Guide to Expressing Ability in English – TOEIC® Preparation
Flow Exam team
Knowing how to communicate what you are capable of doing, what you cannot accomplish, or what you succeeded in doing in the past is a fundamental linguistic skill in English. This detailed guide explains how to effectively use modals such as can, could, and the expression be able to, as well as other essential phrases for expressing abilities or achievements.
1. lockquote{Can} to Translate Present Ability
The modal verb can is the most common way to express a current aptitude. Its use remains simple and requires no change for the third person singular (he/she/it).
A. Grammatical Structure of lockquote{Can}
| Form | Construction | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + can + base verb | I can speak three languages. (Je maîtrise trois langues.) She can drive a car. (Elle sait conduire une voiture.) |
| Negative | Subject + cannot (can't) + base verb | He can't swim. (Il ne sait pas nager / Il est incapable de nager.) They can't come tonight. (Ils ne peuvent pas venir ce soir : impossibilité contextuelle.) |
| Interrogative | Can + subject + base verb | Can you help me? (Peux-tu m'aider ? / Es-tu en capacité de m'aider ?) Can they fix the computer? (Sont-ils capables de réparer l'ordinateur ?) |
| Form | Construction | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + could + base verb | I could run very fast when I was a kid. (Dans mon enfance, je courais très rapidement.) She could read when she was only four. (Elle savait lire à quatre ans.) |
| Negative | Subject + could not (couldn't) + base verb | We couldn't finish the project yesterday. (Nous n'avons pas réussi à terminer le projet hier.) He couldn't find his keys. (Il n'a pas pu localiser ses clés.) |
| Interrogative | Could + subject + base verb | Could you understand the instructions? (As-tu réussi à comprendre les consignes ?) Could he play the piano as a child? (Savait-il jouer du piano durant son enfance ?) |
B. Contexts for Using lockquote{Can}
- To express a general aptitude (physical, mental, technical)
- I can lift 50 kilos. (physical ability)
- She can solve complicated math problems. (intellectual ability)
- To translate permission (extension of the notion of possibility)
- You can use my phone if you want. (notion of permission)
- In this guide, we focus on the ability aspect, but you can check this course on permission for more detail.
- To mention a potentially achievable fact (in an informal context)
- It can get really hot here in summer. (it is conceivable, depending on usual conditions)
C. Uses of lockquote{Can't}
- To communicate a general inability (physical, mental, technical)
- I can't lift 50 kilos. (physical inability)
- She can't solve complicated math problems. (intellectual inability)
- To indicate logical or factual impossibility
- You can't be serious! (it is logically impossible)
- He can't be at home; I just saw him at the store. (impossibility based on observed facts)
- To mark a prohibition (informal register)
- You can't park here. (parking forbidden, informal prohibition)
- They can't enter the building without a badge. (access forbidden without a badge)
- To express frustration or a personal limit
- I can't understand this math problem. (I can't manage)
- She can't stop laughing. (she cannot manage to stop, contextual limit)
2. lockquote{Could} to Translate Past or Hypothetical Ability
The modal verb could is mainly used to express ability in the past or in a hypothetical context (conditional).
A. Grammatical Structure of lockquote{Could}
B. Contexts for Using lockquote{Could}
- General past aptitude
- When I was young, I could climb trees easily. (habitual ability during childhood)
- Ability in a hypothetical / conditional context
- I could help you if I had more time. (I would be able to help you if I had more time)
- They could win the match if they trained harder. (they could win the match with more intensive training)
- Polite request / suggestion (softer formulation than lockquote{can})
- Could you lend me a pen? (could you lend me a pen, please?)
- We could go to the cinema tonight. (we could go to the cinema tonight)
C. Uses of lockquote{Couldn't}
- To communicate a past inability (physical, intellectual, technical)
- I couldn't lift 50 kilos when I was younger. (past physical inability)
- She couldn't solve complicated math problems as a child. (past intellectual inability)
- To indicate past logical or contextual impossibility
- He couldn't have been at the meeting; he was out of town. (past logical impossibility)
- They couldn't have finished the project so quickly. (it is impossible according to the logic of the facts)
- To mark a past prohibition or refusal
- We couldn't enter the building without a badge. (access forbidden without a badge in the past)
- She couldn't go to the party because her parents said no. (past parental prohibition)
- To express a failed attempt or failure
- I couldn't find my keys yesterday. (failure in finding the keys)
- They couldn't fix the computer on time. (failure to repair within the deadline)
- To translate a hypothetical inability
- I couldn't live without my phone. (I would be unable to live without my phone, hypothesis)
- He couldn't do that, even if he tried. (he would be incapable of it, even if he tried)
3. lockquote{Be able to} to Express Ability in All Tenses
Unlike the modals can and could, the expression be able to is conjugated in all verb tenses. This is why it is sometimes called a lockquote{semi-modal} rather than a pure modal.
A. Grammatical Structure of lockquote{Be able to}
Basic Construction: Subject + be (conjugated) + able to + base verb + optional complement
- Simple PresentAffirmative Form I am able to swim across the lake. (I am in a position to swim across the lake.)Negative Form I am not able to understand this concept. (I am not in a position to understand this concept.)Interrogative Form Are you able to help me with this exercise? (Are you in a position to help me with this exercise?)
- Simple Past (Preterite)Affirmative Form We were able to contact the manager yesterday. (We succeeded in contacting the manager yesterday.)Negative Form We were not able to contact the manager yesterday. (We did not succeed in contacting the manager yesterday.)Interrogative Form Were you able to contact the manager yesterday? (Did you succeed in contacting the manager yesterday?)
- Simple FutureAffirmative Form She will be able to travel next month. (She will be in a position to travel next month.)Negative Form She will not be able to travel next month. (She will not be able to travel next month.)Interrogative Form Will she be able to travel next month? (Will she be in a position to travel next month?)
- Present PerfectAffirmative Form He has been able to improve his English a lot this year. (He has managed to significantly improve his English this year.)Negative Form He has not been able to improve his English this year. (He has not managed to improve his English this year.)Interrogative Form Has he been able to improve his English this year? (Has he managed to improve his English this year?)
B. Contexts for Using lockquote{Be able to}
- When lockquote{can} or lockquote{could} are grammatically impossible in certain tenses. One cannot form lockquote{I have can extellipsis} or lockquote{I will can extellipsis}. One must resort to lockquote{be able to}.
- I have been able to save some money. (and not lockquote{I have can save extellipsis})
- To emphasize the success of an action (one-off or specific)
- We were able to solve the problem at the last minute. (we managed it, final success)
- To express future actions with certainty
- I will be able to drive next year. (I will have the ability to drive next year)
4. Other Phrases to Express Ability
Although can, could, and be able to are the most frequent, there are other expressions to communicate ability or achievement:
- Manage to + base verb: emphasizes the fact of succeeding in doing something despite difficulties.
- I managed to fix the bike despite having no tools. (I succeeded in fixing the bike despite the lack of tools.)
- Succeed in + V-ing: similar to lockquote{manage to} but in a slightly more formal register. Highlights success after effort.
- She succeeded in persuading her boss. (She succeeded in convincing her boss.)
- He succeeded in finishing all his tasks before the deadline. (He managed to finish all his tasks before the deadline.)
- Know how to + base verb: emphasizes technical mastery, knowledge of a know-how.
- He knows how to program in Python. (He masters programming in Python.)
- Be capable of + V-ing / noun: a more formal expression of ability, often used in a professional context.
- They are capable of solving complex problems. (They have the ability to solve complex problems.)
5. Comparisons and Nuances Between Ability Expressions
After exploring all the modals and semi-modals (as well as their equivalent phrases), let's analyze their differences and subtleties of use.
A. lockquote{Can} vs. lockquote{Could}
- Can (present): current ability, direct, or permission in a common register.
- I can swim. (I know how to swim / I am currently able to swim.)
- Could (past / hypothetical): ability in the past (habitual) or conditional ability.
- I could swim when I was five. (general ability during childhood)
- I could help you if I had some free time. (hypothetical, conditional ability)
B. lockquote{Can} / lockquote{Could} vs. lockquote{Be able to}
Nuance 1: lockquote{Be able to} is conjugated in all tenses (present, past, future, perfect, etc.), unlike the modals lockquote{can / could} which remain fixed.
- He has been able to find a better job. (present perfect)
Nuance 2: lockquote{Could} generally expresses a general ability in the past, whereas lockquote{Was able to} emphasizes the fact that one succeeded in accomplishing something one-off, at a specific moment.
| Example | Nuance |
|---|---|
| When I was a kid, I could climb trees. | General ability (often repeated during childhood) |
| Yesterday, I was able to climb that tall tree. | Success of a particular feat, yesterday (successful one-time action) |
Summary
Here is a summary table that provides an overview of the different ways to express ability in English:
| Expression | Main Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can | Present ability, informal permission | I can play piano. |
| could | General past ability or conditional/hypothetical | I could run fast as a child. |
| be able to (am/is/are…) | Conjugation in all tenses + punctual success | I was able to contact him yesterday. |
| manage to + base verb | Success despite obstacles | She managed to fix her car without professional help. |
| succeed in + V-ing | Success (formal register) | They succeeded in saving enough money to travel. |
| know how to + base verb | Technical or intellectual skill | He knows how to bake perfect bread. |
| be capable of + V-ing / noun | Formal ability, theoretical potential | This machine is capable of processing large amounts of data. |
To Go Further with Modals
To deepen your mastery of modals, you can consult our various guides on the subject:
- 🔗 Overview of Modals for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Permission for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Obligation for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Prohibition for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Lack of Obligation for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Advice for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Suggestion and Proposal for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Intention or Near Future for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to Expressing Probability and Uncertainty for the TOEIC®
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