Expressing ability and inability.
1. We can use can (or to be able to) to describe natural or learned ability.
She can run 1500 metres in 5 minutes.
2. We can use could, couldn’t, was/were able to when we describe ‘general ability in the past’.
I could run very fast when I was a girl.
3. We use was/were able to or managed to (not could) to describe the successful completion of a specific action:
We were able to get plane tickets last week.
4. We can use couldn’t to describe a specific action not successfully completed.
We could not get tickets for the concert last month.
![shutterstock_611045375.jpg](https://resources.cdn.miyklas.com.ua/297a593e-68cf-4290-9c37-d29425c90d38/shutterstock611045375w300.jpg)
Verbs of perception with can and could.
1. When we are describing something that is happening now, we do not use the progressive with these verbs.
I see a bird in that tree.
2. We use can + verb in place of the present simple with verbs of perception.
I can see a bird in that tree.
![shutterstock_1930722965.jpg](https://resources.cdn.miyklas.com.ua/ed2be95a-bb8c-44c7-8cf9-0b825604499b/shutterstock1930722965w300.jpg)
We use could + verb in the place of the simple past with verbs of perception.
I looked up, but couldn’t see anything.