78.Anton was able to transfer from Lavine's to an American company.
安东成功地从拉文调到了一家美国公司。
经典句型解析78：was/were able to用法解析
许多同学把上句译成：安东那时有能力从拉文调到一家美国公司。
也不能说绝对的错误，was/were able to本身就有两种含义：
1.在肯定句中，表过去有能力做某事（不强调事情实际做了或没有做），如：
No other organisation was able or willing to take on the job
没有任何别的组织有能力或愿意承担此项工作。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
People said he was able to cast a spell on the public.
人们说他能吸引公众。
After treatment he was able to continue but he was never quite the same
治疗之后他又可以继续下去了，可是再也恢复不到从前的状态了。
I hope at least my daughter was able to offer you some useful pointers
我希望至少我的女儿为你提供了一些有用的建议。
I was able to fit it all on one sheet.
我能将全部内容都放在一页上。
以上6例摘自《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
He was able to trace his ancestry back over 1 000 years.
他可追祖溯宗至1000年以前。
He was able to pinpoint on the map the site of the medieval village.
他能在地图上准确找出那个中世纪村庄的位置。
They were able to come and go at will.
他们能够来去自由。
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
我们可以看到书本从印刷机上源源不断地印出。
It was so cold that we were able to go skating on the lake.
天气极冷，我们能到湖上去滑冰了。
以上6例句摘自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
Kathy wasn’t able to get here on time because of the accident on the highway.
凯西因在高速公路上发生的事故不能准时到达这里。
2．was/were able to还有一个用法，是今天的重点。表示过去经过努力终于成功做成某事：
一般可译为：终于，成功地，有幸，得以
The pilot was able to maneuver the crippled aircraft out of the hostile area.
飞行员成功地驾驶严重损坏的飞机驶出敌区。
The pilot was able to parachute to safety.
飞行员得以跳伞脱险。
She was able to command the respect of the class.
她赢得了全班的尊敬。
In the following days, Francis was able to piece together what had happened
在随后的几天里，弗朗西斯得以把发生的事情拼凑出来。
During this ordeal he was able to draw strength from his faith.
在这次磨难中，他得以从自己的信仰中吸取力量。
I was able to gain invaluable experience over that year
在那一年里我有幸获得了非常宝贵的经验。
The prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the woman had been lying.
公诉人确切无疑地证实这个女人一直在撒谎。
She was able to identify her attacker.
她认出了袭击她的人。
He was able to fool the world with his veneer of education
他打着受过良好教育的幌子到处欺瞒世人。
Martha was able to lose 25 pounds.
玛莎减掉了25磅。
They were able to achieve a settlement without using military force.
他们没有诉诸武力就解决了问题。
At last they were able to feel secure about the future.
他们终于觉得不必为将来而担忧了。
The police were able to take preventive action and avoid a possible riot.
警方及时采取防范措施，避免了可能发生的骚乱。
They were able to share their common joys and griefs.
他们做到了同甘共苦。
With the help of a ladder, neighbours were able to rescue the children from the blaze.
邻居们借助一把梯子把孩子们从大火中救了出来。
By using economy in buying food and clothes, we were able to save enough money for a new colour TV set.
我们节衣缩食，积蓄了够买一台彩电的钱。
They were not able to take up residence in their new home until the spring.
他们到第二年春天才住进了新家。
《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
I called our IT help desk and they were able to resolve the issue.
我打电话给我们的IT帮助台，他们成功解决了问题。
I ran after the bus yesterday and was able to catch it.昨天我追赶了一辆汽车，而且成功地追上它了。
The maths problem was hard but I was able to work it out .
这道数学题虽然难，但我把它做出来了。
The traffic was heavy,but I was still able to get home on time .
交通拥挤，但我依然按时到家了。
The fire spread through the building very quickly but everyone was able to get out.
尽管这场大火迅速蔓延到了整个大楼，但是每个人都成功逃生。
此时，was/were able to = succeeded in doing = managed to do
3.was/were not able to和could not用法和含义几乎没有差别。都表示过去没有能力做某事，如：
She was not able to bear children.
她不能生育。
The child was not able to speak, walk properly or control bodily functions.
这孩子无法正常说话、行走，大小便失禁。
He was not able to walk without a cane and could only navigate steps backwards
没有手杖他无法走路，只能小心翼翼地向后退。
He wasn't able to cope with the stresses and strains of the job.
对付这项工作的紧张与压力，他无能为力。
I wasn't able to sleep that night, I was so keyed up.
那一夜我无法入睡，我太激动了。
What sticks in my throat is that I wasn't able to win the trophy
令我耿耿于怀的是自己没能获奖。
We were not able to meet the deadline because of manufacturing delays
因为制造方面的延误，我们没能赶上最后期限。
Kurt's parents weren't able to meet our plane so we took a taxi.
库尔特的父母无法来接机，于是我们打了车。
4. could在肯定句中，只表示过去有能力做某事（不强调事情实际做了或没有做）：
可以译为：能，或许会,
This could set a new fashion.
这或许会开创一种新时尚呢。
This could be the start of something big.
这或许是要有大事的苗头。
He could just make out three people through the mist.
透过薄雾他勉强能看出有三个人。
When I first started my career, I could work long hours without a break.
当我开始我的职业生涯时，我可以不间断地长时间工作。
They hired her because they knew that she could do the job well.
他们雇用她是因为他们知道她能把工作做好。
