Was able to VS could?

If you say that someone was able to do something, you usually mean that they had the ability to do it and they did it. Could does not have this meaning. After two weeks in bed, he was able to return to work. The farmers were able to pay their employees' wages.
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Could able to VS was able to?

When we are talking about a specific situation or when noting a specific achievement, we must use “was (or) were able to” or “managed to.” Their meanings are very close. We do not use “could.” Listen to some examples: We were able to get a really good price on the car.
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Could vs be able to in the past?

'Can' is a modal auxiliary verb that expresses general ability in the present tense; 'could' works the same way, but in the past tense. 'To be able to' is not a modal auxiliary verb. It is the conjugated verb 'to be' + the adverb 'able' + the infinitive 'to'.
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Was allowed to VS could?

You were allowed to do something means you had permission to do it. Could is a broader term and usually means the ability to do something. You could climb the garden wall because you were young and strong, but you didn't because you weren't allowed to.
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When to use I was able to?

Use it when you want to say that someone or something started (and completed) an action in the past: I was able to fix the faucet and now it's fine. (In this sentence, the faucet was fixed sometime before the time being spoken of).
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Could vs Was able to - English In A Minute



Could be was were able to?

We use could to talk about an ability somebody had in the past. We use was/were able to to talk about a specific event in the past. Examples: It was very windy last weekend so I could sail my boat very fast.
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Would you be able to VS could you?

“Would you” also sounds more polite than “Could you.” “Would you” and “Could you” are equally polite and valid ways to make a request. “Could you” sounds more polite than “Would you.” “Would you” sounds more insistent and is more often used in angry requests, such as “Would you please hurry up!”
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Can vs could use?

Both 'can' and ' could' are modal verbs that refer to 'a possibility', 'ability' or 'capacity'. 'Can' refers to a general truth or something that has a strong possibility. 'Could' refers to something that has a weak possibility, or something that might happen, but not necessarily a general truth.
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What is the past tense of be able to?

The past tense of be able to is was able to or were able to. The third-person singular simple present indicative form of be able to is is able to or are able to.
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Can or could you please?

We also use 'could' to ask permission; it is more polite or formal than 'can'. Changing the word order to "could you please" is no more or less polite - it's a matter of style. whether requests starting with "Please can/could you..." render the same degree of politeness as those that start with "Could you please...".
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Was not able to or could not?

If you were to say “wasn't able to,” that would be synonymous to “couldn't” (the two mean the same thing). Which is correct, "I could not' or 'I couldn't'? I. Both of them are correct.
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How do you replace was able to?

be able to
  1. allow.
  2. manage.
  3. bear.
  4. incur.
  5. spare.
  6. stand.
  7. support.
  8. sustain.
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Can and could sentences examples?

We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain:
  • They could come by car. (= Maybe they will come by car.) ...
  • It can be very cold here in winter. ...
  • That can't be true. ...
  • It's ten o'clock. ...
  • It could be very cold there in winter. ...
  • They know the way here. ...
  • She can speak several languages. ...
  • I can see you.
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Could VS can in a question?

Can, like could and would, is used to ask a polite question, but can is only used to ask permission to do or say something ("Can I borrow your car?" "Can I get you something to drink?"). Could is the past tense of can, but it also has uses apart from that--and that is where the confusion lies.
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What is the difference between could and would?

Could is used to say that an action or event is possible. Would is used to talk about a possible or imagined situation, and is often used when that possible situation is not going to happen.
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Was able present tense?

The third-person singular simple present indicative form of able is ables. The present participle of able is abling. The past participle of able is abled.
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Could is present or past?

Could is used as the past tense of can when it means that someone had the ability to do something, or that something was possible: The Roman army could march 30 miles in a day.
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Can could be able to grammar?

Be able to is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive form. So we use be able to when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive.
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How can I use could in a sentence?

[M] [T] I could swim well even when I was a child. [M] [T] She thought she could get him to like her. [M] [T] She was so angry that she could not speak. [M] [T] Could you please repeat what you just said?
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Can could be used in future tense?

The use of 'could', 'would', or 'will be' all imply future tense. The past tense version would be: "You could not have made me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could have made you so."
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What is the difference between can could and May?

"Can," "may," and "could" are all used to make requests. "May" is formal in these contexts, while "can" and "could" appear mainly in speech: "May I have your attention?" is more formal than "Can I have your attention?" or "Could I have your attention?"
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Will you be able vs Would you be able?

Saying "I will be able to help you," implies that you will help the person you are speaking to, and there is no obstacle in the way of you doing so. Saying "I would be able to help you," implies that you theoretically could help the person out, but there may be something that prevents you from doing so at some point.
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Would you help me or could you help me?

Feel free to just provide example sentences. Would you help me is asking if the person is willing to help you. And could you help me is asking if the person is able to help to.
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Could you please or could you kindly?

Whereas "Please could you..." is straightforward, conventional, polite and ubiquitous. Show activity on this post. I would prefer the word please in more formal communications. Kindly would be better-suited for familiar environments.
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