In the present tense we use ‘can’ to talk about a general ability – e.g. I can swim – and also for ability at a particular moment – e.g. I can see you! The rules for talking about past abilities are different.

現(xiàn)在時(shí)態(tài)里，我們用can去談?wù)撘话愕哪芰�，例如I can swim。還有形容在一個(gè)特定的時(shí)間的一種能力，例如I can see you！但談?wù)撨^(guò)去的能力是不同的。

General ability

一般的能力

We use could to talk about general abilities in the past.

我們用could談?wù)撨^(guò)去一般的能力。

• He could speak fluent French when he was 5.
• I could read before I started school.

Ability on one occasion

某個(gè)場(chǎng)合的能力

However, when we talk about ability on one particular occasion, we can’t use could

但是，當(dāng)我們談?wù)撃硞�(gè)特定場(chǎng)合下的能力，我們不能用could。

• The burglar was able to get in through the bathroom window.
• The burglar managed to get in through the bathroom window.
We have to use was able to or managed to. We can’t use could.
我們必須用was able to 或者managed to，我們不能用could。
• The burglar could get in through the bathroom window.

Ability on one occasion – negative

某個(gè)場(chǎng)合的能力—否定式

When we talk about a particular occasion when something wasn’t possible, we can use wasn’t/weren’t able to, didn’t manage to, or couldn’t

當(dāng)我們談?wù)撃硞�(gè)特定場(chǎng)合不能做某事的能力時(shí)，我們用wasn’t /weren’t able to, didn’t manage to, 或是couldn’t

• The burglar wasn’t able to get in through the window.
• The burglar didn’t manage to get in through the window.
• The burglar couldn’t get in through the window.

Hypothetical past ability

假設(shè)的過(guò)去的能力

Sometimes things were possible in the past but didn’t happen.

有時(shí)候，我們要描述在過(guò)去可能會(huì)發(fā)生但是沒(méi)有發(fā)生的事情。

• I could have gone to university but I decided to get a job.
• I would have been able to win the race but I fell over.

We use could have (+ past participle) or would have been able to to talk about these hypothetical events. They can be used in the positive and the negative.
我們用could have (+ 過(guò)去分詞) or would have been able to 來(lái)談?wù)撨@些假設(shè)會(huì)發(fā)生的事件。他們可以是肯定式，也可以是否定式。

• I couldn’t have done it without your help.
• I wouldn’t have been able to afford it even if it had been for sale.

（英國(guó)使館文化教育處）