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Preposition after adjective

Able for or able in?

Able is usually followed by to. Able for and able in are limited and context-dependent expressions.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with able?

The most common pattern is able to + verb. Able for is sometimes used to mean suitable or fit for a task. Able in can describe skill within an area, but it is much less common than able at or skilled in.

She is able to solve the problem quickly.
He is able for military service.
The student is able in mathematics.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
able to + verb

Talking about capability

Use able to before a verb to describe someone who has the ability or opportunity to do something.

We were able to finish on time.
Are you able to join the meeting?
2
able for + noun

Describing suitability or fitness

Able for can mean physically or mentally fit for a duty or activity. This use is formal and limited.

She is now able for work again.
The patient was declared able for travel.
3
able in + field

Describing ability in a subject area

Able in is occasionally used to describe skill in a field, although able at or skilled in is more natural in modern English.

He is able in several languages.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
able to
They were able to contact the manager.
Standard pattern for ability or possibility.
able for
She is able for full-time work again.
Formal expression meaning fit or ready for something.
able in
He is able in technical subjects.
Possible but less natural than able at or skilled in.
able at
She is able at drawing.
More natural way to describe skill in an activity.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using able in instead of able to

Use able to before a verb, not able in.

✕ She is able in solve it. ✓ She is able to solve it.

Using able for with actions

Able for is followed by a noun phrase, not an infinitive.

✕ He is able for complete the race. ✓ He is able to complete the race.

Overusing able in

Able in is possible but often sounds old-fashioned or unnatural.

✕ She is able in music. ✓ She is skilled in music.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Are you ___ attend the conference tomorrow?
2. After recovery, he was ___ work again.
3. She is very skilled ___ design.

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Frequently asked questions

Is able for common in modern English?

It is fairly limited and often appears in formal or regional usage about fitness for work or duty.

Can I say able in mathematics?

Yes, but able at mathematics or skilled in mathematics is more natural in current English.

What is the most common pattern with able?

Able to + verb is the standard and most frequent structure.

abhorrent-to-in-for-of, about "ablaze with" or "ablaze in"? "abreast of" or "abreast with"? "absent from" or "absent in"? absolute in, for, of, to or as? "absurd to", "absurd in" or "absurd for"? abundant in, with, of, on or for? "abusive to", "abusive in" or "abusive towards"? "academic in" or "academic at"? "acceptable to" or "acceptable for"? accessible to, by, for, from or in? "accountable for" or "accountable to"?

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