中学英语语法知识之表示过去的能力&可能性思维导图

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.

现在时态里，我们用can去谈论一般的能力，例如I can swim。还有形容在一个特定的时间的一种能力，例如I can see

you!但谈论过去的能力是不同的。

General ability 一般的能力

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

我们用could谈论过去一般的能力。

? He could speak fluent French when he was 5.

? I could read before I started school.

Ability on one occasion 某个场合的能力

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

use could

但是，当我们谈论某个特定场合下的能力，我们不能用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.

我们必须用was able to 或者managed to，我们不能用could。

? The burglar could get in through the bathroom window.

Ability on one occasion – negative 某个场合的能力—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

当我们谈论某个特定场合不能做某事的能力时，我们用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 假设的过去的能力

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

有时候，我们要描述在过去可能会发生但是没有发生的事情。

? 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.