Meaning & use
capable
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Having the power or ability to do a particular thing.
Grammar: Followed by of plus an -ing form or noun: capable of doing something.
Patterns
- capable of doing something
- capable of something
The new engine is capable of reaching 200 miles an hour.
She is capable of speaking four languages.
He is capable of great kindness.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Skilled and competent at doing a job or handling things well.
Grammar: Used without of to describe a person in general: a capable nurse.
The company hired a capable manager.
She is a capable driver and stays calm in traffic.
The students were capable and well prepared.
adjectiveafter a verb
Likely to do something extreme or bad, often in a negative sense.
Grammar: Used after be with of: capable of anything.
Patterns
- capable of anything
He is angry and capable of anything.
I did not think she was capable of such cruelty.
In that mood, he is capable of saying something he regrets.
Word forms
| comparative | more capable |
|---|---|
| superlative | most capable |
Common combinations
- capable of
- The machine is capable of lifting a ton.
- perfectly capable
- I am perfectly capable of doing it myself.
- highly capable
- The team is highly capable.
- capable hands
- Leave the work in capable hands.
- more than capable
- She is more than capable of winning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- able
- Able is simpler and takes to plus a verb, as in able to swim, while capable needs of plus an -ing form.
- competent
- Competent says someone does a job well enough, and it can sound lukewarm compared with capable.
- skilled
- Skilled stresses training and practice.
- proficient
- Proficient is more formal and means skilled by practice.
Opposites
Word family
- capability noun
- the ability to do something
- capably adverb
- in a skilled way
- incapable adjective
- not able to do something
- capacity noun
- the maximum amount or ability
Commonly confused: capable or capacity?
capable vs capacity
Capacity is how much something can hold or produce; capable describes the ability to do something.
Practice
The bridge is ____ of carrying heavy trucks.
Choose one answer.
Capable takes of before an -ing form or noun. Able would need to, and possible and enough do not fit the pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “capable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.