Use ‘won’t be able to’ in a sentence to show we are certain about an ability in general in the future.
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What structure(s) do we use to describe what someone was capable in general?
could/was/were able to
Use ‘won’t be able to’ in a sentence to show we are certain about a possibility about one particular situation in the future.
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What do we use to describe what someone was capable of in a particular situation?
was/were able to or managed to
Use ‘could’ to describe what someone was capable of in general.
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True or false? We use ‘can/ be able to/ manage to’ in the present when we want to say what someone is capable of.
False only can/be able to
Use ‘might be able to’ in a sentence to show we are not certain about a future possibility.
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Use ‘can’ in a sentence to show we are certain about a possibility about one particular situation in the future.
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Is this sentence correct? Why? Why not? I had a flat tire last week, but I could get it repaired.
No. I had a flat tire last week, but I was able to/managed to get it repaired. We do not use could to describe what someone was capable of in one particular sit
Use ‘may be able to’ in a sentence to show we are not certain about a future possibility.
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Use ‘were able to’ to describe what someone was capable of in general.
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Use ‘may not be able to’ in a sentence to show we are not certain about a future possibility.
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What do we use when we are not certain about a future possibility?
may/might be able to
Correct this sentence. I manage to speak 3 languages.
I can/I’m able to speak three languages.
Correct this sentence. Is you able to run quickly?
Are you able to run quickly?
Use ‘will be able to’ in a sentence to show we are certain about an ability in general in the future.
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Use ‘managed to’ describe what someone was capable of in a particular situation.
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What do we use when we are certain about an ability in general in the future?
will be able to
Use ‘be able to’ in the present to say what someone is capable of.
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Use ‘can’ in the present to say what someone is capable of.
Use ‘might not be able to’ in a sentence to show we are not certain about a future possibility.
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Is this sentence correct? Why? Why not? I had a lot of exams to correct, but I managed to do it.
Yes. We use ‘managed to’ to describe what someone was capable of in a particular situation.
Is this sentence correct? Why? Why not? I’ll be able to meet my husband in Lisbon this weekend.
Yes. It shows I am certain about a possibility about one particular situation in the future.
Use ‘was able to’ to describe what someone was capable of in general.
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Complete this question using two different structures. ______________ see the dentist last week?
Were you able to/Did you manage to see the dentist last week?
Use ‘will be able to’ in a sentence to show we are certain about a possibility about one particular situation in the future.
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Finish this sentence: I ____________________ to swim in the Junior Olympics if I train very hard.
I’ll be able to swim in the Junior Olympics if I train very hard.
Is this sentence correct? Why? Why not? I didn’t manage to tell the time until I was 8.
No. We only use ‘could/be able to’ to describe what someone was capable of in general.
Is this sentence correct? Why? Why not? At the end of the school year, I am certain I can speak Spanish very well.
No. We only use ‘will be able to’ when we are certain about an ability in general in the future.
Use ‘was able to’ to describe what someone was capable of in a particular situation.
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Use ‘were able to’ to describe what someone was capable of in a particular situation.
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What do we use when we are certain about a possibility about one particular situation in the future?
can/ will be able to
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