Learning English Grammar 'Can', 'could', 'be able to', 'manage to'
Jun 10, 2025
Dive into the world of modal verbs! Discover how to express ability with 'can', 'could', 'be able to', and 'manage to'. Enjoy practical examples and useful tips that clarify their contexts. Test your understanding with engaging quizzes designed to reinforce what you've learned. Whether discussing present skills or past experiences, this exploration makes mastering these verbs fun and informative!
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Humans' Ability to Live Without Water
- Mike explains that humans can live without water for three to five days, showing ability.
- This example uses 'can' with 'live' to express present ability.
Humans' Ability Without Food
- Mike describes how humans are able to live without food for up to three weeks, highlighting surprising ability.
- This illustrates using 'be able to' for ability with an unexpected context.
Past Ability in Writing
- People in Asia could write before people in Europe, showing past general ability with 'could'.
- Alternatively, 'were able to' can be used for the past tense of ability.