① able指人有足夠的智慧或力量,聰明能干,也可表示人的體力或身體狀況,常用于好事,作表語時后接to do sth.。
He is an
able architect. 他是個很有才干的建筑師。
The patient was poorly
able to sit up. 病人僅能勉強坐起來。
② capable表示做某事所必需的能力,側(cè)重于有潛能或可能性,可指好事與壞事,語氣比able弱,作表語時后接of(doing)sth.。
She is a very
capable driver.她是個技術(shù)熟練的駕駛員。
He is most
capable of leadership. 他極有領(lǐng)導(dǎo)才能。
She is perfectly
capable of taking care of herself. 她完全能夠照顧自己。
He's quite
capable of neglecting his duty. 他很有可能玩忽職守。
That scoundrel is
capable of anything. 那個惡棍什么壞事都干得出來。
③ competent著重具有勝任某項工作的技能或所需條件。
A
competent typist is not necessarily a
competent secretary. 合格的打字員不一定就是合格的秘書。