GIVE ANSWERS - English

100% GOOD (3 votes)ענהשאלת שפה
What is the difference between "can" and "be able to"?

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Hunter52 profile picture Hunter52June 2017

They are basically the same in meaning. Can though is a modal verb (it doesn't take an "s" for he, she and it, it is never in the infinitive form and is always followed by a basic verb form - infinitive without "to"). In the past and in the conditional, there is another modal verb for "can" - it's "could". "Be able to" is a phrasal verb (a verb with more than one word) which you can use like any normal verb. You can just conjugate the "be" part and put it in any tense, unlike the modal verbs like can, could, shall, might... (there are 9 modal verbs). So, was I able to help you? If not, maybe someone else can (or will be able to). :-)