108. ¿Cómo se dice: She’s the most able teacher I’ve ever met o She’s the most capable teacher I’ve ever met?

Ambas frases son correctas y significan lo mismo. Able y capable son palabras que indican la posesión de una destreza, habilidad o grado de competencia y, en algunos casos, se puede usar cualquiera de las dos:

Sammy is an able electrician; I would recommend him.

Tammie is a capable electrician; I would recommend her.

He’s able to manage customers after doing that training course.

He’s capable of managing customers now thanks to the training course.

Sin embargo, en otra serie de casos eso no es así. Cuando nos referimos a ‘tener lo que se necesita —destreza, tiempo u oportunidad— para hacer algo’ usamos able:

I’m not capable of meeting you tonight as I’ve got to work late.

I won’t be able to meet you tonight as I’ve got to work late.

Were you able to find what you wanted?

Thanks to these new glasses I’m able to read small print without straining my eyes.

Cuando describimos el carácter de alguien, en términos de lo que su temperamento le puede llevar a hacer, usamos capable. Por lo general, se utiliza para referirse a rasgos negativos de carácter, más que a rasgos positivos:

He’s capable of breaking his promise at any time.

The rumours about his private life sound exaggerated but you’d be surprised what he’s capable of.

Aunque capable también puede enfatizar la competencia:

He’s capable of serving everyone in the restaurant single-handedly if necessary.

Algunas frases hechas se forman con able y capable:

At that time, all able-bodied men were obliged to report for military service.

For the rest of the museum tour, I’ll leave you in the capable hands of our Greek art specialist, Mr Elgin.