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"capable of" and "able to"

 
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river1974



Joined: 20 May 2003
Posts: 525
Location: Taiwan

PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 5:41 pm    Post subject: "capable of" and "able to" Reply with quote

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.
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obelix



Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 304

PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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river1974



Joined: 20 May 2003
Posts: 525
Location: Taiwan

PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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