able,capable
这一对词都是形容词,又都含有能够、能干之意,但涵义和使用场合有所不同,大致有如下几点区别:
(一)在用作定语表示能干的意味时,able所描述的范围较概括,capable所描述的范围较专注,因为前者指某人聪明能干,有多才多艺的概括涵义;后者仅指具有应付某一特指工作要求的能力。例:
She is an able teacher
她是个能干的教师。
She is a capable teacher.
她是个能胜任工作的教师。
(二)able指能够,是一时之现象;capable常用以指能力,是经常的现象。如:
I shall not be able to come to the office tomorrow.
明天我不能到办公室来(指由于某种原因而暂时不能来)。
She is incapable of manual labour.
她不能从事体力劳动(指由于某种长期或经常的原因,例如患病而不能劳动)。
(三)指某人能作某事时,able之后接动词不定式,capable之后接介词of。例如:
We are able to get back to town before dark.
我们能够天黑之前赶回市区。
They are not capable of doing the work.
他们没有能力做这件工作。
(四)capable除表示有能力的意味外,还可用以表示有可能的涵义,able则没有这个用法。如:
The situation is capable of improvement.
此情况有可能好转。
That oil tanker is capable of being restored.
那艘油轮有可能修好。
请注意,下列句中的able是用错了,应改为capable:
This book is able to be translated.(错)
This book is capable of being translated.(对)
That law is able to be evaded.(错)
That law is capable of being evaded.(对)
(五) able 一般用作正面意义,指好人好事;capable 则是中性词,既可指好事,亦可指坏事,例如在下例中,capable of anything是表示任何坏事都做得出来之意:
That guy is capable of anything!
那家伙什么勾当都会干得出来!
(六) able的反义词是unable;capable的反义词是incapable。另一点值得注意的是,able的名词是 ability,义:能力(the power to do);capable的名词是capability 或 capacity,前者义:具有从事某事的能力;后者义:容量或受容力。需要在此指出的是,ability是可以通过练习或锻炼获得的,而capability则是固有的能力,它与练习或锻炼无关。通过下列例句的对比,我们不难区分其义蕴:
I do not doubt his ability to do the work.
He has the capability to benefit from university education.
第一句的ability是指通过训练或工作磨炼而获得的能力;第二句的capability是指天赋之才,与后天无关。
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