might be capable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "might be capable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a possibility or uncertainty regarding someone's or something's ability to perform a task or function. Example: "She might be capable of completing the project on her own, but I would recommend offering her some assistance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If she can perform this miracle, perhaps she might be capable of others?

The New York Times - Books

They successfully evoked what technology might be capable of, but never physically demonstrated it.

The Guardian - Arts

Within two years, Alexander warned, the group might be capable of destabilizing national power grids.

The New Yorker

Mr. Owens's aesthetic sometimes requires more hippy élan than one might be capable of.

The New York Times

NK cells might be capable of intercepting CTCs and thus blocking the establishment of metastases48.

Nature

Bayliss was asked if he had seen what England might be capable of.

Independent

He began to wonder what humans might be capable of if we were more like octopuses, and vice versa.

The New Yorker

The researchers already have a long list of candidate volcanoes that might be capable of a VEI-7 blast.

Nature

In addition, TEM might be capable of guiding tongue-derived cells to the niche, benefiting cell survival, proliferation and differentiation.

Acta Biomaterialia

A more radical buyout could be something Google's YouTube unit might be capable of, if it dares.

The New York Times

The number of sophisticated cognitive technologies that might be capable of cutting into the need for human labor is expanding rapidly.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "might be capable", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is potentially able to do. For instance, specify the task, skill, or action they might be capable of performing to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be cautious not to present a potential capability as a certainty. Using "might be capable" implies uncertainty; avoid following it with definitive statements that contradict this initial tentativeness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "might be capable" functions as an adjectival phrase expressing possibility or potential. It indicates that someone or something has the potential or ability to perform a specific action or possess a particular quality, but without certainty. Ludwig confirms this common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "might be capable" is a versatile and frequently used adjectival phrase that expresses the possibility of someone or something possessing a particular ability or skill. According to Ludwig, the expression is grammatically correct and commonly found across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "could be capable" or "may be capable" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression of uncertainty. Finally, avoid presenting a potential capability as a certainty to maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be capable

Replaces "might" with "could", indicating a similar level of possibility.

may be capable

Substitutes "might" with "may", offering an alternative with nearly identical meaning.

potentially able to

Rephrases the ability aspect using "able to" and introduces "potentially" to emphasize possibility.

conceivably able to

Uses "conceivably" to highlight the possibility and replaces "capable" with "able to".

possibly equipped to

Changes "capable" to "equipped", suggesting possession of necessary resources, and uses "possibly" for the uncertainty.

might have the ability to

Expands the phrase to include "ability", making it more explicit but slightly wordier.

could possess the skills to

Focuses on "skills" as the enabling factor, replacing "capable" with a more specific term.

may be up to the task of

Uses an idiomatic expression "up to the task" to convey capability.

potentially have what it takes to

Employs another idiomatic expression "what it takes" to indicate the necessary qualities.

might stand a chance of

Shifts the focus to the likelihood of success, rather than inherent capability.

FAQs

How to use "might be capable" in a sentence?

Use "might be capable" to express a possibility or uncertainty about someone's ability to do something. For example, "She "might be capable" of completing the project alone."

What can I say instead of "might be capable"?

You can use alternatives like "could be capable", "may be capable", or "potentially able to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "might be capable" or "might can"?

"Might be capable" is grammatically correct. "Might can" is generally considered incorrect in standard English. It's better to say "might be able to" or "might be capable of".

What's the difference between "might be capable" and "is capable"?

"Might be capable" suggests a possibility or uncertainty about someone's ability, while "is capable" states a definite ability. "She "might be capable" implies less certainty than "She is capable".