Could Not Vs Was Not Able To

You can use either. I could not find something. I was not able to find something. “Can” means ability.

Bookmark this question. Show activity on this post. I don’t quite understand a difference between “couldn’t” and “wasn’t able to”. Someone suggested that we use “wasn’t able to” when we talk about one action in the past and “couldn’t” when repeated actions in the past.

Note that the second example uses the negative form — “couldn’t.” So, now would be a good time to talk more about negative forms. The good news is that we can use “couldn’t,” “wasn’t (or) weren’t able to,” or “didn’t manage to” to express the same thing – inability on a specific occasion in the past.

If you say that someone was able to do something, you usually mean that they had the ability to do it and they did it. Could does not have this meaning. After two weeks in bed, he was able to return to work. The farmers were able to pay their employees’ wages.

The word ‘could’ is used in the past tense to describe someone’s ability to do something, such as swim. However, ‘could not’ is also used in the present tense. The difference between these two words is often subtle, and you might be able to use one or the other without realizing it. Regardless, if you’re in doubt about which word to use, check out these examples.

First, may has a more formal, official sense, while can is more casual. However, may is also more informal. While they are both correct, use may when you don’t want to convey the impression that you don’t know something or that you’re unsure. This distinction is especially clear in the context of permission, since can is the correct choice if you’re talking about a person’s ability.

What is the difference between couldn’t and wasn’t able to?

Note that wasn’t/weren’t able to is more formal than couldn’t, while didn’t manage to emphasises that the thing was difficult to do.

Would not be able or could not be able?

Will not be able to simply refers to the future, without any presupposition. Would not be able to refers to the past tense of phoned and explained, so it’s a standard indirect speech tactic.

Could couldn’t or was were able to?

We use could to talk about an ability somebody had in the past. We use was/were able to to talk about a specific event in the past. Examples: It was very windy last weekend so I could sail my boat very fast.

Could VS was able to difference?

What is the difference between didn’t and couldn t?

For example, ‘couldn’t do’ means was not able to do or was not advisable to do. ‘didn’t do’ means just that, but gives no reason for not doing.

Could and was able to difference?

Was not able and could not?

You can use either. I could not find something. I was not able to find something.

Would not be able vs could not?

“Could” only implies that the task was existentially possible to complete. “Would” implies that some particular condition enabled or hindered the task from completion. So, the “tl:dr” is, “If you intend to qualify the statement with what restrained or enabled an action, use ‘would'”.

Could not be VS would not be?

wouldn’t (i.e. would not) – implies that someone (or something) in particular usually does not fulfill an activity, but is certainly capable of doing so. couldn’t (i.e. could not) – implies that someone (or something) in particular is unable to fulfill an activity, even if s/he/it strove to do so.

Is could not able correct?

By denotation, meaning exact dictionary definition, “not able” and “could not” or its contraction “couldn’t” are the same.

Could VS would be able?

The words could and would are modal auxiliary verbs, wherein both are the past tense form of the verbs can and will respectively. We make use of the word ‘could’ to express ability or past possibility, whereas ‘would’ can be used to show willingness or when we imagine a situation.

Could or was able?

Was were could couldn t?

We use COULD to mean that we were able to do something in the past. Ex: When she was 1, she could walk. We use COULDN’T to mean that we weren’t able to do something in the past.

Was not able to VS could not?

Someone suggested that we use “wasn’t able to” when we talk about one action in the past and “couldn’t” when repeated actions in the past.

What the difference between could and be able to?

Be able to is possible in all 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.

Could VS was able to VS managed?

You use could for general ability, but if you want to say somebody did something in a specific situation, you use was/were able to, or managed to (not could).

More Answers On Could Not Vs Was Not Able To

modal verbs – “Could not” or “was not able to” – English …

2 Answers Sorted by: 1 In this specific case, “can” and “be able to” are interchangeable. But be careful, because there are subtle differences. For example, your question start with “Can I use…” – this is an example of using “can” with the meaning “is allowed to”. Consequently, “can you do it?”

grammar – Difference between “couldn’t” and “wasn’t able …

4 I don’t quite understand a difference between “couldn’t” and “wasn’t able to”. Someone suggested that we use “wasn’t able to” when we talk about one action in the past and “couldn’t” when repeated actions in the past. Is that the case? For example, I wasn’t able to sleep last night I wasn’t able to fall asleep last night

Which one is more correct ‘I was not able to do it’ or ‘I …

The primary difference is that “couldn’t” is a commonly used contraction, while “didn’t able to” is both grammatically incorrect and a dead giveaway that you are not a practiced English speaker. If you were to say “wasn’t able to,” that would be synonymous to “couldn’t” (the two mean the same thing). Related Answer Christopher Susie , knows English

Could vs Was Able To / Were Able To – GrammarBank

Can-Could / Am-Is-Are…Was-Were Able to are mostly used in a similar way, however there are some rules and differences. 1. To talk about an ability in the present, we use “can” or “be able to” I can / am able to speak 2 languages. He can / is able to swim. My brother isn’t able to drive a car 2.

Never Say “Couldn’t Able to” – It’s Wrong

Never Say “Couldn’t Able to” – It’s Wrong 6 years ago 28.5K Views Common English Errors: When you talk about a situation in the past when you tried harder to achieve something and succeeded in it, then you usually use ‘was able to’ or ‘managed to’. Whenever I read comments on Facebook posts on the newsfeed, I cringe at the silly errors they commit.

Cannot, Could Not Or Not Able To? – englishforums.com

If you mean in the context of your initial sentences, only the last option works; simply because “tried” and “failed” are simple past tense. “Am not” and “cannot” are present tense. However, the other options may be appropriate if your intention is to imply that the condition continues to exist.

Past Ability: Could, Was Able To, Managed To

When we are talking about a specific situation or when noting a specific achievement, we must use “was (or) were able to” or “managed to.” Their meanings are very close. We do not use “could.”…

What is the difference between can, could and be able to …

We were not able to give any answers. We were unable to afford the entrance fee. 2 ability: the present Can, could, and be able to are all used to talk about a person’s ability to do something. You use can or be able to to talk about ability in the present. Be able to is more formal than can. You can all read and write.

Can/could vs. to be able to | English Language Blog

Here we go. Can and to be able to are usually used in the same way without a difference in meaning, but not always… ‘ Can ‘ is a modal auxiliary verb that expresses general ability in the present tense; ‘ could ‘ works the same way, but in the past tense. ‘ To be able to ‘ is not a modal auxiliary verb.

Difference Between Can/Could and Be Able To | Compare the …

• Generally, could is used to talk about the past. • On the other hand, be able to indicates general ability. • However, the use of be able to is not very common like can and could. • On the other hand, be able to is used to talk about future ability. Images Courtesy: To be able to quote by QuotesEverlasting ( CC BY 2.0)

What’s the difference between CAN, COULD, and ABLE TO …

Yes, I’m able to take on this project. The negative forms are can’t and am not / is not / are not able to. In the past: We use “could/couldn’t” or “was/wasn’t able to.” In general, both are used in the negative form: I wasn’t able to finish all my homework yesterday. I couldn’t finish all my homework yesterday.

CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO | Grammar | EnglishClub

Be able to is NOT a modal auxiliary verb. We include it here for convenience, because it is often used like “can” and “could”, which are modal auxiliary verbs. be able to for ability We use be able to to express ability. “Able” is an adjective meaning: having the power, skill or means to do something.

Can, could, be able to – Test English – Prepare for your …

Choose the correct form of can, could, be able to (affirmative or negative). Use a form of be able to only if a form of can or could is not possible. 1 Can you read this for me? I see without my glasses. 2 I’ve never speak Spanish as well as my brother. 3 After 2 years in China, I speak quite fluently now. 4 I hate understand my French neighbours.

Could Not Vs Would Not? – englishforums.com

Here are some paraphrases: Could deals with possibilities and ability. Would is implying a future unavoidable event. (1)so that they could not be kept alive – So that we are not able to keep them alive. (So that it is not possible to prevent their death). (2)so that they would not continue to live – So that they will not continue to live.

Can, Could Or Be Able To – English Grammar

3. She is able to / can speak six languages. 4. Chennai can be very warm in summer. 5. I couldn’t have won so I didn’t go in for the race. 6. I could have won the race if I tried. 7. I can’t / am unable to understand what you want. 8. One day, I will be able to afford a home and a car. 9. I might be able to come. 10. War can / could break …

modal verbs – “I can not do X” vs. “I am able not to do X …

I am able not to do X means I am able to avoid doing X, which is not a thing people often have occasion to say. In your last sentence, however, the construction is not I can not to do (that’s just an accidentall collacation) — it’s everything [which] I can [do] , with not to do that added as the purpose or goal = in order to avoid doing that

Can vs. Be able to – Understand Confusing English Grammar

People can’t fly. People are not able to fly. I can’t dance well. I am not able to dance well. “Can” and “be able to” have the same meaning and can be used in the same way, but we usually them in different situations. 1. “Can” is much easier to say and use. So, almost all English speakers use “can” if possible.

Can, could, be able to – Test English – Prepare for your …

can, could . Ability We use can/could to describe ability, and we use can’t/couldn’t to describe absence of ability.. She could play the piano very well.; Children can’t concentrate for long periods of time.; I can speak Chinese.; Possibility We also use can to talk about possibility. Anyone can win this competition. All the participants are very good. I can’t come to the party next week.

‘can’ and ‘could’ | LearnEnglish

Level: beginner. Possibility and impossibility. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain:. They could come by car. (= Maybe they will come by car.) They could be at home. (= Maybe they are at home.) We use can to make general statements about what is possible:. It can be very cold here in winter.(= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.)

verbs – ‘managed to’ vs. ‘could’ – English Language …

The difference between could _VERB and managed to _VERB is that the former expresses the capability neutrally and the latter expresses the idea that some extra effort was taken to achieve the capability.. I did not like his soup but managed to eat all of it. I did not like his soup but could eat all of it. In the former, the person eating the soup has made a special effort not to leave any …

Difference between can and be able to – English Grammar

Both could and be able to can be used to say that we were not capable of doing something on a specific occasion. In spite of climbing for hours, we couldn’t get to the top of the mountain. OR In spite of climbing for hours, we weren’t able to get to the top of the mountain. Facebook; LinkedIn; Twitter; WhatsApp. 1,127,749 .

Ue4 intellisense vs2019 – animadigomma.it

As you continue to develop, though, Visual Studio is able to cache some of the intellisense stuff so it goes a bit faster. If it were an int that gets a double assigned it’d be narrowing conversion for instance. It includes support for debugging, Git control, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, snippets, and code Option 1 – Turn …

modal verbs – “Could not” or “was not able to” – English …

2 Answers2. Show activity on this post. In this specific case, “can” and “be able to” are interchangeable. But be careful, because there are subtle differences. For example, your question start with “Can I use…” – this is an example of using “can” with the meaning “is allowed to”.

grammar – Difference between “couldn’t” and “wasn’t able …

We use could for general ability. However, when you want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, use was/ were be able to or managed to (not could). For example: There was a boy in the river but people were able to save him. This is not an ability, but a specific event. However, negative ‘couldn’t’ is possible in all situations.

grammar – “was able to” vs “could” – English Language …

It is not possible to use can/could in future/conditional tense or the perfect tenses. But as “to be able to do” is just a paraphrase for “can” you can always replace can/could by a form of to be able, theoretically. But of course, the modal verb is shorter and where can/could is possible you use normally can/could.

Never Say “Couldn’t Able to” – It’s Wrong

(managed to = was able to) Note that you can also use the following sentence: The test was very tough; I couldn’t do more than four out of the ten questions. If you are wondering if you could use ‘I could do only four out of ten questions’, then the answer is you can but it will explain the situation clearly enough.

Which one is more correct ‘I was not able to do it’ or ‘I …

Answer (1 of 6): Both are correct — the choice depends on your context. The context here is over fact vs. possibility. I was not able to do it = I was unable to do it. This is stating a fact that you had no ability to do the thing. You just didn’t have the skills to do it. I couldn’t do it. …

Cannot, Could Not Or Not Able To? – englishforums.com

I am not able to reproduce the bug. I cannot reproduce the bug. I could not reproduce the bug. If you mean in the context of your initial sentences, only the last option works; simply because “tried” and “failed” are simple past tense. “Am not” and “cannot” are present tense. However, the other options may be appropriate if your intention is to …

Could vs Was Able To / Were Able To – GrammarBank

1. To talk about an ability in the present, we use “can” or “be able to”. I can / am able to speak 2 languages. He can / is able to swim. 2. To talk about a general ability in the past, we use “could” or “was / were able to”. I could / was able to run very fast. I could / was able to jump so high. 3.

tense – couldn’t or hasn’t been able to – English Language …

Note that there are more than two possibilities here. You could use “couldn’t”, “wasn’t able to”, or “hasn’t been able to”. The reason “hasn’t been able to” is better than either of the other two is that she still can’t visit them. The present perfect is generally the correct verb tense to use when you have a condition that extends from the past into the present, and “hasn’t been able to” is …

Resource

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https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/4702/i-can-not-do-x-vs-i-am-able-not-to-do-x
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