Be able to / can

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Be able to / can
Message from shaghi posted on 04-01-2014 at 10:12:41 (D | E | F)
Hello....

can you tell me what the difference between be able to and can is....for example..
I........ride my bike.
1.am able to 2.can
Thanks a bundle..

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Edited by lucile83 on 04-01-2014 11:22

Re: Be able to / can from carr30, posted on 04-01-2014 at 10:45:20 (D | E)
Hi

'Can' and 'to be able' have very similar meanings.
'Cannot' and 'to be unable' are also similar.
However you cannot always swap the words to give the same meaning.

There is a good explanation here Link

Re: Be able to / can from lucile83, posted on 04-01-2014 at 11:27:08 (D | E)
Hello,

I am able to ride my bike...will rather mean that you are big enough, or old/strong enough to ride a bike

I can ride my bike...will rather mean that you know how to do to ride a bike properly and you manage quite well

Re: Be able to / can from lemagemasque, posted on 04-01-2014 at 14:13:45 (D | E)
Hello!

Really good question!
"Be able to" and "can" have the pretty same meaning when you use them with the present simple.
However, "can" is much more common and "be able to" is a little bit more "formal".

To me, as it has been already said:
I can ride a bike: I can usually do it. Tell me to do it whenever you want, I will always be able to ride a bike.
I am able to ride a bike: From now on, I can ride a bike! I couldn't before but now I can.

Put some emphasis on the moment with "be able to".

'Hey look! I'm able to ride a bike!'
'Wow! Fantastic! How can you?'
'Really easy! Let me show you!'

'Don't step forward! Stay where you are! I'm able to kill myself, you know that!'

See you!

Re: Be able to / can from shaghi, posted on 06-01-2014 at 10:10:27 (D | E)
Thanks a lot for your answers....

Re: Be able to / can from lemagemasque, posted on 06-01-2014 at 18:56:38 (D | E)
Don't mention it!

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