to reach the top of the shelf.
Weren’t they able to call the police when it happened?
HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER TO MAKE SENTENCES?
This phrasal modal verb is made by using be/is able to for the PRESENT and was/were able to for the PAST together with the base form [V1] of the main verb that describes the action or event.
Affirmative sentences
For sentences that are ‘positive‘ or affirmative, you can use be/is able to, will be able to or was/were able to with the V1 form. As simple as that! π
Negative sentences
For sentences that are ‘negative‘ you use the same components, be/is able to, will be able to or was/were able to with the V1 form, but you have to add the ‘not’ after ‘to be’.
Questions
For questions, you also use be/is able to, will be able to or was/were able to with the V1 form, but you must swap ‘to be’ π with the person/entity responsible for the action [the subject].
To make a negative question simply add a ‘not’ after ‘to be’ and before the person/entity responsible for the action [the subject]. For will be able to it is more complicated so look for the ‘will’ mini-lesson for guidance.
Aren’t you able to travel to New York this month?
Wasn’t he able to tell you where she was?
And that is it! It wasn’t too bad after all! π
Here you have some online games to help you practice what you have learnt! ENJOY!!
There is a nice collection of CAN?COULD and ABLE TO exercises on this page!!
This is an exercise to practice using CAN/COULD/ABLE TO.