Grade 9 Grammar Lesson 20 Can, could and (be) able to

When do we use ‘can’?
What is the past form of ‘can’?
When do we use ‘could’?

• We use can to mean that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something.
• Could is the past form of can and is used especially with see, hear, smell, taste, feel, remember, and understand.
• We use could for general ability. We use be able to when we are talking about what happens at a particular situation.
• We also use could to say that somebody had the permission to do something.
  

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