Difference between CAN and ABLE TO ~ Intermediate Level English #englishlessons

7,193 views ・ 2018-02-13

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Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Hi there. Welcome to Harry's World of Words and Phrases and English in a
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Minute. Today we're looking at the differences between ABLE TO and CAN. When
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we use them in the Present Tense in fact there is no difference. I am able to. I
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can. Means exactly the same. Let me give you an example. I am able to cook. I can
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cook. Exactly the same meaning. Where there is a difference is when we use
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them in the Past Tense. Can does not have a past format so we have to change can
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to COULD. So talking about our example of cooking again - I was able to cook when I
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was 10 - Past Tense. I could cook when I was 10 - the past format of CAN. Okay. So no
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difference when we use them in the Present Tense, there is a difference
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where we use them in the Past Tense. And if you wanted to look at the Future
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Tense again there's no difference. I can meet you later. I will be able to meet
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you later. Exactly the same. But please don't make the mistake and say I can
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will or I will can because I often hear that and it's wrong. Okay. As always
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subscribe to our channel and join us on www.englishlessonviaskype.com I will catch up
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with you soon
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