"Capable"

T   Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:53 pm GMT
Is it possible to say "it made me feel capable" (and if yes, what is the exact meaning), or do I have to say "it made me feel capable of something"?
Thank you.
furrykef   Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:38 am GMT
It's possible to say that, but I don't think it's common unless there is anything in particular that you're referring to being capable of. In that case, the exact meaning depends on what that thing is. If you just want to refer to general capability, you could say "It made me feel capable of accomplishing things", for example. I think there might be a more succinct term with the same meaning in that case, but I can't think of one right now.

By the way, the idiom is "if so" rather than "if yes". I know it's arbitrary, but that's how it is... :)

- Kef
T   Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:34 am GMT
Thanks, Kef! So, could you give me an example where "made me feel capable" would be ok?
JP   Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:54 am GMT
How about these:

"Successfully completing the difficult procedure made me feel very capable in lab."

Here, the word "capable" has a similar meaning to "proficient," which would also work well in this sentence.

Or,

"When he said that, it made me feel quite capable."