[Grammar] Lat year Robert COULD beat his brother at chess. But he can't beat him now.

[newkeenlearner]

"We use COULD to talk about things we are able to do generally. We don't normally use COULD for something that happend on a particular occasion in the past.We use was able to or managed to do"
Source: "Oxford Practice Grammar "

Now, in the same book, in the PRACTICE section, there was an example below:
Last year Robert COULD beat his brother at chess. But he can't beat him now.

I have a question: Why do the writer use 'COULD' instead of 'was able to' or 'managed to do something' , because the example above is not general situation it is a particular occasion.


Lost of thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

It's a general situation because last year, for an extended period of time, it was normal for Robert to beat his brother. You'd need "was able to" if you mentioned a specific match.

 

[newkeenlearner]

You'd need "was able to" if you mentioned a specific match.

Thanks.
Could you please give an example?

It's a general situation because last year, for an extended period of time, it was normal for Robert to beat his brother

I feel that although that situation happened last year, it wasn't happening during a whole year. For example, every week, every month or every day.Playing chess and beating her brother just happened in a specific day of the year or a specific month of the year, not the whole year. That is why I think it is not a general situation.

 

[Rover_KE]

I feel that ... it wasn't happening during a whole year.

So far, the author, GS and I feel that it was.

Also answered here.

 

[GoesStation]

Could you please give an example?

"Robert was able to beat his brother at the chess club's March match last year. "

I feel that although that situation happened last year, it wasn't happening during a whole year. For example, every week, every month or every day.Playing chess and beating her brother just happened in a specific day of the year or a specific month of the year, not the whole year. That is why I think it is not a general situation.

In matches played last year, Robert beat his brother. He was able to win every match. Last year, Robert could beat his brother. (This year he can't; his brother has gotten a lot better!)

 

[newkeenlearner]

(This year he can't; his brother has gotten a lot better!)

Was it right to use 'was able to' or 'managed to do' instead of 'could', if we left out the second sentence?
If we have only this sentence: "Last year Robert COULD beat his brother at chess."