Basic English Grammar: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- In this English grammar lesson, I look at how to use "can", "could", and "be able to", when talking about ability. I explain which word you should use, depending on if you're talking about the past, present, or future.
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Hi. I'm an English speaker. "I was able to win the spelling bee" means that you had the chance of winning it, but does not necessarily you did win it. "I won the spelling be" means that you absolutely won it - there's no doubt about it."
For example "I won the spelling be" - you won in it - no question about that.
"I was able to win the spelling bee, but I fell ill and had to leave" - You were good enough to win, but something stopped you.
I hope that helps. :)
Thanks for this example now i have it clearer 😃😃👌👌
Thank you very much for clearing the situation.
Alex you are the best teacher of English language.
No.
Yes
Facts
Merci elik khouya😂❤❤
starting the marathon in 2020, thank you very much for your classes ... as usual see you in the next class
Thank you Alex. I'm Brazilian and I'm not VERY good in English. Yes, I understood your video so ... Thanks, you help me a lot. Now I always watch and I follow you too. Thanks again, you are incredible.
Thank you so much for this video! I have to explain 'can, could and to be able to' to my pupils this week and your explanation is very detailed yet clear. Keep up the good work.
I from algeria❤️🥹
Thank u so much
ولله مالقيت حتى معلم يشرح الدرس هذا في الانترنت غير نتا يعني انا مانفهمش لونڨلي مليح بصح ولله فهمت😂💜
In spite of COVID-19 fighting,I wasn't learnt badly because I often watch your lessons.I am interested you
Thank you so much, I from Brazil and I learning English, so you help me so much! You’re the best English teacher 😁
I am Bangladeshi I want to know something about English. So I try to know always about English language. I have no doubt that you are an excellent teacher.I have a question to you how to improve in English. If you suggest me, I will be very happy. please tell me if you know something about English.
Thank you Alex! You are the best teacher in the world!!!
Wow! I'm an ESL teacher and let me tell you, you're amazing! Thanks for the vid!
You are so welcome!
I can Learn more.. 'cause I study every day uhu.. I love English
tks , you explanation is very clear, I understand all in a few minutes
Thank you Alex... I always understand your videos.You are very good teacher.
I need to know what's the difference between general and specific abilities. Can an ability be general but specific too?
Thank you so much , i just wished if you gave us more examples about BE ABLE TO
some of yall might ask why cant we use “could” when we talk about a specific thing that has happened in the past here’s why:
for instance you say “i could stop at the traffic lights” means you could stop but you didn’t. but when you say “i was able to stop at the traffic lights” it means you could stop and you did stop. i hope i made myself clear.
Thanks from Czech! You haven't got a strong accent so I understand you very well and it's the best way to learn for me :)
your explanation is very clear
in the last example "I was able to win the spelling bee" do you use able to instead of could because could can only be used on something that you have done at least once? like you can only say I could swim only when you did it once sometime in the past
I am understand for your lesson Alex.Thank you very much
thanks very much alex. your lessons are Always helpful......
thank you sir🌟
Your student from Algeria, good luck and happy life🌻
What about "be capable of" ?I think we need to teach it as well , since it expresses ability too. And I wonder why this expression is rarely mentioned in grammar sections of school books? Thanks for helping.
my teacher sent me to see this :(
I hope it helps you!
@@engvidAlex yes i understand the topic so well :)
Me to :/
Send me your location
Thank you teacher Alex.
@CH0UDHRY
Yes, you can use "could" for future, but that's kind of when speaking of uncertainty
"I could go to school tomorrow" (If I'm not sick) or (instead of today).
Can is more like "I know I can do it tomorrow"
Could is more like "I could maybe go tomorrow"
But you're right. :)
This is true, but the difference is very subtle, because you are talking about the possibility of doing something, and not about the ability to do something.
Thank you Father so much 🙏
@mklkmr i think you should've used in that phrase is "can" because you are talking about yourself. however, you could use "could" if you're talking about someone . i hope i'm correct.
The videos are all very helpful in teaching
What about the explanation for could when it's used for possible actions in the present or future? Your explanation makes it sound as if could is only used in the past tense. Thanks
Congratulations. with your tips video I made clear my doubts. thank you very much
Teacher Alex, can you expand this lesson on can, could, be able to --- if there is a next level to it because it seems basic maybe there is something more to it. If not I will continue to watch your video for different topics. Indeed, great lesson!
I was able to understand the lesson, thanks.
@dalis001 Yes, but he was talking about a deceased person. Deceased meaning Dead. 2:48.
"(When she was still alive,) my grandma could swim."
Hi master thanks you for this video i am student from Kuwait ❤
@MrMj1997 he said that you can use could when you're talking in past, and you can use can when you're talking in present or future, so i think that " can you help me " is correct ;)
thx for the video..
it really helps me
Thanks a lot you make my english better
Hmmm, I have a question 🙋🏻♀️
Why we can’t sey. (. My grandma can swim )
Thank you teacher ❤️
Thank you so much sir Alex
I'll take the English exam tomorrow
Wow youre really good this was short and straight to the point...thank you so much i just subscribed so worth it ☺☺
I have a question could and would are past form but we use them also for the future and that is the point I want to understand, like, could you please glass of water. or would you please pass me the salt and pepper?
I watched ur video which was uploaded on TH-cam 12 years ago
Thank you so much!
Wow your teaching very fantastic
Thank you teacher 🙏💖
great video. thanks for sharing alex.
ThanX a Lot teaCher U are thé best .U're help me a lot thank U very MuuUCh
That's great! I'm glad you're enjoying my lessons and that you're improving your language skills.
Alex you are the best teacher
You're very kind. Thanks, Ferdous.
Hi Alex, what about 'could' for future??... I heard more than once and now I got confused
Thank you! now I'm able to understand this theme better 🥳
Sir can you explain "been able to" if it comes in a sentence then what does it mean like i have been able to drive.
I wish I could go with you !!! is it true? :)
Thanks Sir, I am from India please tell me what is difference between "I can swim and I am able to swim??? Both have same expression???
both mean the same thing
Thanks a lot
Your voice is so clear
I able to understand
Wht u spelling in the lesson
And thanks again
Go head make more teacher
This is very good I like
Please, is 'be able to' a modal verb or a phrase?
great thanks for uploading men, i wish you will upload more, i should subscribe for that
I have never seen as teacher good honorable
Thanks.
So very well done
Thank you alex
Thanks for the amazing explanation 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Alex,you helped me a lot for my test
But my teacher told me the CAN cannot used in the future,so it uses BE ABLE TO
Samira Coras your teacher is right
thanks
+Samira Coras , May i talk to you ? i am english learner and seeking someone to who i speak english,
+Samira Coras I think we can say: I can help you tomorrow. (Future meaning) or I will be able to help you tomorrow. (Future form and meaning)
someone plz answer this!!!
"i could swim when i was 5" so does it mean that i dont know how to swim now?
not necessarily, you could say ' I could swim when I was five and i can swim now'
Yeah That's it the meaning but if you emphasize by saying but now i still can swim then it says it all.
Yes, that's what it is trying to imply. Unless you continue the sentence
Probably you are 96 years old now
Can somebody explain the final sentence?
Why I can't use 'Could'? what that have to be 'be able to'?
Thank you so much👍👍👍
thanks you! It 's so useful. Can you say more about modal verb.
thanks
Good help for those whom havent spokan english skill such as like my self.
Thanks I love this channel
That's awesome to hear! Thanks a lot, Jill.
thank you so much Iam from Iraq and Iam an English teacher . Can I ask you som question
Thank you.
thanks so much Alex
How are you sir? I'm Zubair from Bangladesh.
I’m good, thanks! I hope you’re doing well!
@@engvidAlex yes sir doing well, sir I have been learning English for 4 months, sir I can read English but I could not understand English 100% , can understand 50-60%, sir what should I've to do? I'm Zubair mahmud from Bangladesh, I'm living in Dubai as well as a truck driver ♥
Thank You Man You are the Best
Thanks a lot, Mino. I'm happy it was useful for you.
thank you very helpful
but i have question
be able to is for present and future only right?
be able to is for all of the tenses
Good lesson. Thanks.
thank you for lessons I'm study in 10-class but I have 4-students I teaching they use your video..
That's great. Thanks for your support, Yavuz. Good luck with your classes.
Ok . See you
.
Excellent .. thanks a lot
Hello teacher
I have question ..
Can we use able to instead of could ?
Please answer 😍
great lesson,
the modal "managed to" is still difficult for me, please, if you have a time...
i managed to is the same as I was able to
Thank you teacher 🤍
Thank you
Can anyone please tell me the difference between Suraj is able to speak four languages and Suraj can speak four languages.
@MrMj1997 both are correct, but the word could is more polite
the sentence,''could you help me?''is correct, or ''can you help me?''please tell me im confused..;(
Thanks so much .
I think I'm a pokemon I'm evolving. Understood some things without legend. Thanks you, teacher.
You're good teacher
Go on....
Thanks, ahmed. Make sure to check out my other videos! I've got around 200 now. :)
Learn English with Alex [engVid] I know that . I have exam rules on Sunday and the teacher is very difficult when he puts questions and does not put any signal to help us to choose. Can you help me !!
Thank you!
it's very good lesson
Can I use "could able or can able" together in sentences. E.g. I can able to climb the tree.
yes, you can use 'could' like this but not 'can' --> 'could' in this case indicates a conditional type of construction. For example:
I could be able to make it to the party if they make it earlier in the day.
And what about "managed to"? Is it same "was/were able to" ?
Yeah. It means you were able to do something or succeeded in doing something. Usually, it's something that was difficult.
We managed to save enough money to go on vacation.
She didn't manage to finish the test in time.
I hope you'll manage to get to bed at a reasonable hour.
I'm new here just now I see your video sir I like it m going to subscribe ur channel
Its very useful video
"It's a very useful video" or "This is a very useful video." Thank you! :)