4.119 skills and abilities: 'can' and 'could'

'Can' is used to say that someone has a particular skill or ability.

• You can all read and write.
• Some people can ski better than others.
• He cannot dance.
• ...the girl who can't act.

'Could' is used to say that someone had a skill or ability in the past.

• ...the good old days when everyone could read, write and do arithmetic.
• I could barely walk.
• He could kick penalty goals from anywhere.