Д Future tense: Use wilt be able to do
$th (often shortened to 'I'll be able', 'we'll be able', 'he'll be able' etc): When everyone comes back from their vacations, we'll be able to get a lot more work done. I / 'II be able to see my friends and family again very soon. In spoken English you can use can to talk about tomorrow, next week etc: I can come with you on Sunday.
/К Present perfect: Use have been able to do sth to mean that someone has succeeded in doing something: Up to now no-one has been oble to break the record set
by Lewis. Use could have done sth to
Infinitive: Use to be able to do sth: He
wants to be ab(e to speak French.
mean that someone was able to do something hut did not do it: He could have become president, but he wasn't ambitious.
A
to have the ability,
opportunity, time, or
equipment that you need in order to do something
A
Can strong ка;n/ [modal uerb\ "Can you speak Japanese?" "Yes, I can." can do sth They've invented a computer that can talk. I Can you come for lunch
Don't say 'I am able to see him' or 'they were not able to hear me'. Say | can
see him ar|d they couldn't hear me Use can/ not 'be able to', with verbs like 'see', 'hear', or 'feel'.
on Saturday? I Adrian could read when he was four. I If we had a boat we could row across to the island. I The engine's making a funny noise - can you hear it?
A
be able to do sth bi: ,eib<?l U du: (sth)'
use this especially about something that is difficult or that needs a lot of effort: Will you be able to carry those bags on your own? I If you want to join this expedition. you must be able to speak English and swim. I Three weeks after the accident. she was able to walk and even exercise in the gym.
be capable o/stk /hi:'kcipatwl nv (Sth)'
to have the power or ability to do something. especially something very difficult or unusual; The 'sports' version is capable of a top speed of 1 70 mph. be capable of doing sth a hard disk capable of holding 2 gigabytes of data be perfectly capable of doing sth (-be able to do something without anyone helping you) Don't worry, she's perfectly capable of dealing with the situation.
have the ability to do sth /h;ev oi
t? du: (sth)/ to be able to do something, especially something that is unusual or that most people cannot do: She seemed to have the ability to make people do anything she wanted.
it is possible for sb to do sth /и </
Don't use this when you are simply
.pns.Uwl fV (sb) t? du: (sth)||-pci:~/ f-okmai use this especially when you are making an arrangement with someone, to ask or say what someone will be able to do.- Would it be possible for you to come to a meeting on Tuesday? I It might be possible for you to use the school library on Saturdays.
A
saying what you can do. Don't say 'it is possible for me to go'. Say | can go
В to be allowed to do something or have the power to do it
see also a permission, let
can .^"w: -strong к<ел/ [modal verb] If you want to come with us. you can. can do sth. it's my house and I can do what / want here. I Can / borrow your car? I Only the Supreme Court can change these laws.
be able to do sth /bi: ,eih?l to du: (sth)/
99
CANyCAN'T
use this especially when a law or rule
the ability to do something
plurrti
A
ability /э'ЫЦп/ [n C/U] something that you are able to do because you have the physical skill or intelligence to do it ability to do sth Our ability to think and speak makes us different from other animals. ! the ability to understand what motivates other people have the ability Are you confident he has the ability to do this job?
abilities
Don't say 'ability of speaking'. Say ability to speak.
skill /ski!/ |n CI a special ability that you need to learn in order to do a particular job or activity: These exercises develop the student's reading and writing skills. I You need computing skills for most office jobs.
El to make someone abie to do something
enable sb to do sth/allow sb to
do sth /in(eib<?l (sb) t3 'du: (sth), з,1ао (sb) te 'du: (sth)/ formal to make it possible for someone to do something: The money from my grandmother enabled us to buy the house. I This disk allows you to store larger quantities of data, i Having someone to help in the house allowed me to concentrate more on my work.
Д Enable sb to do sth jS more formal than allow sb to do sth.
make it possible /meik it 'ри^Щ
-pa:-/ if a situation, event, or change makes it possible for someone to do
something, they are able to do something that they could not do before make it possible to do sth The direct flight makes it possible to get from London to Tokyo in 12 hours.
make it possible for sb to do sth
Changes in the law will make it possible for more fathers to stay at home and take care of their children.
let sb do Sth /.let (sb) 'du: (sth)/ \v T] if а machine, tool etc lets someone do something, it provides what you need to be able to do it
let sb do sth The 'Moneymaster' program lets you control all your personal finances carefully and efficiently.
to be unable to do something
can't/cannot /ka:nt, 'кжпэЬ -nDt||kaent, k<ena:t [modal verb] to be unable to do something, because you do not have the ability, time, equipment etc.- "Can you drive?" "No. I can't."
can't/cannot do sth Tom can't see any thing without his glasses. I I packed so much into my suitcase that I couldn't lift itf I You can't do these sums without a calculator.
Cannot is mostly used in written English: Human beings cannot survive for long without water. Cannot is always written as one word.
not be able to do sth /not bi: eib<?
to 'du: (sth)/ Unfortunately. / wasn't able