Welcome back to our English grammar lesson! Today, we’re diving into a very useful area of English: expressing ability. Specifically, we’ll be looking at three common ways to talk about what you are capable of doing: “be able to,” “can,” and “manage to.” This is a B1 level topic, so we’ll keep things clear and practical, focusing on how you can use these phrases confidently in your everyday conversations and improve your spoken English.

What are “Be able to,” “Can,” and “Manage to”?

These phrases are all used to talk about someone’s ability to do something. They are all related to modal verbs of ability and are essential for expressing what you are capable of, whether it’s in the present, past, or future. Let’s break down each one:

“Can”: The Most Common Way to Express Ability

“Can” is probably the most common and straightforward way to express ability in English. It’s a modal verb, and it’s used for:

• Present ability: What you are generally capable of doing now.
  • Example: I can speak English. (This means I have the skill of speaking English now.)
  • Example: She can play the piano beautifully. (She has the skill to play the piano well.)
• Possibility: What is possible for you to do.
  • Example: You can learn anything if you practice. (It’s possible to learn anything with practice.)
  • Example: We can go to the beach this weekend if the weather is good. (It’s possible for us to go to the beach.)

Remember that “can” is followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive without “to”).

“Be able to”: A More Versatile Option

“Be able to” is another way to express ability, and it’s actually more versatile than “can” because it can be used in more tenses. Think of it as a way to express ability in tenses where “can” doesn’t work (like the future or perfect tenses). Let’s see how we use it:

• Present ability (similar to “can”):
  • Example: I am able to speak English. (Same meaning as “I can speak English.”)
  • Example: He is able to swim very fast. (Same meaning as “He can swim very fast.”)
• Past ability: To talk about ability in the past. We use “was/were able to.”
  • Example: I was able to finish the project on time. (This means I had the ability and succeeded in finishing it in the past.)
  • Example: They were able to find a solution to the problem. (They had the ability and succeeded in finding a solution.)
• Future ability: To talk about ability in the future. We use “will be able to.”
  • Example: I will be able to drive after I pass my test. (This means I will have the ability to drive in the future, after passing the test.)
  • Example: She will be able to help you tomorrow. (She will have the ability to help you tomorrow.)
• Perfect tenses: To talk about ability up to now. We use “have/has/had been able to.”
  • Example: I have been able to improve my English a lot this year. (This means my ability to speak English has improved over this year.)
  • Example: She has been able to travel to many countries. (She has had the ability to travel and has done so.)

Notice that “be able to” uses different forms of “be” (am, is, are, was, were, will be, have been, has been, had been) depending on the tense. It’s always followed by “to” + the base form of the verb.

“Manage to”: Ability with an Element of Difficulty or Success

“Manage to” is used to express ability, but it often implies that something was difficult or challenging, and you succeeded in doing it despite the difficulty. It suggests effort and overcoming obstacles. It’s often used in the past tense to talk about a specific achievement.

• Past ability with effort: Often used in the past tense to describe successfully doing something difficult.
  • Example: I managed to finish the race, even though I was very tired. (This means it was hard, but I succeeded.)
  • Example: They managed to get to the airport on time despite the traffic. (The traffic was bad, but they succeeded in getting there on time.)
• Present and Future (less common, but possible): While less frequent, “manage to” can be used in the present or future, still implying some level of difficulty.
  • Example: If I practice hard, I hope I can manage to play this song on the guitar. (Future, suggesting it will be challenging.)
  • Example: I usually manage to wake up early, even on weekends. (Present, suggesting it’s not always easy, but I usually succeed.)

“Manage to” is followed by “to” + the base form of the verb. It’s a great way to show you overcame a challenge!

How to Use “Be able to,” “Can,” and “Manage to” in English Conversations

Now let’s focus on practical usage and how you can use these phrases in your spoken English. Understanding the nuances will help you communicate more effectively and sound more natural.

Choosing Between “Can” and “Be able to” in the Present

In many cases, “can” and “be able to” are interchangeable in the present tense to express general ability. However, “can” is generally more informal and more commonly used in everyday speech. “Be able to” can sound slightly more formal, but it’s also perfectly acceptable. For spoken English, you’ll hear “can” much more often.

• Informal: “I can help you with that.”
• Slightly more formal: “I am able to assist you with that.”

For negative sentences and questions in the present, “can” is almost always preferred in spoken English:

• Negative: “I can’t understand you.” (Much more common than “I am not able to understand you.”)
• Question: “Can you hear me?” (Much more common than “Are you able to hear me?”)

Using “Be able to” for Tenses “Can” Doesn’t Cover

This is where “be able to” really shines! When you need to talk about ability in the past, future, or perfect tenses, you’ll need to use “be able to” because “can” only exists in the present and past simple (could – which has other meanings too!).

• Past: “Yesterday, I was able to finish all my work.” (Correct. “Could” is also possible but can have slightly different nuances.)
• Future: “Next year, I will be able to speak English fluently.” (Correct. “Can” doesn’t have a future form.)
• Perfect: “I have been able to make a lot of progress in English.” (Correct. “Can” doesn’t have a perfect form.)

Highlighting Achievement with “Manage to”

Use “manage to” when you want to emphasize that you achieved something despite difficulty. It adds a layer of meaning that “can” and “be able to” don’t always convey.

• Example: “I managed to get a ticket for the concert!” (This implies tickets were hard to get, and you were lucky or persistent.)
• Compare to: “I was able to get a ticket for the concert.” (This is factual but doesn’t emphasize the difficulty.)

In conversations, using “manage to” can make your stories more interesting and show your resilience!

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Expressing Ability in English

Let’s look at some common errors learners make when using “be able to,” “can,” and “manage to,” so you can avoid them and improve your English grammar.

• Using “can to”: This is incorrect! “Can” is a modal verb and is always followed directly by the base form of the verb. Incorrect: “I can to swim.” Correct: “I can swim.”
• Incorrect “be” forms with “be able to”: Remember to use the correct form of “be” (am, is, are, was, were, will be, etc.) depending on the tense and subject. Incorrect: “I be able to help you.” Correct: “I am able to help you.” Incorrect: “Yesterday, I can able to finish.” Correct: “Yesterday, I was able to finish.”
• Overusing “be able to” when “can” is more natural: While grammatically correct, constantly using “be able to” in simple present ability statements can sound overly formal. In casual conversation, “can” is often smoother. Think about your audience and the tone you want to set.
• Misunderstanding the nuance of “manage to”: Don’t use “manage to” if there was no difficulty involved. It’s specifically for situations where you overcame a challenge. Saying “I managed to drink a glass of water” sounds strange unless there was some unusual circumstance making it difficult to drink water!

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “can,” “be able to,” or “manage to.” Choose the most appropriate option based on the context.

1. I ______ speak Spanish and French. (present ability, general)
2. Yesterday, I ______ finish all my homework before dinner. (past ability, specific achievement)
3. Will you ______ come to the party next Saturday? (future ability/possibility)
4. She ______ run very fast when she was younger, but now she can’t. (past general ability)
5. Despite the heavy rain, they ______ arrive on time. (past ability, overcoming difficulty)
6. I ______ believe how delicious this cake is! (present ability, expressing surprise – idiom)
7. Have you ever ______ ski? (past experience/ability up to now)
8. If you practice every day, you ______ improve your English quickly. (future possibility)
9. He was very weak, but he still ______ lift the heavy box. (past ability, surprising effort)
10. I’m sorry, I ______ help you right now, I’m too busy. (present inability)

Answers to Practice Exercises

1. I can speak Spanish and French.
2. Yesterday, I managed to finish all my homework before dinner.
3. Will you be able to come to the party next Saturday?
4. She could run very fast when she was younger, but now she can’t. (Note: ‘could’ is past form of can for general past ability)
5. Despite the heavy rain, they managed to arrive on time.
6. I can’t believe how delicious this cake is!
7. Have you ever been able to ski?
8. If you practice every day, you will be able to improve your English quickly.
9. He was very weak, but he still managed to lift the heavy box.
10. I’m sorry, I can’t help you right now, I’m too busy.

Practice Speaking with Lingofrnd and Boost Your Confidence!

Understanding grammar is important, but the real key to fluency is practice! To truly master using “be able to,” “can,” and “manage to,” you need to use them in spoken English. That’s where Lingofrnd.com comes in. Lingofrnd is your AI spoken English teacher, ready to help you practice expressing your abilities in natural conversations. It’s the perfect tool to solidify your understanding of these grammar points and improve your spoken English fluency.

Don’t just read about grammar – practice it! With Lingofrnd, you can have realistic conversations and get instant feedback, all while focusing on using phrases like “be able to,” “can,” and “manage to” in context. Start speaking English with confidence today!

Ready to take your spoken English to the next level? Visit our website or download our app now:

Lingofrnd.com

Download App

Keep practicing, and you will be able to achieve your English language goals!