capable */*/*/

capable */*/*/
UK [ˈkeɪpəb(ə)l] / US adjective
Get it right: capable:
The adjective capable is never followed by an infinitive. Use the pattern capable of doing something:
Wrong: Both sexes are capable to do military service.
Right: Both sexes are capable of doing military service.
Wrong: A university graduate is expected to be capable to cope with such a situation.
Right: A university graduate is expected to be capable of coping with such a situation.   Note that the adjective incapable is used in exactly the same way.
1) able to do something
capable of:

I want to see you achieve what you are capable of.

capable of doing something:

The port is capable of handling 10 million tonnes of coal a year.

He is capable of anything (= any action, however bad) if it furthers his ambition.

2) very good at doing a job

The staff all seem very capable.

I was impressed by his capable handling of the situation.


Derived word:
capably
adverb

I asked Gail to take over, which she did very capably.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • capable — [ kapabl ] adj. • XIVe; bas lat. capabilis, de capere « contenir, être susceptible de » I ♦ 1 ♦ Vx Qui a le pouvoir, la possibilité de recevoir, de supporter. Les hommes sont « indignes de Dieu, et capables de Dieu » (Pascal). Capable d une joie …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • capable — CAPABLE. adj. des 2 g. Qui a les qualités requises pour quelque chose. C est un homme capable de gouverner. C est un homme capable des plus grandes choses. Il n est capable de rien. f♛/b] Il se dit aussi De ceux qui ont l âge compétent pour… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Capable — Ca pa*ble, a. [F. capable, LL. capabilis capacious, capable, fr. L. caper to take, contain. See {Heave}.] 1. Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility; having capacity; of sufficient size or strength; as, a room capable of holding a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • capable — CAPABLE. adj. de tout genre, Habile, intelligent. En ce sens il se dit absolument. Un homme capable. Mettre une affaire, une charge entre les mains d une personne capable. Il signifie aussi, Celuy qui a les qualitez requises pour faire quelque… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • capable — I adjective able, accomplished, adept, adequate, adroit, aptus, competent, deft, effective, effectual, equal to, expert, facile, fit, fitted, gifted, idoneus, masterly, potent, proficient, qualified, skillful, suited, worthy associated concepts:… …   Law dictionary

  • capable — Capable, Capax. Capable de pouvoir entendre que c est d amitié, et comme il s y faut maintenir, Capax amicitiae. Il n est point capable de tenir office, Capere magistratum non potest. B. ex Cicerone …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • capable — [kā′pə bəl] adj. [Fr < LL capabilis < L capere, to take: see HAVE] having ability; able to do things well; skilled; competent SYN. ABLE capable of 1. susceptible of; admitting of; open to 2. having the ability or qualities necessary for 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • capable — competent, qualified, *able Analogous words: efficient, *effective, effectual, efficacious Antonyms: incapable Contrasted words: incompetent, unqualified (see IN CAPABLE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • capable — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (capable of) having the ability or quality necessary to do. 2) able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do. DERIVATIVES capably adverb. ORIGIN French, from Latin capere take or hold …   English terms dictionary

  • capable of — 1. Able to take in, contain, understand, etc (archaic) 2. Sufficiently able, good, well made, etc to, or sufficiently bad, foolish, etc, to (followed by verbal noun or other action noun) 3. Susceptible of • • • Main Entry: ↑capable …   Useful english dictionary

  • capable — 1560s, from L.L. capabilis receptive, used by theologians, from L. capax able to hold much, broad, wide, roomy; also receptive, fit for; adjectival form of capere to grasp, lay hold, take, catch; undertake; take in, hold; be large enough for;… …   Etymology dictionary

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