Be able to means “can” or “manage to”. In meaning it's the same as can, but be able to works in every tense: will be able to for the future, have been able to for a period up to now. That's why people use it where can isn't possible.
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be able to + verb; will be able to + verb; was/were able to + verb; have been able to + verb
- After three months of lessons, I was able to order dinner in Italian.
- Will you be able to finish the report before Friday's meeting?
- She hasn't been able to sleep well since she started the new job.
What changed
First versionDon't worry, I will can pick you up from the airport tomorrow.
RevisionDon't worry, I will be able to pick you up from the airport tomorrow.
To talk about the future, it's tempting to say will can: will for the future, can for ability. But English doesn't put two such verbs in a row, and can has no future form. So can is replaced with be able to: will be able to.
Could describes a general ability: I could swim when I was five. But when you mean managing to do something in one difficult situation, a native speaker says was able to: The water was cold, but I was able to swim to the boat.
Your turn
Applicants for this job must ___ speak two languages fluently.
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be able to — After must you need the base form of a verb, and can doesn't have one: must can is a mistake. Be able to fits easily after must, will or might: must be able to speak.
Write about a skill you don't have yet. Say what you want to be able to do and by when.
By next summer, I want to be able to talk to my colleagues from Madrid in Spanish.
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