can——是情态动词,后接动词原形,是be able to或know how to的意思,即“能够”,“会”。例如:
(1) She can speak English.她会说英语。
(2) If he can't do this, he hasn't reallygrasped the spirit of the foreign language andcan't use it freely.
如果他不能做到这点,他就没有真正地掌握这种外国语言的实质,也就不能运用自如了。
able ——是形容词,表示having the power to dosomething(有能力做某事),与be连用,后接不定式即be able to do something.例如:
(1) He was able to finish the work in time他能按时完成这项任务。
(2) He will be able to do that.他将能做那件事。
be able to与can同义,但can只有现在时和过去时(could),而没有将来时及其它时态,不能与shall, will连用。所以can的将来时要用be able to代替。例如
Will you please give this note to Tom?
请你把这张字条给汤姆好吗?
Sorry. I won' t be able tosee him today.
对不起,今天我不会见到他。
·石零·