The phrase "able were" is not correct and does not form a standard expression in written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of capability in a past context, but it requires rephrasing for clarity and correctness.
Example: "They were able to complete the project on time."
Alternatives: "capable of" or "managed to".
(In the old days, able pupils took O-levels and those deemed less able were made to sit CSEs instead).
In examining their destabilizing effect on American critical skills, one can't discount the casting: able were we ere we saw Elba.
Mr. Boyce added that soldiers who are able were asked to attend a daily morning meeting where treatment options and other information were discussed but that the sessions were not inspections.
The other bohemians, all able, were the baritone Richard Zeller as Marcello, the bass Tigran Martirossian as Colline and, in an effective Met debut, Sebastian Catana, a lanky baritone from Romania, as Schaunard.
In How to Save the Underclass (1996), Robin argued that in Britain and other rich countries, universal access to education and Thatcherite liberalisation (of which he approved) had created a "severe meritocracy" in which the least able were left unacceptably far behind.
Less than one in 10 able were able to name anything other than changing bowel habits and blood in stools.
In in vitro experiments described in papers [1], [2], CML cancer cells, Ba/F3 p210bcr-able were exposed to a minimally cytotoxic agent, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), a potent inducer of point mutations.
Others - particularly the young and able - were not concerned that all that much would change because of the current slump, caused in part by the recession, or the gulf spill.
Others were able to avoid being institutionalized.
They were able to gain access later.
