Past abilities

 Past Abilities

Was/Were able to are used to talk about

specific achievements.

I was able to jump really high.

Could is used to talk about general skills or

abilities in the past.

When I was little, I could spend hours

jumping on a bouncing castle.

Note: There is no difference between them

when used in a negative sentence.

My cousin couldn't finish his university

education.

My cousin wasn't able to finish his

university education.