2007-03-20 00:20:46 · 12 answers · asked by WILLIAM R 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Home Schooling
future and present tense
basically it comes down to proper use of grammar
'can' means 'I am able to' and should be used for the present tense, although it is also _commonly_ used for the future tense.
'I will be able to' is more ,grammatically, correct
2007-03-20 00:30:45 · answer #1 · answered by Vinni and beer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
will be able to is for the future. Can is the present.
It is possible that I can do something now, that I won't be able to do tomorrow (because it's snowing or whatever). And, it's possible that I cannot do something now that I will be able to do when I'm older.
The baby can crawl. She will be able to walk when she's one.
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It seems like the other answerers thought you asked for the difference between the present tense can and the present tense to be able to.
In that case, "can" can mean more things. In addition to ability, there is permission implied with "can". However, they are interchangable in common use.
And then, there is the "can you do this for me please?" If you say "I am able to", you may be pointing out the ability use of can, and excluding the permission use (or in this case, perhaps whether you will fulfill the request). A teacher might reply "I am able to" because he wants the student to use "may" or "please" or another polite form.
2007-03-20 18:16:22 · answer #2 · answered by dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we sometimes use -be able -to instead of can and could to talk about ability.If we talk about a single achievemnet , rather than a general ability in the past we usually be able to rather tahn could.
Compare.
she could paly piano quite well
she swam strongly and was able to cross the river easily
2007-03-23 17:51:22 · answer #3 · answered by simplegrammar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anybody can do a certain thing at a certain time or date, but will be able to suggests a future date, and not whether it can be done!
2007-03-23 19:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing you mean in the context of something like:
He can go to the party.
He will be able to go to the party.
"Can" is not definite. It means it's allowable, possible. "Will be able to" implies that there was question as to whether the person could or not and it's being confirmed that, well, they can.
2007-03-20 08:14:20 · answer #5 · answered by glurpy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Can is in the present and will be able to is in the future
2007-03-20 07:24:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
can is definite
will be able to is the future
I can do the test
I will be able to do the dishes later
2007-03-21 10:20:39 · answer #7 · answered by ~*tigger*~ ** 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Can' is a word which can be used to trick you because saying i can do something doesnt necessarily mean i will. Whereas obviously if i said i will do something you can be sure it'll get done.
2007-03-20 07:31:16 · answer #8 · answered by Il Padrino 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
different spellings
2007-03-20 18:35:32 · answer #9 · answered by Just for Laughs 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
determination or hesitation.
you either can AND wil do something or you can and wil do something once you thought about it first.. etc
2007-03-20 07:30:55 · answer #10 · answered by Crazy_German 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋