can, could, be able to
can’in yalnızca iki biçimi vardır (can, could). Diğer zamanlar için be able to (-Abilmek) kullanılır.
| zaman | örnek |
|---|---|
| present | I can / am able to drive. |
| geçmiş (genel yetenek) | I could swim when I was five. |
| geçmiş (belirli bir başarı) | I was able to fix it. / I managed to fix it. |
| gelecek | I’ll be able to help you tomorrow. |
| present perfect | I haven’t been able to sleep. |
could mu was able to mu?
Geçmişteki genel yetenek için could (yapabilirdim, bilirdim). Belirli bir başarı için was able to / managed to (yapabildim, başardım): The exam was hard, but I was able to pass it. Olumsuzda ikisi de olur: I couldn’t / wasn’t able to open it.
Örnekler
- Will you be able to come on Friday?Cuma günü gelebilecek misin?
- I managed to find a flat.Bir ev bulmayı başardım.
- She could read when she was four.Dört yaşında okuyabiliyordu.
- I haven’t been able to reach him.Ona ulaşamadım.
- She wasn’t able to open the door.Kapıyı açamadı.
Sık yapılan hatalar
- ✗ We haven’t been able find a flat.✓ We haven’t been able to find a flat.Be able’dan sonra to gerekir: been able to find. Türkçedeki -ebil eki tek parçadır, İngilizcede to unutulmamalıdır.
- ✗ The exam was hard, but I could pass it.✓ The exam was hard, but I was able to pass it.Belirli bir başarı için was able to ya da managed to kullanılır. Could geçmişteki genel bir yeteneği anlatır.
- ✗ He can swim when he was five.✓ He could swim when he was five.Geçmişteki bir yetenek could ile söylenir: he could swim. Can şimdiki zamana aittir.
- ✗ I didn’t able to open the door.✓ I wasn’t able to open the door.Able bir sıfattır ve be ile kullanılır: I wasn’t able to. Did burada yer almaz.
- ✗ I managed find a parking space.✓ I managed to find a parking space.Manage’dan sonra to + fiil gelir: managed to find. Türkçedeki “bulmayı başardım” bunu göstermez.