ESL General English Grammar Questions

ESL General English Grammar Questionshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3614.32638)Re: Regarding the usage of "could"http://www.englishforums.com/English/RegardingTheUsageOfCould/jkncz/post.htm#805668Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:54:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:805668Tanit0http://www.englishforums.com/English/RegardingTheUsageOfCould/jkncz/post.htm#805668http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-805668.xmlHi, I was taught that both " was/were able to " and " could " can be used to express ability in the past. Roughly speaking, " could " is not used with reference to one (or more) specific achievement in the past, but it can be used when referring to a general ability in the past (this, I think, is the case with your example from the Longman dictionary). This is what Swann (in his " Practical English Usage ") says: § 122.4 past: She could read when she was four We use could to talk about the past. She could read when she was four. My grandmother could sing like an angel. My last car could do 200kph. In those days everybody could find a job. Was able to is also possible, especially...Regarding the usage of "could"http://www.englishforums.com/English/RegardingTheUsageOfCould/jkncz/post.htmFri, 03 Jul 2009 15:43:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:804615Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/RegardingTheUsageOfCould/jkncz/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-804615.xmlDear teachers, My English workbook says we can use both "could" and "was/were able to" just to describe past ability, but we cannot use "could" if there was ability in the past, and the action was done actually. It says in this case we have to use "was/were able to". I cite hereunder an example in the work book. "I went to Mexico last week, and I was able to meet her then." is OK, but "I went to Mexico last week, and I could meet her then." is NG. Is this really so? Looking into the Longman dictionary of comtemporary English, I find an example; "By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin." Would you pls let me...