Ability (Can, Could, Be Able)

Can, could dan be able to ternyata memiliki penggunaan yang berbeda-beda. masing-masing
memiliki porsinya sendiri dalam pembentukan suatu kalimat pada bahasa inggris. Berikut
penjelasan masing-masing.

1.CAN

Can memiliki arti dapat, disini can digunakan pada kalimat present tense atau waktu sekarang dan
bukan waktu lampau ataupun masa yang akan datang.

Contoh :

1. I can go to market and buy vegetable (aku dapat pergi ke pasar dan membeli sesuatu)
2. You can follow me if you trust me (kamu dapat mengikuti ku jika kamu percaya padaku)
3. can you call me after dinner? (dapatkah kamu menelepon ku setelah makan malam?)
4. They can love you but they choose to hate you (mereka dapat menyayangi mu tetapi
mereka memilih untuk membenci mu)
5. she can introduce her boyfriend if father allows her (dia dapat memperkenalkan pacarnya
jika ayahnya telah menginzinkan nya)

2.BE ABLE

Be able juga memiliki arti dapat atau mampu. Namun, be able to dapat disandingkan dengan
dengan modal lainya seperti (will, would, shall, should) dan lainya.

Contoh :

1. I will be able to teach the children if they want (aku dapat mengajari anak-anak jika
mereka mau)
2. They will be able to call you after dinner (mereka akan dapat menelepon mu setelah
makan malam)
3. She will be able to forget you soon (dia akan dapat melupakan mu secepatnya)
4. Don’t worry, we will be able to meet again (jangan khawatir, kita akan dapat bertemu lagi)
5. I will be able to help you today (aku akan dapat membantu mu hari ini)

3.COULD

Could juga memiliki arti yang sama dengan can dan be able to yaitu dapat atau mampu. Namun,
could lebih digunakan pada masa lampau.

Contoh :

1. She could eat while I took a bath (dia bisa makan ketika aku sedng mandi)
2. They could invite you to the group (mereka dapat mengundang mu kedalam grup )
3. I could remember you if you showed me your photo (aku dapat mengingatmu jika kamu
menunjukan foto mu)
Asking Ability
 Can you…?
 Can you go to...?
 Are you good at…?
 Is he able to…?
 Are you able to…?
 Are you capable of…?
 Do you know how to…?
 Do you think you can…?
 Do you know anything about…?
 Do you have the experience or ability to…?

Responding Ability
 I can…
 I am able to…
 I know how to…
 I feel capable of…
 I might be able to…
 (Yes), no problem…
 I would I am able to…
 I know something about…
 I have the experience of…
 I am pretty good at the job…
 I would say I am capable of…
 (I think) I have the qualification or experience or ability to…

Responding Disability
 I cannot…
 I am hopeless…
 I am not good at…
 I have no idea how…
 I have no experience of…
 No, I don’t know how to…
 I don’t know anything about…
 I am not sure I can/ know how to…
 (I am afraid) I cannot cope (with)…
 I would not know where to begin or start…
 I don’t think I have qualification or experience or ability to…
1. Maria … type 80 words per minute. 10. Anyone … make a mistake.
A. Can C. could A. is able to
B. May D. has to B. can
C. might
2. Ella ... speak French and German.
D. could
A. May C. could
11. Nadine : Besides English, what language can
B. Can D. has to
you speak?
3. Tom’s teacher says that he … play the violin Indy : ____________________
The suitable expression to complete the
pretty well in half a year.
dialogue is …
A. can
A. I can speak Javanese fluently
B. will be able to
B. I could speak Javanese fluently
C. could
C. I want to speak Javanese fluently
D. will have to
D. I will speak Javanese fluently
4. I … meet him at the airport tomorrow. E.  I would speak Javanese fluently
A. can 12. Ery : __________________
B. should Kevin : Yes, I could play the piano since I was
C. would four.
D. could The suitable expression to complete the
5. I’m sure that Nina … explain everything dialogue is …
A. Can you teach me playing piano?
when she returns. B. Can you buy the piano?
A. can C.  Can you play the piano?
B. will be able to D. You are great pianist
C. could E. I love your music
D. will have to
6. My dog … very high when he was younger. Complete the dialogue below (for
A. could jump questions number 3 and 4)
B. might be able to jump Andy : Can you explain me about the
C. could have jumped process of extraction in the laboratory?
D. might have been able to jump Dony : Yes, no problem.
Andy : Do you have experience to lead the
7. One of the boys … get out of the cave. He physics seminar?
ran to the village for help. Dony : No, I have no experience to lead
A. could physics seminar.
B. might 13. Based on the dialogue above, what kind of
C. was able to expression Andy used?
D. has to A. Expression of ability
B. Expression of like
8. Several criminals … escape into the woods. C. Expression of annoyance
A. could D. Expression of surprise
B. might E. Expression of happiness
C. managed to 14. The underlined word has similar meaning
D. had to with ....
9. I wanted to talk to Jim yesterday, but I … A. Ascent
find him. B. Rear
A. didn't C. Spend
B. wouldn't D. Assist
C. couldn't E. Preside
D. might not
15. Dewi : Can you help me to lift this heavy A. Surprise
table? B. Incapability
Dena : I am sorry, I am not able to lift it in C. Capability
that way. It is too heavy for me. D. Like
The underlined sentence shows . . . . E. Advice