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You use could or a past form of be able to to talk about ability in the past. If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past, although they don't now have this ability, you say that they used to be able to do it. used to ask someone to do or.

If you say that someone could do something, you mean that they have the ability to do it, but they don't in fact do it. Could is also used to talk about ability in the present, but it has a special meaning. Don't use 'could not' to say that there is a possibility that something is not true.

Could does not have this meaning. Learn more. to be able to do something: 2. Define can. CAN meaning: 1. These words are used to talk about ability, awareness, and possibility. can synonyms, can pronunciation, can translation, English dictionary definition of can.

Both can and could are followed by an infinitive without to. Be able to is sometimes used after modals such as might or shouldand after verbs such as wanthopeor expect. They are also used to say that someone has permission to do something.

Be able to is more formal than can. Learn more. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some commentators feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts.

To form the negative of be able toyou either put not or another negative word in front of ableor you use the expression be unable to. For example, if a woman says 'I can speak Arabic', you usually report this as 'She said she could speak Arabic'.

May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts. Cancouldand be able to are all used to talk about a person's ability to do something. Could is often used in reporting structures.

to be able to, have the power or skill to: I can take a bus to the airport. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. to be able to: 2. Can and could are called modals. You use a future form of be able to to talk about ability in the future.

If you say that someone was able to do something, you usually mean that they had the ability to do it and they did it. If you want to say that someone did not do something because they did not have the ability to do it, you say that they could not have done it.

These uses are dealt with separately in this entry. The negative form of could is could not or couldn't. Be Careful! Cannot is never written ' can not '. If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something but did not in fact do it, you say that they could have done it.

Get a quick, free translation! to be allowed to do something: 3. Definition of can1 modal verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. The negative form of can is cannot or can't. used to say that you. CAN meaning: 1. used to say that you can and will do something: 3.

Can and could are used with verbs such as seehearand smell to say that someone is or was aware of something through one of their senses. You use can or be able to to talk about ability in the present. You use could to say that there is a possibility that something is or will be true.