Level Five
Lesson 53
be able to
Use “be able to” for abilities and assets. A person has what he she needs and can do something. This phrasal modal is similar to the modal verb “can.”
- They are able to come to our party.
- The can come to our party.
- Maurice is able to help us later today.
- Maurice can help us later today.
- Shirley isn’t able to drive yet. (present tense, negative)
- We’re able to pay our rent this month. (past tense)
- We weren’t able to pay our rent last month. (past tense, negative)
53a. (be) able to = can
A person who is able to do something can do it, or that person has the requirements to do something.
singular
I am able to _____
You are able to _____
He is able to _____
She is able to _____
It is able to _____
plural
We are able to _____
You are able to _____
They are able to _____
Notice the way the verb “be” changes according to the subject.
- These days, everyone is able to take great pictures with digital cameras. (The main verb in this sentence is “take.”)
- They’re able to go on long trips in their van. (main verb = go)
- Anyone with a vehicle and valid driver’s license is able to travel just about anywhere. (main verb. = travel)
53b. (be) able to = negative
To make “be able to” negative, add “not” to the verb “be.”
singular
I am not able to _____
You are not able to _____
He is not able to _____
She is not able to _____
It is not able to _____
plural
We are not able to _____
You are not able to _____
They are not able to _____
Of course, you may use contracted forms: isn’t able to / aren’t able to. Sometimes people choose not to use contractions because the word “not” is useful for emphasis.
- She is not able to leave the hospital yet.
- The doctors are not able to release* her yet.
- He’s not able to walk yet.
- Most babies aren’t able to walk until they reach the age of twelve months.
53c. (be) able to = questions
To make a question with “be able to,” put the verb “be” before the subject. The verb changes to am, is, or are.
singular
Am I able to _____?
Are you able to _____?
Is he able to _____?
Is she able to _____?
Is it able to _____?
plural
Are we able to _____?
Are you able to _____?
Are they able to _____?
We often use “be able to” in the present tense when asking about availability, skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Are you able to find fresh mangoes where you live?
- Are the fruit vendors able to sell mangoes to their customers year round?
In the U.S., people are able to find mangoes in grocery stores year round (all year), but they are a seasonal fruit.
- Is a wind turbine able to provide clean, renewable energy in all parts of the world?
53d. (be) able to = past tense
For the past tense, the verb “be” becomes was or were.
singular
I was able to _____
You were able to _____
He was able to _____
She was able to _____
It was able to _____
plural
We were able to _____
You were able to _____
They were able to _____
To make this negative, use wasn’t or weren’t.
Instead of using the past tense form for the verb “can,” many people choose to use “be able to” instead.
- The were able to land safely on the ground because they were wearing parachutes.
They had what they needed.
- He was able to attend a lecture yesterday.
- He wasn’t able to say what he wanted to say to the lecturer.
53c. (be) able to = past tense questions
(Be) + subject + able to + main verb
To make a question with “be able to,” put the past tense form of the verb “be” before the subject. In the past tense, the verb “be” is was or were.
singular
Was I able to _____
Were you able to _____
Was he able to _____
Was she able to _____
Was it able to _____
plural
Were we able to _____
Were you able to _____
Were they able to _____
This is a very good way to talk about past possibility.
- Was he able to go fishing last weekend?
- Were you able to see the Cloud Gate sculpture when you visited Chicago last year?
Cloud Gate is also known as “the bean.”