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I hear a lot of people use 'can able to' in their daily talk. I believe it's entirely wrong. Both 'can' and 'able to' hold the same meaning. Where do I get more information on the same and also the exact places where I should use 'can' and where I should use 'able to'?

tchrist
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San
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2 Answers2

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This may be common in Indian English. However, it's certainly not accepted as Standard English because, as you say, can and be able to have the same meaning.

Because able to isn't a verb but part of an adjectival phrase, it requires a verb; but as it's adjectival that verb is be, not can.

Andrew Leach
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This is Indian English. If you are talking to the rest of the world you should check out
Mind your English. Otherwise it's fine.

cindi
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  • I do want to talk with the rest of the world. :-) Thanks for the link. – San Oct 21 '10 at 03:08
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    Well, I would say "it's a common mistake in Indian English", but… :-) – ShreevatsaR Nov 12 '10 at 11:07
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    It at best be as @ShreevatsaR said, "a common mistake in Indian English", not even an Indianism, certainly not Indian English in its correct form. No one would deliberately use this expression to make himself understood to an Indian English speaker. I'm not sure what you meant by 'Otherwise it's fine,' was that sarcasm? – Kris Dec 06 '12 at 06:32
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    Link is dead now – mplungjan Sep 15 '14 at 08:23
  • It is not "Indian English" or "common mistake in Indian English". It is a common mistake in English spoken in some parts of India. – akshay1188 Jan 02 '19 at 19:16
  • @Cindi This is precisely the reason that answers which do not reproduce any of the link's content are frowned upon. Could you update your answer, please? – Andrew Leach Jan 09 '19 at 07:40