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7.3. Expressing Ability: Present and Future

Can Be Able To
| can speak Chinese, but | can’t soeak Ana and Ella are able to swim, but they aren't
Japanese. able to dive.

1. Can and be able to both express ability. We can speak English fairly well now.
Can't and be not able to express a lack of We are able to speak English fairly well now.
ability. She can't speak English very well.
She isn't able to speak English well.

2. Can is used more frequently than Sam, | can come over now.
be able to. Be able to is used in more formal | Mr. Lugo, I'm able to come to your office now.
situations than can.

3. Be able to has different verb forms. We are able to buy tickets online.
He hasn't been able to go on vacation all
summer.

4. Use will be able fo (or be going fo), not can, | | willbe able to read French after my course. | am

for a future ability that will be learned or new. | going to be able to write, too.
Use will be able to or can when the future I'll be able to finish the paper tonight.
ability is possible or true now. | can finish the paper tonight.
Remember: Do not use can with will. X | can will speck English well a year from now.

4 Circle the correct words to complete the travelers’ comments. Sometimes both answers
are correct,

Flora and Federico

If you visit Nanuku Island in the South Pacific, you won't regret it. We
(1) can Gave been able ip do a lot of wonderful things since we got here. With coconut

trees all around, you (2)€an)/ Gre able teat coconuts all day long. The food is delicious,
too. We have been lucky on this trip because we (3) can / have been able to go fishing

almost every day so far. It’s too bad that we have to leave tomorrow. We (4) can’t / won't be
able to forget this paradise in the South Pacific.

Lucia

Here we are on beautiful Nanuku Island. We wake up every morning to the sound of
the ocean. The accommodations aren’t great, though. We (5) can’t / haven’t been able to

take a shower since yesterday because of a problem with the hot water. The air-conditioning
isn’t perfect either. Hopefully, they (6) are going to be able to / can fix both problems soon.

On the bright side, we (7) can / have been able to kayak around the island three times
since we got here. Yesterday, I learned how to surf and stood up on the surfboard for over

five seconds. Maybe next time I (8) can / will be able to stand up longer.

186 MODALS: PART 1
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