Be Able To
Be able to ist eine Alternative zu “can/could” und kann in allen Zeiten verwendet werden.
Warum “be able to”?
Modalverben wie “can” haben keine Infinitiv- oder Partizipformen:
- ❌ to can, canning, canned
- ✓ to be able to, being able to, been able to
Deshalb braucht man “be able to” in bestimmten Konstruktionen.
In verschiedenen Zeiten
| Zeit | Beispiel |
|---|---|
| Present | I am able to help you. |
| Past | She was able to finish on time. |
| Future | You will be able to see the results. |
| Present Perfect | I have been able to learn a lot. |
| Infinitiv | I want to be able to speak French. |
| Nach Modalverben | You should be able to do it. |
Beispiele
Gegenwart:
- I am able to work from home. (Ich bin in der Lage, von zu Hause zu arbeiten.)
Vergangenheit:
- He was able to solve the problem. (Er konnte das Problem lösen.)
Zukunft:
- After the course, you will be able to speak English fluently. (Nach dem Kurs wirst du fließend Englisch sprechen können.)
Mit anderen Modalverben:
- You should be able to see the doctor tomorrow. (Du solltest morgen den Arzt sehen können.)
Be able to vs. Can/Could
Bedeutungsgleich
In vielen Fällen sind sie austauschbar:
- I can swim. = I am able to swim.
- She could help. = She was able to help.
Tipp: “Can” klingt natürlicher im Alltag. “Be able to” wird verwendet, wenn “can” grammatisch nicht möglich ist.
Wichtiger Unterschied in der Vergangenheit
Für einmalige erfolgreiche Handlungen verwendet man “was/were able to”, NICHT “could”:
- ✓ The firefighters were able to rescue everyone. (Es ist ihnen gelungen.)
- ✓ I was able to catch the last train. (Ich habe es geschafft.)
Could für allgemeine Fähigkeiten in der Vergangenheit:
- I could swim when I was five. (Allgemeine Fähigkeit)
Wann “be able to” notwendig ist
Nach Modalverben
- You might be able to come.
- She should be able to help.
- They must be able to see us.
Im Infinitiv
- I want to be able to drive.
- It’s important to be able to communicate.
- I’d like to be able to play the guitar.
In Perfect-Zeiten
- I have never been able to understand him.
- She had been able to finish before the deadline.