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5.7: Modals of Ability and/or Possibility

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    375442
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    CAN and BE ABLE TO
    Modals of Ability and Possibility
    Form Positive Negative Example
    CAN can + base verb
    present only
    informal
    can't / cannot + base verb "I can hike the Santiago Trail." "She can't find the hidden waterfall."
    BE ABLE TO am/is/are + able to + base verb
    all tenses
    formal
    am/is/are + not able to + base verb "He is able to navigate the Crystal Cove trails." "We are not able to access the tide pools today."
    QUESTIONS Can + subject + base verb...?
    Is/Are + subject + able to + base verb...?
    Can't + subject + base verb...?
    Isn't/Aren't + subject + able to + base verb...?
    "Can you see the Catalina Island from here?" "Are you able to carry your backpack up this steep trail?" "Can't we take the shorter route to the overlook?"
    MEANING Ability: Having the skill or physical capability to do something Possibility: Something that might happen or be true in the situation Ability: "I can rock climb." (I know how) Possibility: "The weather can change quickly in the canyons." (It sometimes happens)
    Important Notes
    Tense Limitations:
    CAN only works in present tense. For future, use will be able to.
    "Next week, I will be able to join the night hike."

    5.7: Modals of Ability and/or Possibility is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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