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ability/capability

Russian translation: см. ниже


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16:02 Nov 29, 2003
English to Russian translations [Non-PRO]
/ semantics
English term or phrase: ability/capability
What’s the difference between these two semantically similar nouns: ability and capability? No dictionary I looked them up in discriminated them, apart from that they have different prepositions.
Roman
Russian translation:см. ниже
Explanation:
На мой взгляд основное семантическое различие между ability и capability заключается в том, что во втором случае речь идет о потенциальной возможности или способности.
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Vladimir Pochinov
Russian Federation
Local time: 14:43
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Summary of answers provided
4 +4см. ниже
Vladimir Pochinov
5 +1sposobnostji/vozmozjnostjixxxuldis
5 +1they are not that similar
Vladimir Dubisskiy
5capabiliity = potentiality = capacity
Igor Zabuta
5explanation for able/capable
Nik-On/Off


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
sposobnostji/vozmozjnostji


Explanation:
primerno, hotja raznjica mjeboljshaja

xxxuldis
Latvia
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: Native in LatvianLatvian, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in pair: 29

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vladimir Dubisskiy
4 hrs
  -> Spasibo, Vladimir
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
см. ниже


Explanation:
На мой взгляд основное семантическое различие между ability и capability заключается в том, что во втором случае речь идет о потенциальной возможности или способности.

Vladimir Pochinov
Russian Federation
Local time: 14:43
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in pair: 5040
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  ga5
3 mins
  -> Спасибо!

agree  vlad bond: capability: the potential ability of a person or machine to do something complex or demanding
19 mins
  -> Спасибо!

agree  Janina Nowrot
2 hrs

agree  Ol_Besh
3 hrs

neutral  xxxOleg Pashuk: And "ability" is not "О потенциальной возможности или способности"?
3 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
capabiliity = potentiality = capacity


Explanation:

From "Lingvo" dictionaty:

Capability =
1) одаренность, талантливость, способность
Syn: talent , ability , capacity
2) (потенциальные) возможности
Syn: potentiality
3) мощность; производительность
4) способность, потенциал
Syn: potential

So they are synonyms in the first meaning only.
Ability, in difference to Capability, does not imply potentiality or capacity.


Igor Zabuta
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in pair: 20
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
explanation for able/capable


Explanation:
The word "able" means "having the ability to perform a given act." For example,
I am able to walk through that swamp
The word "capable" means (i) "having adequate capacity to do or to make" or (ii) "having adequate capacity to receive an action." For example,
He is a capable leader.
This book is capable of being translated.
A common error arises from the attempt to use "able" for "capable" in the second meaning listed above, i.e., situation in which the "capacity to receive an action" is involved.
Wrong: This law is able to be evaded (Wrong because the capacity to receive an action is involved)
Right: This law is capable of being evaded.
Wrong: This tanker is able to be restored.
Right: This tanker is capable of being restored

(from The Most Common Mistakes in English Usage by T.E. Berry, McGraw-Hill)

Nik-On/Off
Ukraine
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in pair: 2657
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
they are not that similar


Explanation:
capability - the QUALITY of being capable, ie of having the ability of doing or being..
The child has great capabilities. She has a great capability as a singer.
ability - power and skill (to do, think, make).
She has the ability to go to university but she doesn't want to.

Vladimir Dubisskiy
Local time: 04:43
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in pair: 2044

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Oleg Sollogub: right
1 day8 hrs
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