were capable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were capable for" is not correct in English.
The correct expression is "were capable of." Example: "The team were capable of completing the project ahead of schedule."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Colorful display can be realized in our system as the holographic materials were capable for multi-wavelength display.

Optics Communications

Among the employed microbial cultures only A. niger, E. coli, Streptomyces halstedii, P. putida, C. elegans and Sphingomonas paucimobilis were capable for the enantioselective resolution of racemic Carvedilol.

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

The original method and measurement devices were capable for examination of magnetic, mechanical and thermal defects in cylindrical rods made of NdFeB and non-rare earth components.

Journal of Rare Earths

Interestingly, IL10 siRNA-transfected iMoDCs were capable for enhancing the response of allogeneic T cells, providing support for the rational design of bifunctional siRNAs as immune modulating therapy.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Among the microorganisms employed in the study, Aspergillus niger (GUFCC5443), Escherichia coli (ATCC9637), Streptomyces halstedii (CKM-2), Pseudomonas putida (NCIB9494), Cunninghamella elegans (NCIM689) and Sphingomonas paucimobilis (NCTC11030) were capable for the enantioselective conversion of racemic Carvedilol.

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

The charging power reached about 8 mW and 36 mW at the wind speeds of 4 m/s and 6 m/s respectively, which indicated that the MHAWTs were capable for sufficient energy harvesting for powering low-power electronics continuously.

Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

There are a lot of women in this country racing 6.8km, and they've been capable for a while.

The Guardian - Sport

Hamas wants an end to the sanctions and believes the Arabs are capable for breaking the siege imposed by the world community should they will to do so.

The Guardian - Opinion

Our developed analytical models are capable for bounded saline aquifers.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Differential expressions of these genes are capable for tumor invasiveness.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

It means our proposed method is capable for capturing objects which are difficult to segment.

IPSJ Transactions on Computer Vision and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "were capable of" instead of "were capable for". The preposition "of" is required after "capable" when expressing ability.

Common error

Avoid using "for" after "capable". The correct preposition is "of". Using "for" results in a grammatically incorrect sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were capable for" functions as a verb phrase intended to express the ability or potential of a subject to perform an action or possess a quality. However, it is grammatically incorrect, as highlighted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were capable for" is an incorrect construction. The correct form is "were capable of". Despite its presence in some online sources, primarily scientific and news media, its usage is grammatically flawed. As Ludwig AI points out, the expression violates standard English grammar rules, making it unsuitable for formal writing. Always remember to use "of" after "capable" to express the ability to do something. Some alternatives include "were able to" or "had the ability to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were capable of

Corrects the grammatical error by using the correct preposition, 'of'.

were able to

Replaces "capable" with "able", providing a simpler and more common alternative.

had the ability to

Expresses capability using the noun "ability" instead of the adjective "capable".

were equipped to

Suggests that they possessed the necessary resources or skills.

were competent to

Emphasizes the possession of the necessary skills or knowledge.

were suited for

Focuses on the appropriateness or fitness for a particular purpose.

were qualified for

Highlights the possession of the formal qualifications.

were apt to

Implies a natural tendency or inclination.

were positioned to

Suggests being in a favorable situation or condition.

were in a position to

Expresses that someone/something had the resources, means, or the right circumstances to do something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "capable" in a sentence?

The adjective "capable" is typically followed by the preposition "of" when indicating ability or potential. For example, "They "were capable of" completing the project."

What can I say instead of "were capable for"?

Use ""were capable of"", "were able to", or "had the ability to" to express the same idea with correct grammar.

Is "capable to" grammatically correct?

No, "capable to" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "capable of".

How does the meaning change if I use "capable of" instead of "were capable for"?

Using "capable of" ensures grammatical correctness, while "were capable for" is considered incorrect. The intended meaning of possessing an ability remains the same, but the correct phrasing is essential for clear communication.