If it stops raining, I will be able to/can play soccer with my friends.

[MichaelLu2000]

My teacher told me to tell the difference between “can” and “will be able to” in the last sentence, but I thought they meant exactly the same. Do they mean exactly the same, or did I miss some subtle differences?

A: What are you going to do after school on Friday?
B: Well, if it stops raining, I will be able to/can play soccer with my friends.

I hope some native speakers can give me some answers.

 

[5jj]

This thread is very similar to this one, and to several others you have started. Please ask follow-up questions in the other threads rather than cluttering to forum with near duplicates.

Thread locked.