After.., I can or will be able to?

[Lycen]

Hi,

Assume I know I can do my homework after work today. Do these examples imply the same meaning?

I'm busy working now. After work, I can do my homework. (Why is "can" used to refer to a future event?; I perfectly understand "I can do my homework after work" as it tells my current ability)

I'm busy working now. After work, I will be able to do my homework. (Future tense appropriately used for future event)

Do these sound natural?
I was told that they should be written as "I can/will be able to do my homework after work" as they sound better?

Thank you.

[Cerberus™]

"Can" can be used for future possibilities, but "be able to" is usually better, as you rightly suggested.

[Lycen]

I need a clarification on "can". Does "can" in this context refer to the present ability to do a future action or does it refer to the future ability?

[OxfordBlues]

CAN refers to ability and that's it. It doesn't imply a time. So by saying "After work, I can do my homework." you are just saying that doing your homework is possible after work. After work is what places it into the future.

As you observed, BE ABLE has more versatility than CAN. With this form you can express ability in the present, future, or past. So that "I will be able to do my homework" is specified as in the future. Using it with "After work" doesn't make it more in the future, it just further clarifies it as being in the future.
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