🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Use can, could, and be able to to ask for permission and discuss ability across different time frames
  • Formulate polite requests using Could I...? and Can I...?
  • Use should have + past participle to express past advice and mild regret
  • Discuss professional competencies and reflect on past project performance

📚 Grammar & Skill Explanation

In the workplace we constantly discuss what is possible, what we are capable of, and how we might improve. These modal structures help you handle permission, ability, and reflection with precision.

Form & Structure

  • Permission: Can I...? / Could I...?
    Can I use your phone?
    Could I take Friday off?
  • Ability:
    Present: can / be able to – “I can speak French.”
    Past: could (general) / was able to (specific success) – “We were able to fix the bug.”
    Future: will be able to – “I'll be able to join the call tomorrow.”
    Modal + ability: “You might be able to negotiate a discount.”
  • Past Advice / Regret: should have + past participle
    You should have saved the file.
    We shouldn't have waited so long.

Usage Rules

  • Could vs. Was/Were able to: Use could for general ability, and was/were able to for a specific achievement.
  • Can vs. Be able to: In the present they are similar, but use be able to for infinitives and future forms.
  • Should have: Reflects on a past action that did not happen but would have been a good idea.
Key Learning Tip: Use should have for past situations (missed opportunities) and should for current or future advice. “You should have checked” (past) vs. “You should check” (present).

🌍 Context & Real-World Usage

🏢 Professional Scenarios
Permission: “Could I schedule the meeting for 3 PM instead?”
Competencies: “I can speak fluent German, and I'll be able to translate the documents.”
Project Success: “We were able to launch on time despite the challenges.”
Reflection: “We should have tested the software more thoroughly.”
🏙️ Everyday Situations
Requests: “Can I borrow a pen?”
Past Ability: “I couldn't ride a bike until I was ten years old.”
Plans: “I won't have time today, but I'll be able to help you tomorrow.”
Regret: “I'm so tired. I shouldn't have stayed up so late.”

🔍 Examples & Analysis

✅ Correct Professional & Daily Usage

  • Workplace: “Could I give you some feedback on the proposal?”
  • Workplace: “She was able to close the deal after three months of negotiations.”
  • Workplace: “If we hire another developer, we'll be able to finish much faster.”
  • Workplace: “We should have communicated the delay earlier.”
  • Everyday: “Sorry, I couldn't answer the phone earlier; I was driving.”
  • Everyday: “He should have listened to the forecast before leaving without a coat.”

❌ Common Business Mistakes

  • Mistake: “I hope I can to see you at the conference.” → Correction: “I hope I can see you...” / “I hope to be able to see you...”
  • Mistake: “We should have check the report...” → Correction: “We should have checked the report...”
  • Mistake: “After the training, I can build more complex spreadsheets.” → Correction: “After the training, I will be able to build...”

🎧 Listening Exercise

Campaign Review Meeting
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
Speed:
⚠️ Unable to load audio. Please check your connection.

Listening Questions

1. What was the main success of the Q3 campaign?
2. What does Sarah think they should have done differently?
3. Why couldn't the sales team use the marketing materials?
4. Complete the sentence: “We got some feedback that they __________ use our materials easily...”