able
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++a·ble /ˈeɪbəl/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 be able to do something a) CANto have the skill, strength, knowledge etc needed to do something 有能力做某事，会做某事 I’ve always wanted to be able to speak Japanese. 我一直想学会讲日语。 b) CANto be in a situation in which it is possible for you to do something 可以去做某事 I’d like to do more gardening, but I never seem able to find the time. 我想多干点园艺活，可似乎总是抽不出时间。 I haven’t been able to read that report yet. 我还没能看那份报告。2 GOOD ATclever or good at doing something 聪明能干的，能力出众的 one of my more able students 我班上能力比较强的学生之一Examples from the Corpus
able• an able assistant• She was widely regarded as one of the most able members of the president's staff.• Mrs Thomas is a very able teacher.• Currently, such creatures are not able to converse, creating instead relationships closer to the family pet.• It was being moved, placed where she wanted him, and there was nothing he was able to do about it.• Apart from that, if you're able to get about then clearly it's helpful if there's no traffic.• Most preschool children are well able to issue instructions.• They should be able to offer you the support you need at an academic and personal level.• He would not have been able to put a precise age on the skeleton.• She needs to be able to reflect on her own behavior, feelings, and tendencies more than the average child.• Jasper had said he would be able to spot me in a crowd, to pick me out at once.-able /əbəl/ (also -ible) suffix [in adjectives] 1 XXthat you can do something to 可以…的 washable (=it can be washed) 可洗的 unbreakable (=it cannot be broken) 不会破的，不碎的 loveable (=easy to love) 可爱的2 XXhaving a particular quality or condition 具有…性质的；处于…状态的 knowledgeable (=knowing a lot) 博学的 comfortable 舒适的 —-ably /əbli/, -ibly suffix [in adverbs] unbelievably 令人难以置信地Examples from the Corpus
-able• lovableOrigin able (1300-1400) Old French Latin habilis “skillful”, from habere “to have” -able Old French Latin -abilis, from -bilis “capable or worthy of”a·ble adjective-able suffixChineseSyllable
strength, etc skill, have to the Corpus to needed knowledge
able
a‧ble S1 W1 /ˈeɪbəl/
adjective
a. to have the skill, strength, knowledge etc needed to do something:
I’ve always wanted to be able to speak Japanese.
b. to be in a situation in which it is possible for you to do something:
I’d like to do more gardening, but I never seem able to find the time.
I haven’t been able to read that report yet.
2. clever or good at doing something:
one of my more able students
a‧ble S1 W1 /ˈeɪbəl/
adjective Word Family: noun: ability ≠ inability, disability; adjective: able ≠ unable, disabled; verb: enable ≠ disable; adverb: ably
Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin habilis 'skillful', from habere 'to have'
1. be able to do somethingLanguage: Old French
Origin: Latin habilis 'skillful', from habere 'to have'
a. to have the skill, strength, knowledge etc needed to do something:
b. to be in a situation in which it is possible for you to do something:
2. clever or good at doing something:
Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something.* can 表示懂得做 ：◆ Can you play the piano? 你会弹钢琴吗？ It is also used with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc. 该词亦与表示看见、注意到等的动词连用 ：◆ I can hear someone calling. 我听见有人在呼叫。 and with passive infinitives. 并与不定式的被动形式连用 ：◆ The podcast can be downloaded here. 播客可在此下载。 Can orbe able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something.* can 或 be able to 表示某事情有可能或某人有机会做某事 ：◆ Can you/are you able to come on Saturday? 你星期六能来吗？ You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive.用 be able to 构成将来时、完成时和动词不定式 ：◆ You'll be able to get a taxi outside the station. 在车站外可搭乘出租车。 ◆ I haven't been able to get much work done today. 我今天未能干多少工作。 ◆ She'd love to be able to play the piano. 她很希望能弹钢琴。 Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past.* could 表示过去通常能做 ：◆ Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old. 我们的女儿九个月大就会走路了。 You use was/were able to ormanage (but notcould ) when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past.关于在过去特定情况下可能的事用 was/were able to 或 manage，但不用 could ：◆ I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library. 我总算在图书馆找到了一些有用的书。 ◆ I could find some useful books in the library. In negative sentences, could not can also be used.否定句也可用 could not ：◆ We weren't able to/didn't manage to/couldn't get there in time. 我们未能及时赶到那儿。 Could is also used with this meaning with verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc.亦可用 could 加表示看见、注意到、明白等的动词表示此义 ：◆ I could see there was something wrong. 我发觉出事了。 Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try.表示过去有可能做某事但没有做，用 could have ：◆ I could have won the game but decided to let her win. 我本可以赢得那场比赛，但还是决定让她赢了。