able

adj.

1. 能；能够
   to have the skill, intelligence, opportunity, etc. needed to do sth
   1. You must be able to speak French for this job.
      干这项工作你得会说法语。
   2. A viral illness left her barely able to walk.
      一场病毒引起的疾病使她走路十分困难。
   3. I didn't feel able to disagree with him.
      我觉得无法不同意他的意见。
   4. Will you be able to come?
      你能来吗？
2. 有才智的；有才能的；（某方面）擅长的
   intelligent; good at sth
   1. the ablest student in the class
      班上最有才华的学生
   2. We aim to help the less able in society to lead an independent life.
      我们的宗旨是帮助社会上能力较弱的人独立生活。

1. PHR-MODAL （因具有品质或技能）能做到…的
   If you are able to do something, you have skills or qualities which make it possible for you to do it.
   1. The older child should be able to prepare a simple meal...
      那个年纪稍大的孩子应当会做一顿简单的饭菜。
   2. The company say they're able to keep pricing competitive...
      该公司说他们能够使定价保持竞争力。
   3. They seemed able to work together very efficiently.
      他们看来能很有效率地合作。
2. PHR-MODAL （因有足够的自由、权力、时间、财力等而）可以…的，能够…的
   If you are able to do something, you have enough freedom, power, time, or money to do it.
   1. You'll be able to read in peace...
      你就能安心地读书了。
   2. Have you been able to have any kind of contact?...
      你联系上了吗？
   3. It would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.
      无后顾之忧而能提早退休当是件幸事。
3. ADJ-GRADED 聪明能干的；能力出众的
   Someone who is able is very clever or very good at doing something.
   1. ...one of the brightest and ablest members of the government...
      政府里最聪明能干的成员之一
   2. They are bright, intelligent, able and confident.
      他们聪明又智慧，能干又自信。

Note that able and capable are both used to say that someone can do something. When you say that someone is able to do something, you mean that they can do it either because of their knowledge or skill, or because it is possible. He wondered if he would be able to climb over the rail... They were able to use their profits for new investments. Note that if you use a past tense, you are saying that someone has actually done something. We were able to reduce costs. When you say that someone is capable of doing something, you mean either that they have the knowledge and skill to do it, or that they are likely to do it. The workers are perfectly capable of running the organization themselves... She was quite capable of falling asleep. You can say that someone is capable of a particular feeling or action. He's capable of loyalty... Bowman could not believe him capable of murder. You can also use 'capable of' when talking about what something such as a car or machine can do. The car was capable of 110 miles per hour. If you describe someone as able or capable, you mean that they do things well. He's certainly a capable gardener.
注意，able和capable都用来表示某人能做某事。able 既可表示因拥有某种知识或技能而能做某事，也可表示客观可能：He wondered if he would be able to climb over the rail (他不知自己能否攀过栏杆)，They were able to use their profits for new investments (他们得以将利润用于再投资)。要注意的是，如果用过去时，则表示实际做了该事：We were able to reduce costs (我们做到了降低成本)。capable既可表示具有做某事的技能或知识，也可表示做某事有较大的可能性:The workers are perfectly capable of running the organization themselves (工人完全能够自己管理这个机构)，She was quite capable of falling asleep (她很容易睡着)。capable 还可表示具有某种情感或能够做出某一行为：He's capable of loyalty (他能做到忠心耿耿)，Bowman could not believe him capable of murder (鲍曼无法相信他会杀人)。capable亦用于指汽车、机器等的性能：The car was capable of 110 miles per hour (这辆车时速可达110英里)。able或capable形容人时表示“有能力的”、“能力强的”：He's certainly a capable gardener (他绝对是一名能干的园丁)。

4. 
   

1. The older child should be able to prepare a simple meal
   那个年纪稍大的孩子应当会做一顿简单的饭菜。
2. The company say they're able to keep pricing competitive
   该公司说他们能够使定价保持竞争力。
3. They seemed able to work together very efficiently.
   他们看来能很有效率地合作。
4. You'll be able to read in peace
   你就能安心地读书了。
5. Have you been able to have any kind of contact?
   你联系上了吗？
6. It would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.
   无后顾之忧而能提早退休当是件幸事。
7. They are bright, intelligent, able and confident.
   他们聪明又智慧，能干又自信。
8. They may be able to help with childcare so that you can have a break
   他们可以帮忙照料孩子，这样你就可以歇一歇了。
9. If only I could get some sleep, I would be able to cope.
   要是能睡上一会儿，我就能应付了。
10. We have been able to divorce sex from reproduction.
    我们已经能够将性和生育完全分开了。
11. You have to be able to describe things in a form that the end user can understand.
    你必须以终端用户可以理解的方式描述产品。
12. We may not be able to do it to the extent that we would like.
    我们也许无法把这件事做到我们希望的程度。
13. Without them you will not be able to fulfil the tasks you have before you
    没有他们你将无法完成面临的任务。
14. They'll be able to furnish you with the rest of the details.
    他们将可向你提供其余的细节。
15. This year we won't even be able to buy presents for our grandchildren. It's heartbreaking.
    今年我们甚至无法给自己的孙儿辈买礼物了。这真让人心碎。
16. He may be able to leave hospital early next week.
    他下周初也许就可以出院了。
17. I was able to gain invaluable experience over that year
    在那一年里我有幸获得了非常宝贵的经验。
18. I hope that everyone will be able to join in the fun
    我希望每个人都能够加入进来，玩得开心。
19. Any knowledgeable wine merchant would be able to advise you.
    任何一个懂行的葡萄酒商人都可以给你提出建议。
20. It must be better to be able to offer them love and security
    要是能给予他们关爱和安全感肯定会更好。
21. If you need help at work, your Personnel Manager should be able to help.
    如果你工作中需要帮助，人事经理应该能帮上忙。
22. I hope at least my daughter was able to offer you some useful pointers
    我希望至少我的女儿为你提供了一些有用的建议。
23. So far we haven't been able to find anything, but we're still researching.
    目前我们还没有任何发现，但是我们仍在研究。
24. We were only able to make a rough estimate of how much fuel would be required
    我们只能对所需燃料作一个粗略的估计。
25. He was able to sever all emotional bonds to his family.
    他切断了和家人的所有感情纽带。
26. We shall be able to tell whether you've kept your side of the bargain.
    我方应能知道你方是否遵守了协议。
27. He was both willing and able to subordinate all else to this aim.
    为了这个目标他愿意并能够把其他一切都放在次要的位置。
28. Are there some countries that have been able to tackle these problems successfully?
    有没有哪些国家已经能成功解决这些问题了？
29. Parents will be able to discuss their child's progress with their teacher
    家长将可以和老师交流谈论子女的进步情况。
30. He was able to hold back his anger and avoid a fight.
    他忍住了怒气，避免了一场殴斗。

  able capable【导航词义：有能力的】

  able adj. 能干的，有能力的

〔辨析〕指体力或智力方面有能力胜任的，作表语时常后接动词不定式，表示“能够…的”、“会…的”。

  capable adj. 能力强的，有本领的

〔辨析〕指具有接受、适应等能力的，强调足以胜任某事；作表语时常后接介词 of，表示“能…的”，其主语可以是人或物。

adj

1. (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
   1. able to swim
   2. she was able to program her computer
   3. we were at last able to buy a car
   4. able to get a grant for the project

2. having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity
   1. able to learn
   2. human beings are able to walk on two feet
   3. Superman is able to leap tall buildings

3. have the skills and qualifications to do things well
   1. able teachers
   2. a capable administrator
   3. children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable

   Synonym:    capable

4. having a strong healthy body
   1. an able seaman
   2. every able-bodied young man served in the army

   Synonym:    able-bodied