形容词 able 的语法特点与用法要点
1. 表示“有能力的”、“能干的”,可用作表语或定语。如:
He is an able manager. 他是位有能力的经理。
He is old but still able. 他虽年老,但仍有很能干。
2. 用于 be able to do sth (能或会做做某事)。如:
He is able to speak English. 他会说英语。
Everyone here is able to type. 这儿的每一个人都会打字。
He will be able to get about in a week or two. 再过一两个星期左右他就能走动了。
He studied hard and was able to pass his examinations. 他学习很努力,所以考试及了格。
注:be able to 不仅有多种时态形式(通常不用于进行时或与 be going to 连用),而且还可以与某些情态动词连用(通常不与 can 连用),甚至还可以有非谓语形式。如:
Since his accident he hasn’t been able to leave the house. 自出事之后,他一直未能离开家。
You might be able to persuade him. 你也许能够说服他。
I hope to be able to do the work. 我希望能干得了这项工作。
I regret not being able to help her. 我很遗憾未能帮助她。
3. able 的比较级和最高级通常是 abler 和 ablest,也可以是 more able 和 most able,有时还可用 better able 和 best able。如:
You are better able to do it than I (am). 你比我更有能力做这件事。
She’s the person best able to cope. 她是个最能妥善处理问题的人。
4. 若要加强语气,其前除可 very, quite, perfectly 等修饰外,有时还可用 well 修饰。如:
He is quite [well] able to take care of himself. 他完全有能力照顾自己。
He’s a very able student; he’s just too lazy. 他是个很有能力的学生,只是太懒了。
若受 just, only just 修饰,则表示“只能”“仅能”。如:
I was just able to make out a dark figure in the distance. 我只能看见远处有个黑影。
5. able 的反义词是 unable(不能的,不会的),不是 disable,后者是动词,其意为“使残废”“使无能力”。比较:
They were unable to reach a decision. 他们没法做出决定。
Now that he was disabled, his house had become a prison to him. 因为他残废了,他的房子就成了他的牢笼。