What Does "be capable of" Mean?
- Meaning: The expression "be capable of" denotes having the power, ability, skill, or potential to do something. It can refer to a person's physical or mental capacity, the functional limits of a machine, or even the inherent nature of an abstract concept.
- Compositionality: This is a semi-idiomatic collocation. While the individual words retain their core meanings, the specific combination of the adjective "capable" with the preposition "of" is a fixed grammatical requirement to express potentiality.
- Register: The expression is neutral to formal. It is frequently found in academic writing, journalism, and technical reports, though it is also common in standard spoken English when a speaker wants to sound more precise than using the simple verb "can."
How to Use It
- Grammatical pattern: The standard pattern is subject + be + capable + of + [noun/gerund].
- Typical objects: It is followed by a noun (e.g., "capable of murder") or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb, e.g., "capable of flying").
- Separability: Unlike phrasal verbs, the components of this collocation are not separable. You cannot place the object between "capable" and "of."
- What sounds unnatural: Using the base form of a verb (the infinitive) after the preposition is a major error. Additionally, using prepositions like "for" or "with" instead of "of" will sound incorrect to native speakers.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from be capable of on Ludwig.guru.
"I'm not sure that Steve would be capable of murder." — theguardian.com
"It has terrible eyesight and may be capable of echolocation." — newyorker.com
"All three will be capable of flying at supersonic speeds." — nytimes.com
"I seem to be capable of doing it myself." — nytimes.com
"Can seemingly unambiguous moral principles be capable of multifaceted interpretations?" — nytimes.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| be able to |
More common in daily speech; followed by an infinitive verb rather than a gerund. |
| have the capacity to |
More formal; often refers to intellectual limits or volume/space potential. |
| be up to |
Informal; usually suggests having the strength or health required for a task. |
| be equal to |
Formal; implies having the necessary qualities to meet a specific challenge. |
| be susceptible of |
Very formal/archaic; used specifically for things that can be treated or admitted. |
Common Mistakes
- The Infinitive Error: Learners frequently use the infinitive 'to' instead of the preposition 'of' followed by a gerund, incorrectly saying 'be capable to do' instead of 'be capable of doing'.
- Wrong Preposition: Using "capable for" or "capable in" is a common error; the adjective capable strictly collocates with of.
- Confusion with "Able": While "able" takes an infinitive (able to do), capable must take a prepositional phrase (capable of doing).
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Meaning |
Grammatical Pattern |
Register |
| be capable of |
To have the ability or potential |
be + capable + of + [noun/-ing] |
Neutral to Formal |
FAQs
Can the words in the phrase be separated by other information?
The words capable and of must stay together as a fixed unit. While you can place an adverb before the adjective (e.g., "highly capable of"), you cannot insert the object or other phrases between the adjective and its preposition.
What is the difference between being able to and being capable of?
While both express ability, be able to is more common for specific, immediate actions and is followed by a verb. In contrast, be capable of often describes a broader, inherent potential or a maximum limit of what someone or something can achieve.
Is it correct to say someone is capable to finish the task?
No, this is a common grammatical error. Learners frequently use the infinitive 'to' instead of the preposition of followed by a gerund, incorrectly saying 'be capable to do' instead of be capable of doing.