Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[river1974]

Dear teachers:

(a)The athlete is capable of jumping two meters.
(b)The athlete is able to jump two meters.

Are there any slight differences between "capable of" and "able to", or they are completely the same in meaning? Thanks.

[obelix]

They are pretty much the same.
If you say he is capable of jumping two metres, I think there is the implication that he has not yet done so, but you believe he can do it.
If, on the other hand, you say he is able to jump two meters, I think that means he has already done it.

[river1974]

So if I say "somebody is capale of doing something", it's just a conjecture that I truly believe in. Whereas if I say "somebody is able to do something", it has already become a fact rather than a conjecture. Thank you, obelix.