What does able mean?
Word: Able
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Able means if you are able to do something, you have the skill, strength or chance to do it. A person who is able is also good at what they do.
Synonyms: capable, skilled
Antonyms: unable
How do you spell able?
Syllables: a - ble
Tricky part: The word ends in -le, not -el or -ul. You hear a sound like 'bul' at the end, but it is written b-l-e.
Watch out for: abul, abil, abal
Memory tip: Say the letters as a quick chant, a-b-l-e. The e you cannot hear comes last, after the l.
Idioms and Phrases
- able-bodied: strong and healthy enough to do physical work Example: "Every able-bodied student helped to carry the benches to the hall."
Able in a sentence
Example 1: After a week of practice, Kabir was able to ride his bike without help.
Example 2: Are you able to see the stage from the back row?
Example 3: Our captain is an able leader who listens to everyone.
Fun Fact
Able came into English from Old French, which got it from the Latin habilis, meaning easy to hold or handle.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. above 2. able 3. about
a) 123
b) 231
c) 213
d) 321
Show answer
b) 231. Each word begins with ab. After that, l comes before o, and about (u) comes before above (v).
Spellacadabra
From which option does a letter need to be removed to make a meaningful word?
a) bubble
b) noble
c) eagle
d) aible
Show answer
d) aible. Take out the i and aible becomes able, which starts with a plain a.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with the given word?
able
a) babble
b) cable
c) fable
d) table
Show answer
a) babble. Babble has a short 'a' as in cat, so it does not sound like able.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Grandpa was able to read the small print without his spectacals.
a) only spectacals
b) small and read
c) only print
d) able and spectacals
Show answer
a) only spectacals. Able is fine here; spectacles ends in -cles.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Because of the heavy rain, Arjun was not able to go to school. This means he...
a) went home early
b) went in late
c) did not want to go
d) could not go
Show answer
d) could not go
2. Which of these sentences uses able in the right way?
a) The baby is not able walk yet.
b) The baby is not able to walk yet.
c) The baby able to walk yet.
d) The baby is not able of walking.
Show answer
b) The baby is not able to walk yet.
