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MUSCOVITE Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
unusual sample sentences with "capable to"
Hi,
I have always thought that the constructs to be able to do smth and to be capable of doing smth do not allow any alternative prepositions, e.g. it would be ungrammatical to say, "to be capable (sic!) to do smth".
That's why I have been so surprised to see the following samples in COCA (a total of 54 hits with capable to were reported):
(1) ...., a fire starts - it's easy to panic, she says. Becoming capable to handle an emergency, step by step, is a process that takes time...
(2) ....The silence of confusion quickly slipped to anger. KC was too smart, too capable to be here by accident. Michael realized that the month they...
(3) ...met and ranks filled, however, draftees with legitimate health issues are often declared capable to serve.
(4).... school managers, to a significantly larger extent than nursing service managers, perceive themselves capable to deal with these demands.
----------- etc.etc.
Could you please CONFIRM here that "to be capable to do smth" is just broken English?
Thank you!
mus-te
I have always thought that the constructs to be able to do smth and to be capable of doing smth do not allow any alternative prepositions, e.g. it would be ungrammatical to say, "to be capable (sic!) to do smth".
That's why I have been so surprised to see the following samples in COCA (a total of 54 hits with capable to were reported):
(1) ...., a fire starts - it's easy to panic, she says. Becoming capable to handle an emergency, step by step, is a process that takes time...
(2) ....The silence of confusion quickly slipped to anger. KC was too smart, too capable to be here by accident. Michael realized that the month they...
(3) ...met and ranks filled, however, draftees with legitimate health issues are often declared capable to serve.
(4).... school managers, to a significantly larger extent than nursing service managers, perceive themselves capable to deal with these demands.
----------- etc.etc.
Could you please CONFIRM here that "to be capable to do smth" is just broken English?
Thank you!
mus-te
Top answer
I'd use "of" in #1, #3 and #4 (though #1 could probably use a better word). The second sentence must use "to" because the meaning of "capable" there is simply able, efficient or skilled. The meaning of "capable" in all the others is "have the capacity to do something" and "capable" there can't be viewed in isolation .
- I'd use "of" in #1, #3 and #4 (though #1 could probably use a better word).
- The second sentence must use "to" because the meaning of "capable" there is simply able, efficient or skilled.
- The meaning of "capable" in all the others is "have the capacity to do something" and "capable" there can't be viewed in isolation .
- For instance, we do say They have amazing staff.
- They are all very capable.
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3 Answers
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I'd use "of" in #1, #3 and #4 (though #1 could probably use a better word). The second sentence must use "to" because the meaning of "capable" there is simply able, efficient or skilled. The meaning of "capable" in all the others is "have the capacity to do something" and "capable" there can't be viewed in isolation .
For instance, we do say
They have amazing staff. They are all very
For instance, we do say
They have amazing staff. They are all very
00
Many thanks for your explanation, Ivanhr!
IvanhrThus, the choice between using "of" and "to" seems to depend on whether you can treat "capable" as a synonym for skilled/able etc, in which case the preposition to is possible, or the whole phrase "capable of something/doing something" should be considered, which would then require you to use "of".I see ...at last
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