capable of forgetting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "capable of forgetting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that has the ability to forget information or memories. Example: "Humans are capable of forgetting painful experiences over time, allowing them to heal and move on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I'm capable of forgetting anything, anytime.

The New York Times - Magazine

Reagan was dreamy, prone to confuse movies with real life, capable of forgetting the names of his cabinet members; Bush is inarticulate, likely to lose his place midthought and inclined to lowbrow bluster.

The New York Times - Magazine

Writing in the Sun, Redknapp said: "About a year ago I needed to take heart pills and I am still taking them regularly, although I must admit my wife Sandra has to remind me because I get so wrapped up in the game that I'm capable of forgetting just about everything else.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Better teams for sure, but both capable of completely forgetting to turn up on the day.

The Guardian - Sport

Most of us are quite capable, sometimes far more capable than we'd like, of forgetting the particulars.

The New York Times - Magazine

fixed value of forgetting factor.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

But he is also capable of moments of puckish humor and wild speculation, some of which worked their way into "Cave of Forgotten Dreams".

The New York Times

To nobody's surprise, therefore, though the mutant fly is capable of learning things, it forgets them within minutes.

The Economist

They know what they should do, want to do it, and are physically and mentally capable of doing it, but they forget to do it.

What Went Wrong? Case Histories of Process Plant Disasters and How They Could Hare Been Avoided

He later clarified his comments to The Sun: "He is doing everything he needs to get elected Labour leader when he should be trying to get elected PM. "He is talking more to a trade union audience and forgetting he is capable of talking to a wider audience".

Independent

I forgot she was capable of charm at this level.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "capable of forgetting" to emphasize a general ability or potential to forget, rather than a specific instance of forgetting. For instance, 'As we age, we become more capable of forgetting details' highlights a general trend.

Common error

Avoid using "forget" instead of "forgetting" after "capable of". The correct form is the gerund (verb + -ing) because it functions as a noun in this context. Example: It should be 'capable of forgetting', not 'capable of forget'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "capable of forgetting" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by describing its potential or ability to forget. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it attributes the capacity for forgetting to subjects like people or the brain.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capable of forgetting" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that expresses the potential or ability to forget. While not overly common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. To enhance your writing, use it to highlight a general capacity rather than a specific event, and remember the correct grammatical structure, avoiding errors like "capable to forget". Consider semantically similar phrases like "prone to forget" or "forgetful" to achieve different stylistic nuances. Ludwig’s examples further illustrate the context in which this expression is often used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forgetful

A single-word adjective describing someone who often forgets things.

prone to forget

Emphasizes a tendency or likelihood to forget things.

apt to forget

Similar to 'prone to forget', suggesting a natural inclination to forget.

liable to forget

Indicates a susceptibility or vulnerability to forgetting.

inclined to forget

Suggests a leaning or preference towards forgetting.

tends to forget

Describes a habitual behavior of forgetting.

has a memory like a sieve

Figurative expression indicating a very poor memory.

possesses a short memory

Highlights the characteristic of having limited recall ability.

able to blank out

Focuses on the ability to completely erase something from memory.

easy to overlook

Describes a person to easily disregard an information.

FAQs

How can I use "capable of forgetting" in a sentence?

You can use "capable of forgetting" to describe someone or something that has the ability to forget information or memories. For instance, you might say, "The human brain is "capable of forgetting" painful experiences over time."

What is a synonym for "capable of forgetting"?

Some synonyms for "capable of forgetting" include "forgetful", "prone to forget", and "apt to forget". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "capable to forget" instead of "capable of forgetting"?

No, "capable to forget" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""capable of forgetting"". The preposition "of" is required before the gerund form of the verb.

What's the difference between "forgetful" and "capable of forgetting"?

"Forgetful" is an adjective describing someone who often forgets things. "Capable of forgetting" describes a potential or ability to forget, not necessarily a habitual tendency. One describes a state, the other a potential.