Be Able

Be able to
Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb. It is simply the verb be plus an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive. We look at be able to here because we sometimes use it instead of can and could.
We use be able to:
• to talk about ability

Structure of Be able to

The structure of be able to is:
subject + be + able + infinitive
| |subject|be |able |infinitive |
| | |main verb |adjective | |
|+ |I |am |able |to drive. |
|- |She |is not |able |to drive. |
| | |isn't | | |
|? |Are |you|able |to drive? |


Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:
• I was able to drive...
• I will be able to drive...
• I have been able to drive...
Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:
• I would like to be able to speak Chinese.

Use of Be able to

Be able to is not a modal auxiliary verb. We include it here forconvenience, because it is often used like "can" and "could", which are modal auxiliary verbs.

be able to: ability

We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power, skill or means to do something. If we say "I am able to swim", it is like saying "I can swim". We sometimes use "be able to" instead of "can" or "could" for ability. "Be able to" is possible inall tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive form. So we use "be able to" when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Look at these examples:
To be able to do something means to have the ability to do it. Be able to is sometimes used in place of can or could. Instead of, "Ican't go," you might say, "I am not able to go."
You can use be able to in any tense. Just change the tense of the verb be. For example, you can say, "I was able to see a movie last night," or, "He will be able to visit me tomorrow."

Be able to Grammar Quiz

Principio del formulario
1. Steven [pic]able to meet women easily.
2. I [pic]able to drink a lot without getting hungover.3. The Taylor sisters [pic]come to the party.
4. Hannah [pic]eat a lot without gaining weight.
5. [pic]to swim as well as my older brother now.

Tom [pic](buy) a new house last month.


[pic](they/play) tennis well?


She [pic](not/understand) the question yesterday.


Fred [pic](speak) Russian when he was six years old.


When [pic](you/come) tomorrow?


Unfortunately,they [pic](get) the bread this morning.


I [pic](not / play) golf last Thursday.


[pic](you / speak) Japanese?


[pic](he / come) to the party next weekend.


They [pic](get) tickets to the Rolling Stones concert last week.


How [pic](you / convince) him to come to the exhibition last week?


She [pic](enjoy) the concert because of the noise outside.


MODAL VERBS; CAN / BEABLE TO EXERCISES


Fill in the blanks with can, can’t, could, couldn’t or was / wasn’t able to

1. Kemal ________________ afford this watch. It’s too expensive.
2. She _______________ swim. She learnt how to swim when she was 7.
3. Sinan _____________ find the password after three attempts.
4. I ______________ open the door since my hands were full.
5. Leyla is a practical girl. She_____________ do every housework very quickly.
6. When I was a child, I _______________ skateboard.
7. As soon as I saw the boy in front of my car, I _______________ step the brake.
8. Because it was foggy, Tim _____________ see clearly.
9. Larry Bird ____________ score 30 points in the last match.
10. In the last Olympic games in Beijing Usain Bolt _____________ run 100 meters in 9.69 seconds...