Word Differentiation 1

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Able---------- Capable

able - if someone or something is able to do something, they have skills or qualities which make it possible for them to do it.

capable - if a person or thing is capable of doing something, they have the ability, capacity, or potential to do it.

The different usage between able and capable is ' able ' has a broader meaning in one's ability but ' capable ' shows one's ability in a more specialized aspect.


* She is an able teacher. ( She is a teacher with quality )

* She is a capable teacher. ( She has the ability to be a teacher )


Capable also shows a sense of possibility whereas there is no such usage with able.

* The situation is capable of improvement.
In this situation, we can't replace capable with able to show the possibility for improvement.


Ability can be acquired through a series of training, but capability has nothing to do with training.

* I do not doubt his ability to do the work.

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eligible ----------illegible

eligible - suitable, worthy

* She is looking for an eligible bachelor for her daughter.

* All Malaysian citizens of twenty-one years and above are eligible to vote.

illegible - too unclear to be read

* He had to type his work since his writing was illegible.

* The signature on the medical certificate was illegible.

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eminent ----------imminent

eminent - prominent, distinguished, famous

.

* His operation was carried out by an eminent surgeon.

* An eminent scientist has made a breakthrough in the field of nuclear physics.

imminent - about to take place

.

* As the sky grew darker, a storm seemed imminent.

* The imminent arrival of the guest made everyone a little nervous.

* There was little hope of his living and his imminent death made everyone feel sad.

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ensure---------- assure

ensure - to make sure; to make sure something will happen

.

* The medicine will ensure you a good night's rest.

* You must always ensure that all doors and grilles are locked before going to bed.

assure - to inform confidently, to promise, to persuade

.

* I assure you the medicine will work.

* He hastened to assure the hotel guests that the water shortage would not affect them.

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formally ----------formerly

formally - ceremonially, according to custom

.

* She was formally crowned Miss World last night.

* The exhibition was formally opened by the Minister of Education.

formerly - previously, in earlier times

* He was formerly the Prime Minister of Russia.

*East Timor was formerly part of Indonesia.

* Muhammad Ali was formerly known as Cassius Clay.

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hanged ---------- hung

hanged - executed by hanging

* The prisoner was hanged at dawn today.

* In the days of the Wild West, men were hanged from the nearest tree by the lynch mob.


hung - suspended

.

* The picture was hung above the sideboard

* They hung the bags from the pegs on the wall of the changing room.

* The wet clothes were hung out to dry in the sun.

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historic ---------- historical

historic - important in history

* Welcome to historic Melaka.

* Independence Day is a historic day for any nation.

* When man first landed on the moon it was considered a feat of historic importance.

historical - concerning history as a subject

* He is a member of the National Historical Society.

* She really loves reading historical novels about 18th century Europe.