can, could, be able to
can tem só duas formas (can, could). Para os outros tempos, use be able to: o futuro “vou poder” é I’ll be able to.
| tempo | exemplo |
|---|---|
| presente | I can / am able to drive. |
| passado (capacidade geral) | I could swim when I was five. |
| passado (um êxito) | I was able to fix it. / I managed to fix it. |
| futuro | I’ll be able to help you tomorrow. |
| present perfect | I haven’t been able to sleep. |
could ou was able to?
Para uma capacidade geral no passado, use could. Para um êxito específico, use was able to / managed to: The exam was hard, but I was able to pass it (e não *could pass*). Nas negativas, os dois funcionam: I couldn’t / wasn’t able to open it.
Exemplos
- Will you be able to come on Friday?Você vai poder vir na sexta?
- I managed to find a flat.Consegui achar um apartamento.
- She could read when she was four.Ela sabia ler aos quatro anos.
- I haven’t been able to reach him.Não consegui falar com ele.
- She wasn’t able to open the door.Ela não conseguiu abrir a porta.
Erros comuns
- ✗ Tomorrow I will can help you.✓ Tomorrow I will be able to help you.can não tem futuro; o “vou poder” do português se diz will be able to.
- ✗ The traffic was terrible, but we could arrive on time.✓ The traffic was terrible, but we managed to arrive on time.Para um êxito específico no passado, usa-se managed to ou was able to, e não could.
- ✗ I haven’t could sleep this week.✓ I haven’t been able to sleep this week.O português diz “não consegui dormir esta semana”, mas can não tem particípio: no present perfect usa-se been able to.
- ✗ She is able speak four languages.✓ She is able to speak four languages.be able é sempre seguido de to: is able to speak.
- ✗ I’d like to can play the guitar.✓ I’d like to be able to play the guitar.O português diz “queria poder tocar”, mas depois de to o inglês não aceita can: to be able to.