able
part of speech
adjective (able; abler, ablest — rare; more able, most able)
meaning for a pupil
1) If you are able to do something, you can do it; you have the skill, strength, time or chance to do it. tree →
2) An able person is clever or good at things, like an able pupil. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah "able men" are capable, trustworthy people chosen for jobs such as ruling or leading. Interpretation: The able men chosen to help Moses judge the people are a model of good leaders, who must be capable and honest. In the primary lessons: «Be able to» is used where «can» does not work: «I will be able to swim», «I have been able to read since I was five». In everyday and safety talk: «Are you able to reach the shelf?». It helps the reader know what someone can or cannot do. Phrases: «be able to», «not able to», «able-bodied», «more able». Many words end in «-able», meaning «can be done»: washable, readable, breakable.
examples
- And if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.' (Torah GEN.47.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me. (Torah NUM.11.14, JPS 1917) tree →
- And I spoke unto you at that time, saying: 'I am not able to bear you myself alone; (Torah DEU.1.9, JPS 1917) tree →
- Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy? (Writings PRO.27.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- None is so fierce that dare stir him up; who then is able to stand before Me? (Writings JOB.41.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- There are the workers of iniquity fallen; they are thrust down, and are not able to rise. (Writings PSA.36.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- I am able to swim a whole length now. tree →
- Will you be able to come to my party? tree →
- She wasn't able to open the jar. tree →
- Birds are able to fly, but penguins are not. tree →
- Owls are able to see in the dark better than us. tree →
- He was able to finish the puzzle in ten minutes. tree →
- The more able readers chose longer books. tree →
- After the injury he was able to walk again. tree →
- "Should I be able to see these flowers?" tree →
note
«Able to» is followed by the base form of a verb: «able to run», not «able to running». Opposite: «unable» («unable to come»). Noun: «ability»; «disabled» means having a disability. «Can» is shorter: «I can swim» = «I am able to swim».
In the corpora
- And if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.'
- I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me.
- And I spoke unto you at that time, saying: 'I am not able to bear you myself alone;
- every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee.
- Thus saith the king: Let not Hezekiah beguile you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand;
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «able» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.