I hope someone can tell me the difference between can and beableto

can, be able to

Both of them mean "can". The difference is:

1. can can also mean "can" or "possibly", which means it has a certain emotional color. For example:

Can I come in? Can I come in?

That can't be true. That can't be true.

Be able to cannot be used instead in the above two sentences.

2. can only has two forms: present tense and past tense, while be able to has multiple tense forms. Compare the following two sentences:

Will you be able to come tomorrow?

Will you be able to come tomorrow? (future tense)

This factory has been able to produce newly-designed sewing machines.

This factory can already produce newly-designed sewing machines. (Perfect tense)

3. Another auxiliary verb can be added before be able to, and it is mostly used in negative or interrogative structures, but can is not used in this way.

4. Used in negative structures, be able to express a temporary situation, and can express a usual situation. Compare the following two sentences:

He is not able to swim today.

He is not able to swim today.

He can't swim at all.

He can't swim at all.

5. be able to can be followed by a table structure to express a state or property; but can does not have this usage. For example:

He was able to be cold about her now. He may be a little cold to her now.

6. Be able to has a non-predicate verb form, but can does not. For example:

I hope to be able to do the work. I hope to be able to do the work.