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could / was able to

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Yoong Liat
 
Reply Thu 1 Nov, 2007 09:51 am
That day I could / was able to swim across the river because I was in high spirits.

Should I use 'could' or 'was able to'?

Many thanks.
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 406 • Replies: 3
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Region Philbis
 
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Reply Thu 1 Nov, 2007 10:43 am
both sound correct, but "was able to" is probably better because it matches the tense...
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McTag
 
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Reply Thu 1 Nov, 2007 10:59 am
They are the same in meaning.
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JTT
 
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Reply Sun 4 Nov, 2007 07:46 pm
Re: could / was able to
Yoong Liat wrote:
That day I could / was able to swim across the river because I was in high spirits.

Should I use 'could' or 'was able to'?

Many thanks.


We don't normally use 'could' to describe a one time event. 'could' is used to describe a past general ability.

When he was a kid, he could climb trees like a monkey.

*Yesterday, I could swim a mile.*

I suggest that you use 'was able to'.
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