Cool MateCapable vs Competent vs Qualified
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Capable
Competent
Qualified
| Capable | Competent | Qualified | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkeɪpəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd/"]/ |
| Meaning | able to do something; having the skill or power to do it | Able to do something well | Having the right skills or knowledge for a job. |
| Example | She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own. | She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases. | She is a highly qualified teacher with years of experience. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, fully, more than, perfectly, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, in | be, become, get, highly, well, fully, as, be, feel, eminently, ideally, uniquely, be, heavily |
| Antonyms | incapable, unable | incompetent, inept, unqualified | unqualified, incompetent |
| Common mistakes | Confused about using 'capable of' versus 'capable for'., Using 'capability' instead of 'capable' incorrectly., Using 'capable' as an adverb (it’s an adjective). | 'Competency' is confused with 'competence' despite the latter being more commonly used., Using 'competent' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'competent' with 'complacent', which means self-satisfied. | Confusing 'qualified' with 'qualifying', Using 'qualified' without specifying what for, Mispronouncing 'qualified' with an incorrect emphasis |
| Usage notes | Use 'capable' to describe someone or something that has the ability to achieve a task. It's suitable in both personal and professional contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual situations. | Use 'competent' to describe someone who can perform a task effectively. It's appropriate in professional or academic contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Used when discussing someone's abilities in a work context. Appropriately used in job interviews and resumes, but avoid informal situations. |
Frequently asked questions: Capable vs Competent vs Qualified
What's the difference between Capable, Competent, and Qualified?
Capable: able to do something; having the skill or power to do it Competent: Able to do something well Qualified: Having the right skills or knowledge for a job.
Which is more common: Capable, Competent, and Qualified?
Qualified is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Capable, Competent, and Qualified?
Competent is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Capable, Competent, and Qualified the same CEFR level?
Capable: B2, Competent: C1, Qualified: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Capable, Competent, and Qualified?
Capable: adjective, Competent: adjective, Qualified: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Capable: She is quite capable of handling difficult situations on her own. Competent: She is a competent lawyer who always wins her cases. Qualified: She is a highly qualified teacher with years of experience.
Can I use Capable, Competent, and Qualified interchangeably?
Not always. Capable, Competent, and Qualified are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.