is she capable of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is she capable of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to inquire about someone's ability or competence in performing a specific task or action. Example: "I wonder if she is capable of leading the project on her own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

[She is] throwing up out a window... she's throwing up, how is she capable of giving consent?" He speculated that the lenient charges were due to the two being tried in youth court.

Vice

After 393 pages of relentless cliché, Cynthia concludes: "But the truth is that if I'd known as a teenager what falling for John would lead to, I would have turned round right then and walked away". Is she capable of deeper insights than this wistful gossip?

The Guardian - Books

Is she capable of making light-hearted quips about bathroom cleaner and enjoying the reaction said quip prompts in others?

Independent

Is she capable of letting go of the past to start over and perhaps find love again?

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In response to the criticism, Mustafa released a video saying she did not consider her words to be sexist or racist, nor was she capable of being discriminatory.

The Guardian

She knows who she is and what she is capable of".

Wikipedia

It is said that she is capable of making up to fifty facial expressions and can equally express feelings.

Forbes

Maggie herself may be tough, but she is capable of bursts of bilious anger.

The Guardian

Her third song of the evening, "To Be Torn", suggests she is capable of shouldering the weight of her influences.

The Guardian - Music

Marshall gave the best she could on the night – but it was not the best she is capable of.

The Guardian - Sport

At 15, she said, she was capable of being possessed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is she capable of", ensure the context clearly defines the skill or action being discussed. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid overstating someone's capabilities. Instead of assuming "she is capable of" handling everything, assess realistic skills and limits to avoid setting unrealistic expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is she capable of" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about a person's ability or competence. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in asking whether someone possesses the skills or qualities needed for a specific task or action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is she capable of" serves as a grammatically sound and readily usable inquiry into a person's skills or abilities. Ludwig AI validates this. While the phrase is not extremely common, appearing mostly in news and media contexts, it effectively conveys a question about someone's competence or potential. When using this phrase, it's important to provide a clear context to what ability or task you are referring to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is she able to

Replaces "capable" with "able", indicating a general ability to do something.

can she

A more direct and informal way of asking about someone's ability.

does she have the ability to

Emphasizes the possession of the required ability.

is she equipped to

Focuses on whether someone has the necessary resources or skills.

is she competent to

Highlights someone's competence or qualification to perform a task.

is she fit to

Indicates suitability or preparedness for a specific role or action.

is she qualified to

Stresses the formal qualifications required for a task.

is she up to

A colloquial expression for being equal to a challenge.

is she equal to

Emphasizes that the person is on par with the task or challenge.

is she in a position to

Highlights the circumstantial possibility of doing something rather than intrinsic ability.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "is she capable of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "is she able to", "does she possess the capacity to", or "is she competent to".

What's a more casual way to ask "is she capable of"?

Informally, you can ask "can she", "is she up to it", or simply "can she do it".

Is there a difference between "is she capable of" and "is she able to"?

While similar, "is she capable of" often suggests a broader, more inherent ability, whereas "is she able to" might refer to a more specific, situational possibility.

When is it appropriate to use "is she capable of" in writing?

Use "is she capable of" when inquiring about someone's general skills, competence, or inherent ability to perform a particular task or action. For example, "Is she capable of leading the project?"