can or be able to

[mino]

Dear friends

As the English students we all try to grasp English language as deep and extent as we can, especially on GRAMMAR. As a matter of fact, it is not easy to do so. Many students come up with it, I guess.


It is my burning ambition that I am writing this mail to express my weakness on a particular grammar point. I strongly believe that only all of you can help me to clarify my doubts. OK, let straight to the point. My big concern is oî}CAN and BE ABLE TO.

Please take a careful look at the bellow examples then try to figure out

1. I can give him an answer tomorrow.   
2. I was able to give him an answer yesterday.

Could you please depict down what the different between these two sentences?
Thanks in advance for your helps


MINO
Waiting for your responses

[Kimlong]

Dear Mino, my dear freind, how have you guy been? You know how much I miss you!!

Ok, let me take my poor head to say something related to you wonder!!

1. I can give him an answer tomorrow.   
2. I was able to give him an answer yesterday.

+ "I can give him an answer tomorrow", this sentence is talked about the future possibility. If you say this sentence out, it infers that you confidently believe that you have sufficient ability to do such work.

+ " I was able to give him an answer", this sentence to about the past possibility. It's hard to explain the term, yet please look at the following example:

Ex: Yesterday, my boss asked me to do and solve a lot of work. At first, I think I can't complete his requirement due to I have to attent my final exam; however at the end of the day, I was able to give him an answer!

I mean when we use the term be able to it expresses that we mostly cannot do something, but actually do.

I don't know whether it fit yours wonder!!!
Have fun!

Kimlong (your eternity friend)!!

[Kony]

Dear All,

Up on what Kimlong's answer, I would like to ask you an addition, it means that CAN uses with the present or future posibility and BE ABLE TO uses with the posibility in the past. Is it right? Can BE ABLE TO also use in the present and future posibility?

Thanks.

[Santa]

Hi Mino n all ,

We use Can to say s.th is possible or s.b has the ability to do s.th and (be) able to is possible instead of Can, but Can is more usual. However, Can has only two forns, present (Can) and past (Could) and sometimes it is neccessary to use (be) able to instead of Can.Compare:
            1. she can't drive in city.
         But  she has been able to drive at country side.
             (Can has no present perfect)

            2. He can join our party tomorrow.
         But  he might be able to join our party tomorrow.
               (Can has neither infinitive nor future form)
* (be) able to is also used in a particular situation if we are talking about s.th that happened.

Example: Mr. A was an out-standing student in his class.
             He could speak English very well.
            ( He had the general ability to get high score.)
But :      Last week, Mr. A and Miss. B  were taking an extra test.
            Mr. A did the test in a great job but at the end, Miss.B was able to get higher score in listening test.
           (Miss.B was able to get score higher than Mr.A in listening test (Particular situation).)

Just some ideas and hope it helps.
Correct me if there has any mistake.

Santa

[jupiter]

Hi all,

>>> Kimlong, if I were you, I would also explain like that. Well-done!

>>> Santa, your explanation is great. I learn a lot from it.

Anyway, you wrote:

Just some ideas and hope it helps.
Correct me if there has any mistake.

I think has should be changed to is.

Jupiter

[Kimlong]

Can we corret it by putting "Been", Jupi! I mean it should be written " Correct me if there has been any mistake".

Kimlong

[Santa]

Hi all,

>>> Santa, your explanation is great. I learn a lot from it.

Anyway, you wrote:

Just some ideas and hope it helps.
Correct me if there has any mistake.

I think has should be changed to is.

Jupiter

Could you tell me why, Jupi?

Thanks for correcting me, anyway.

[jupiter]

Hi Santa,

The correct one is there is/there are. You can also use it has but not there has

Jupi.

[Greeny]

I agree with Jupiter.
And I don't think we should use perfect from in here (has been).

[Kimlong]

Tell you the truth, while reading one newspaper in the story, I found the headline is written " There has....". I'm sure!!

[Keo Somala]

There has existed a great man of the new century. 

[Santa]

My teacher at high school used to tell me that There has/have may use instead of There is/are, as I remember, yet I'm not sure about this too. Thus, if anyone knows clearly about this, pls let me know to clarify, ok?

Well, thanks in advance, dude

[Greeny]

  Of course, we can say:
There has been or there has existed
because they are the perfect tense of "There is" or "There exists".
But I really don't think we can use "There has a book on the table."

Anyway, in the case of what mentioned above perfect tense is not appropriate.

[Kimlong]

Yes

Of course, we can say:
There has been or there has existed
because they are the perfect tense of "There is" or "There exists".
But I really don't think we can use "There has a book on the table."

Anyway, in the case of what mentioned above perfect tense is not appropriate.

We can say that there has been or there has existed in stead of there is or there are at any circumstances, I think, due to there isn't any proof to prove it.

You are right, Greeny. We are unable to write "There has a book..." without Been.

[___Tola___]

There is also used to emphasise what we are speaking about.
e.g: There I can relax from work.