able
HighNeutral (used across all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
Having the skill, power, means, or opportunity to do something.
Having considerable competence, talent, or proficiency; of high standard or quality; legally or officially empowered.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies not just physical capability but skill and intelligence. When followed by an infinitive ('able to do'), it indicates a specific capacity or opportunity. As an adjective alone ('an able lawyer'), it implies general competence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Able' as an adjective suffix (e.g., 'doable', 'clickable') is equally productive in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] able to + INFINITIVE (I am able to attend)[Noun] + able (an able assistant)make + [Noun/Pronoun] + able to (This makes me able to see)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “able-bodied (physically fit)”
- “able seaman (rank in navy)”
- “able to breathe easy (relieved)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe employee competency or company capacity (e.g., 'We are able to meet the deadline').
Academic
Common in discussing cognitive or physical capacities in research; also as a productive suffix ('measurable', 'quantifiable').
Everyday
Frequent in discussing personal capabilities, plans, and permissions (e.g., 'Will you be able to come?').
Technical
Used in legal contexts ('duly able'), engineering ('able to withstand stress'), and computing (as a suffix: 'scalable').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'able' is not a verb. The related verb is 'enable'.
American English
- N/A - 'able' is not a verb. The related verb is 'enable'.
adverb
British English
- N/A - The adverb is 'ably' (e.g., 'She managed the crisis ably').
American English
- N/A - The adverb is 'ably' (e.g., 'He performed ably under pressure').
adjective
British English
- She is an able project manager who delivers on time.
- The council seeks an able-bodied volunteer for the clean-up.
American English
- He hired an able attorney to handle the case.
- Are you able to access the file from home?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am able to swim.
- She is not able to come today.
- Are you able to speak English?
- Will you be able to finish the report by Friday?
- He's a very able student in mathematics.
- They weren't able to find the correct address.
- Having recovered from her injury, she is now able to run again.
- The new software makes us able to process data faster.
- He proved himself an able negotiator during the difficult talks.
- The committee is composed of able individuals from diverse fields.
- Despite the setbacks, the team was able to pivot and deliver a viable product.
- The law must be made readily understandable to enable citizens to exercise their rights ably.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a strong, skilled ABLE-bodied sailor on a table. The TABLE is for the ABLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABILITY IS PHYSICAL STRENGTH / ABILITY IS A CONTAINER (filled with skill)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'способный' for children ('an able child' sounds odd; use 'talented' or 'bright').
- In 'I was able to do it', it implies success, not just attempt. Russian 'смог' is closer than 'мог'.
- Don't confuse with 'способный' meaning 'apt' or 'likely' – 'able' does not carry that meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'can' instead of 'be able to' for future perfect or specific past achievements (Wrong: 'He has could finish'. Correct: 'He has been able to finish').
- Using 'able' without 'to be' before an infinitive (Wrong: 'I able swim'. Correct: 'I am able to swim').
- Overusing 'able' where a simpler modal ('can') is more natural in speech.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'able' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Can' is a modal verb used for general ability or permission. 'Be able to' is a phrase used for all tenses, especially to express specific ability, achievement in a particular situation, or future ability where 'can' is less common (e.g., 'I will be able to help tomorrow').
Yes, when used attributively (before a noun), it means 'skillful' or 'competent', e.g., 'an able assistant', 'an able leader'.
No, 'able' is an adjective. The related verb is 'enable' (to make able). The suffix '-able' can be added to verbs to form adjectives (e.g., 'readable', 'washable').
The direct antonym is 'unable'. For the suffix '-able', the negative is often formed with 'un-' (e.g., 'unreadable'), but sometimes 'in-' (e.g., 'incapable') or 'im-' (e.g., 'immeasurable') are used based on etymology.
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