Expressing ability – capability The ability/capability of doing something can be expressed in several ways The most common verb forms are: can - could - be able to - manage to On some occasions only one of the above forms can be used whilst in other situations there is either a subtle difference or no difference at all in the meaning PRESENT TENSE I can/am able to play tennis (I have learnt to this and now have the ability to it) I am able to play tennis twice a week (circumstances permit me to this) I manage to play tennis twice a week (even though there is a degree of difficulty) PAST TENSES I could/was able to play tennis when I was eleven (at this age I had the necessary ability) I could play tennis twice a week (PERMISSION was given to me to this) I was able to play tennis twice a week (circumstances allowed me to this) I managed to play tennis twice a week (some difficulties had to be overcome) I’ve been able to play tennis once a week all summer (circumstances allowed this) I hadn’t been able to play tennis because of a leg injury (At the time I wasn’t capable of doing this) I could get tickets for concerts whenever I wanted to (I was capable of doing this) I was able to get two tickets for Madonna’s concert (I did this on one occasion) I managed to get two tickets for the concert (I obtained them with some difficulty) The children were able to/managed to/ could escape from the house on fire FUTURE TENSE (neither ‘can’ nor ‘could’ can be used for ability/capacity) I will be able to visit Paris next year (I will be capable of doing this Nothing should stop me) Will John be able to speak English well at the end of the course? (Will he have learnt to this?) I hope you’ll be able to come to Paris with us (your circumstances will allow you to this) I hope you’ll manage to come (even though you may encounter difficulty in doing this) I won’t be able to come with you (circumstances make me incapable of doing this)