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Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======To be able to====== =====Introduction===== <html><p><img height="171" id="1493" style="width: 101px; height: 103px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1493_f8d20ca40482d91f67f47aed70d73c14.jpg"> <span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong>Birds<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> are able to </span>fly.</strong></span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'></span><br> </p></html> =====Definition===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To be able to </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>is a structure which is sometimes used as an alternative to the modal auxilary verb <font color="#0000cc">can</font>.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b> </p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"> </p></html> =====Construction===== <html><P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>Affirmative:<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>subject + 'be able to' + <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">bare infinitive</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #00b050"></SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>I <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">am able to</SPAN> swim.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>Negative: <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>subject + 'be' + 'not' + 'able to' + <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">bare infinitive</SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>I <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">am not able to</SPAN> swim.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Interrogative: <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>'be'+ subject </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>+ 'able to' </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>+ <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">bare infinitive</SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Are </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>you <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">able to</SPAN> swim?</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle"><SPAN lang=EN-GB></SPAN> </P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle"> </P></html> =====Uses===== <html><table style="border: currentColor; border-collapse: collapse; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" table=""> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Use</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Examples</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>As </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>an alternative to <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">can </span>for ability or possibility<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> in the present tense</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">m</span> usually <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">able to</span> take 3 weeks holiday in August.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">re able to </span>see the coast of France on a clear day.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">could</span> cannot be used in the past tense. [See note 3. below] </span></b></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> finally <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">able to</span> have a meeting with them last week.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">can</span> is not possible - as an infinitive or gerund, when we talk about the future and with modal auxiliary verbs</span></b></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It's important <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">to be able to </span>swim.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">must be able to</span> speak fluent English before I go to London.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">can't</span> finish the report today but I'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ll be able to </span>do it tomorrow.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><br><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Note that</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -35.45pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>1.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>In the <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">present simple</span> and when there is a choice, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">can </span><span style="color: red;"><font color="#000000">is usually preferred.</font></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -35.45pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -35.45pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We avoid 'to be able to' when something is happening at the moment:</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -35.45pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Look at me - I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">can</span> dance like Shakira!"</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -35.45pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -35.45pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>3.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is a difference between using <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">could</span> and 'was able to' - see <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">could </span>for an explanation.</span></b> </p> <p> </p></html> =====Examples===== <html><p><img height="120" id="1448" style="width: 110px; height: 82px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1448_f04fba43101874935f66c6b48d9022d8.jpg"> <strong><font face="Arial" size="2">After taking lessons, Camille <font color="#0000cc">is able to</font> swim underwater.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="2"> <img height="149" id="37" style="width: 112px; height: 111px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/37_cd9c516e8743ce30511ca145fee45227.jpg"> <span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;'>I had a problem with my car yesterday but, fortunately, I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was able to </span>get a taxi to the airport.</span></span></font></strong></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong><img height="98" id="237" style="width: 118px; height: 80px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/237_905dcaa5b9f8eb631ce1f2783826cc63.jpg"></strong> <span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong>"It's useful in my job <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">to be able to</span> write in English."</strong></span></span></font></p><font face="Arial" size="2"><p><span><strong> "<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">Being able to </span>speak </strong><a name="_GoBack"></a><strong>English is more important in my department."</strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;'><strong><img height="151" id="1360" style="width: 109px; height: 103px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1360_518b6296e734adf3ff4759a8de395ade.jpg"></strong> <strong> <span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Can you come to my office later to discuss this?"</span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;'><span><strong> "I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">might be able to</span>. I'll call you later to confirm."</strong></span></span></p> </font><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;'><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;'><strong><img height="99" id="192" style="width: 110px; height: 70px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/192_7526885c5a8dee20db52e3a962db0e5a.jpg"></strong> <span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;'><strong>Oh, no not again! I hope I'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ll be able to </span>fix it before tomorrow!</strong></span></span></span></font> </p> <p> </p></html> [[en:grammar:home|{{ :file_-_back_3_.png?150 }}]]