# Can / could / be able to

Одно дело «уметь», другое — «суметь». Одно дело «мочь», другое — «быть в стостоянии».

## Содержание

## Многозначность can, синонимичность be able to

Пример | Значение
--- | ---
Can you help me with my homework? Are you able to help me with my homework? | Не будет ли учитель против, если ты мне поможешь с заданием? (разрешение)
Can you help me with my homework? Are you able to help me with my homework? | Если ты не очень занят сейчас, поможешь с заданием? (возможность)
Can you help me with my homework? Are you able to help me with my homework? | Понимешь ли ты что-нибудь в этой теме? (способность)

## Can = be able to

Правильно | Правильно
--- | ---
| He can’t help you | He is not able to help you | He can help you tomorrow | He will be able to help you tomorrow | He could help you | He was able to help you

## Can = might be able to

Правильно | Правильно
--- | ---
| Tom can come tomorrow. | Tom might be able to come tomorrow.

## Can not (раздельно) = might not be able to

Правильно | Правильно
--- | ---
| She can not come | She might not be able to come

## Фактическая возможность

Допускается | Предпочтительно
--- | ---
Yet you can look at the future of it in this very objective way. | Yet you are able to look at the future of it in this very objective way.

## Смочь / суметь

Пример | Значение
--- | ---
I ran fast so I could catch the bus. | смог сесть на автобус, и неважно, получилось или нет, важен мотив быстрого бега
I ran fast, so I could have caught the bus. (I ran fast so I could catch the bus but I didn’t run fast enough.) | мог, но не сумел сесть на автобус
I ran fast, so (and therefore) I was able to catch the bus. | сумел в итоге сесть на автобус

## was / were able to = managed to = реализовано

Пример | Значение
--- | ---
We were able to finish work earlier last Tuesday. (We managed to finish work earlier last Tuesday.) | смогли, и получилось
I wasn’t able to lock the door yesterday. (I didn’t manage to lock the door yesterday.) | так и не смог

## could = реализовано

Пример | Значение
--- | ---
Finally we could finish work. | Наконец, мы смогли закончить работу

## could = не реализовано

Пример | Значение
--- | ---
We could finish work earlier last Tuesday. | могли, но не вышло
I couldn’t lock the door yesterday. | не мог, и не получилось

## could + see / hear / smell / taste / feel / remember / understand

Правильно | Неправильно
--- | ---
| When we went into the house, we could smell burning | When we went into the house, we were able to smell burning

## Модальный глагол + able to

Для выражения двойной модальности, саn заменяют на be able to, поскольку два модальных глагола не употребляются вместе

Правильно | Неправильно
--- | ---
| I might be able to help you with the essay. | I might can help you with the essay.

## can не имеет present perfect

Правильно | Неправильно
--- | ---
| I haven’t been able to sleep recently. | I couldn’t sleep recently.

## can не имеет форм будущего времени

Правильно | Неправильно
--- | ---
| He will be able to walk in two months | He can walk in two months

## Абстрактные субъекты + can

Правильно | Неправильно
--- | ---
| This can be done. | This is able to be done. | This fact can disprove their hypothesis. | This fact is able to disprove their hypothesis.

## Нюансы

Для отрицания универсален could.

Правильно | Правильно
--- | ---
| We tried hard but we couldn’t persuade them to come with us. | We tried hard but we were not able to persuade them to come with us. | Alf played well but he couldn’t beat Jack. | Alf played well but he wasn’t able to beat Jack.

В ленивой речи могут употребить can (be) able to / can’t (be) able to.

Правильно | Неправильно
--- | ---
| What if you won’t be able to serve someone in small claims court? | What if you can’t (be) able to serve someone in small claims court?

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