Tópico 67 de Base · B1
Could e be able to
Could / be able to
Status:
Este tópico usa o que você estudou em:
Could é o passado de can (habilidade), a forma educada de pedir algo e um jeito de dizer que algo é possível. Be able to substitui can nos tempos em que can não existe: futuro com will, present perfect, going to.
Regras
Selecione um trecho para grifar ou adicionar uma nota ao seu caderno.
- Habilidade geral no passado: could/couldn’t + base, igual para todas as pessoas. When I was ten, I could swim.
- Para um sucesso pontual no passado (uma situação específica, muitas vezes com esforço), use was/were able to: The system was slow, but we were able to send the payments. Na negativa, couldn’t e wasn’t able to funcionam igual.
- Pedido educado: Could you...? é mais gentil que Can you...? e é o padrão seguro para pedir algo a colegas e clientes.
- Possibilidade: could = pode ser que. It could be a problem with the VPN.
- Be able to existe nos tempos que você conhece: am/is/are able to (presente, mais formal que can), was/were able to, will be able to, am going to be able to, have been able to.
- Depois de will e no present perfect, use be able to: I will be able to (nunca will can), I have been able to.
| Pessoa | Afirmativa | Negativa | Pergunta |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I could open the file. | I couldn't open the file. | Could I open the file? |
| you | You could open the file. | You couldn't open the file. | Could you open the file? |
| he | He could open the file. | He couldn't open the file. | Could he open the file? |
| she | She could open the file. | She couldn't open the file. | Could she open the file? |
| it | It could be the VPN. | It couldn't be the VPN. | Could it be the VPN? |
| we | We could open the file. | We couldn't open the file. | Could we open the file? |
| they | They could open the file. | They couldn't open the file. | Could they open the file? |
| Tempo | Afirmativa | Negativa | Pergunta |
|---|---|---|---|
| presente | She is able to approve it. | She isn't able to approve it. | Is she able to approve it? |
| passado | We were able to fix it. | We weren't able to fix it. | Were you able to fix it? |
| will | I'll be able to help. | I won't be able to help. | Will you be able to help? |
| going to | He's going to be able to join. | He isn't going to be able to join. | Is he going to be able to join? |
| present perfect | They have been able to access it. | They haven't been able to access it. | Have they been able to access it? |
Exemplos
- I couldn't open the file. Could you send it again?Não consegui abrir o arquivo. Você poderia mandar de novo?
- Five years ago, I could only read English. Now I can speak it at work.Cinco anos atrás, eu só conseguia ler inglês. Hoje consigo falar no trabalho.
- The system was slow, but we were able to send all the payments.O sistema estava lento, mas conseguimos enviar todos os pagamentos.
- I won't be able to join the daily tomorrow.Não vou conseguir participar da daily amanhã.
- We haven't been able to reach the client since Monday.Não conseguimos falar com o cliente desde segunda.
- It could be a problem with the bank details.Pode ser um problema nos dados bancários.
Erros comuns
- Errado:
I will can help you tomorrow.Certo: I'll be able to help you tomorrow.Dois modais não ficam juntos. Depois de will, use be able to. - Errado:
I didn't could open it.Certo: I couldn't open it.Could já é passado. A negativa é couldn’t, sem did. - Errado:
After two hours, I could fix the bug.Certo: After two hours, I was able to fix the bug.Consegui, numa situação específica, é was able to. Could afirmativo é para habilidade geral no passado (When I was young, I could...). - Errado:
Could you to check this?Certo: Could you check this?Depois de could vem a forma base, sem to.
Pratique antes de avançar
- Complete com could, couldn’t ou a forma certa de be able to: I ___ access the VPN yesterday. Tomorrow I ___ (will) join at 9. We ___ (present perfect, negativa) reach the client.
- Transforme em pedido educado com Could you...?: Send me the report. Check this payment. Share your screen.
- Escreva duas frases sobre o que você conseguia fazer quando era criança e duas sobre o que você vai conseguir fazer em inglês no ano que vem.
Prática extra opcional
Se quiser praticar mais, faça os exercícios extras. Eles são opcionais e não impedem a conclusão do tópico.
Ainda não há exercícios extras disponíveis para este tópico.