Talking about Ability in English

Hello, English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we are looking at different ways of talking about ability in English.

When we talk about ability, we describe what someone knows how to do, what they are capable of doing or how successfully they can perform a particular activity. Although can, could and be able to are the most common forms, English offers many other useful expressions.

Learning a variety of ways to talk about ability will help you sound more natural in everyday conversations, professional situations and Cambridge exams such as B2 First and C1 Advanced.

Using Can to Talk about Present Ability

We normally use can + base form of the verb to describe an ability someone has now or a general skill.

Structure:

subject + can + base verb

I can cook pasta really well.
Our new software can process thousands of orders every hour.

To talk about a lack of ability, we use cannot or can’t.

I can’t swim very well.
Ben cannot use the new accounting system.

Remember that we do not use to after can.

She can drive. ✅
~~She can to drive.~~ ❌

Using Could to Talk about Past Ability

We often use could + base verb to describe a general ability someone had in the past.

Mary could read by the time she was five.
Before the accident, he could walk long distances without getting tired.

The negative form is couldn’t.

I couldn’t speak English when I was a child.
She couldn’t use a computer before she started the course.

Could or Was Able to?

There is an important difference between could and was/were able to.

We normally use could for a general ability in the past.

When he was younger, he could run ten kilometres without stopping.
She could play the piano beautifully as a child.

However, when we talk about one particular situation in which someone successfully did something, we usually use was/were able to or managed to.

Although the door was locked, the firefighters were able to enter the building.
We managed to repair the machine before the meeting started.

Compare:

When I worked in France, I could speak French quite well.
(general past ability)
Although the receptionist did not speak English, I was able to explain the problem in French.
(a successful action in one particular situation)

In negative sentences, couldn’t can be used for both general and particular situations.

I couldn’t swim when I was younger.
I tried to open the file, but I couldn’t do it.

Using Be Able to

The expression be able to has a similar meaning to can, but it can be used in grammatical forms in which can is not possible.

Present ability

She is able to work independently.
Are you able to access the website?

In everyday conversation, can is usually more natural for simple present ability.

I can help you.
I am able to help you.

Both are correct, but the first sentence sounds more natural in most situations.

Future ability

Because can does not have a future form, we normally use will be able to.

After the course, you will be able to communicate more confidently.
We’ll be able to finish the project by Friday.

Present perfect

We can use have/has been able to to describe an ability or achievement over a period of time.

I haven’t been able to sleep properly lately.
She has been able to attract several new clients.

After another verb

We also use be able to after verbs such as want, hope, need and would like.

I would like to be able to speak Japanese.
We hope to be able to launch the product next month.

We cannot use can in these structures.

I want to be able to drive. ✅
~~I want to can drive~~. ❌

Other Ways of Talking about Ability in English

Besides modal verbs, there are many other useful expressions for talking about ability in English. These phrases allow us to describe natural talent, learned skills, difficulty and successful achievement more precisely.

Know How to

We use know how to + verb when someone has the knowledge or practical skill necessary to do something.

I know how to sail a boat.
He doesn’t know how to operate the new machine.

Although know how to and can can sometimes have similar meanings, they are not always identical.

I know how to swim, but I can’t swim today because I’ve injured my shoulder.

The person has the knowledge and skill, but circumstances prevent them from doing it at that moment.

Be Good at

We use be good at + noun or -ing form to say that someone performs an activity well.

Our son is very good at maths.
They are particularly good at dealing with difficult customers.
Are you good at remembering people’s names?

After the preposition at, use a noun, pronoun or an -ing form.

She is good at writing reports. ✅
~~She is good at write reports.~~ ❌

For a lack of ability, we can use not very good at, bad at or terrible at.

I’m not very good at public speaking.
He’s bad at managing his time.
We’re terrible at keeping secrets.

Manage to

We use manage to + verb when someone succeeds in doing something, particularly when it is difficult.

We managed to finish the report before the deadline.
The technicians managed to fix all the bugs before the system went live.

The negative form is not manage to.

I didn’t manage to speak to the manager.
They haven’t managed to identify the cause of the problem yet.
We may not manage to complete the work today.

Do not use can after manage.

She managed to escape. ✅
~~She managed to can escape.~~ ❌

Succeed in

Succeed in + -ing form is another way to say that someone successfully completed a difficult action.

She succeeded in finding a new job.
We eventually succeeded in reaching an agreement.

Notice the difference in structure:

They managed to solve the problem.
They succeeded in solving the problem.

Be Capable of

We use be capable of + noun or -ing form to talk about someone’s potential, ability or capacity.

It is slightly more formal than can and is particularly useful in professional and academic English.

She is capable of working without supervision.
Do you think the team is capable of meeting the deadline?

The negative form is incapable of.

He seemed incapable of admitting that he was wrong.
The old system was incapable of handling such a large amount of data.

Be careful: capable is followed by of, not to.

She is capable of doing the job. ✅
~~She is capable to do the job.~~ ❌

Find Something Easy or Difficult

We can use find it easy/difficult/hard to do something to describe how easy or difficult an activity is for a particular person.

I find it difficult to remember names.
Do you find it easy to learn new languages?

The pronoun it is necessary before the adjective.

I find it difficult to concentrate. ✅
~~I find difficult to concentrate.~~ ❌

Have a Talent for

We use have a talent for + noun or -ing form when someone has a natural ability to do something well.

She has a real talent for languages.
Our new designer has a remarkable talent for creating simple but effective images.

We can also use be talented at/in.

She is talented at playing the violin.
He is a talented writer.

Have a Knack for

Have a knack for + noun or -ing form is an informal expression meaning to have a natural or unusual ability to do something.

She has a knack for remembering faces.
Tom has a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

This expression is often used for abilities that seem natural or effortless.

Be Skilled at/in

We use be skilled at/in + noun or -ing form to describe an ability that has usually been developed through training or experience.

She is skilled at negotiating with clients..
A good teacher needs to be skilled at explaining ideas in different ways.

The noun form is skill.

Communication is an important professional skill.
The job requires excellent organisational skills.

Be Competent at/in

Be competent at/in means to have enough ability or knowledge to perform a task successfully.

It is commonly used in professional contexts.

She is competent at managing small teams.
The course will help learners become more competent in written English.

Competent generally means capable and effective, but not necessarily outstanding.

Struggle to

We use struggle to + verb when someone finds an activity difficult and has to make a considerable effort.

I sometimes struggle to understand fast speech.
He has always struggled to express his emotions.

We can also use struggle with + noun.

I struggle with pronunciation.
She is struggling with the new software.

Be Useless at

Be useless at + noun or -ing form is an informal and fairly strong way of saying that someone is very bad at something.

Stephen is useless at DIY. He can’t even paint a wall properly.
We’re both useless at dancing.

Because this expression can sound critical, it is often used humorously when people describe themselves. When talking about another person, not very good at may sound kinder.

Not Have a Clue

We use not have a clue how to do something when someone has no knowledge or understanding of how to do it.

It is an informal expression.

I don’t have a clue how to repair a washing machine.
We didn’t have a clue what to do next.

A similar expression is have no idea.

I have no idea how to install this program.
She had no idea how to answer the question.

Talking about Different Levels of Ability

We can modify many expressions to show how strong or limited someone’s ability is.

She can speak Spanish fluently.
He is extremely good at solving problems.
I’m quite capable of doing it myself.
They are highly skilled in digital marketing.
She is reasonably competent at using spreadsheets.
I’m not particularly good at remembering dates.
He can barely read the instructions.
She can play the piano a little.
I can understand German to some extent.

These modifiers make your descriptions more precise and are especially useful in speaking and writing exams.

Download Talking about Ability in English Practice Worksheet in PDF here

Talking about Ability in Cambridge Exams

Using a wider range of language for talking about ability in English can improve both your speaking and writing in Cambridge exams.

In the Speaking test, you might say:

Both activities require people to be capable of working under pressure.
The woman appears to be quite skilled at dealing with customers.
Some people may find it difficult to work in a noisy environment.
Being able to communicate clearly is essential in both situations.

In an essay, report or proposal, you might write:

Employees need to be able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
The course would enable participants to develop valuable communication skills.
Many young people struggle to find reliable information online.
The programme has succeeded in improving students’ digital skills.
Participants will become more competent in managing their time.

Final Thoughts on Talking about Ability in English

There are many useful ways of talking about ability in English. We can use can, could and be able to to describe abilities in different time periods, while expressions such as manage to, be capable of, be good at, have a talent for and struggle to allow us to express more precise meanings.

Try to learn these expressions as complete patterns rather than individual words. Pay particular attention to whether they are followed by a base verb, an infinitive or an -ing form. With regular practice, you will be able to describe your own skills and other people’s abilities more naturally and confidently.

Would you like to improve your English with an experienced teacher? At My Lingua Academy, you can take individual online English lessons tailored to your level, goals and interests. You can also explore our grammar, vocabulary, phrasal verb and Cambridge exam lessons here on the blog.

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Using Can to Talk about Present Ability