"can you do" vs "are you able"

Question

"can you do" vs "are you able"

Both "Are you able" and "Can you do" are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. "Are you able" is used to inquire about someone's capability or capacity to do something, while "Can you do" is used to ask if someone has the ability or permission to do something.

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

This phrase is used to inquire about someone's ability or permission to do something. It is often used in informal contexts.

Examples:

Can you do me a favor?
Can you do the dishes?
Can you do a backflip?
Can you do the presentation tomorrow?
Can you do the job?

Alternatives:

Are you able to
Are you capable of
Do you have the ability to
Are you in a position to
Can you manage to

This phrase is used to ask if someone has the ability or capacity to do something. It is often used in a formal or polite context.

Examples:

Are you able to finish the project by Friday?
Are you able to lift this heavy box?
Are you able to speak Spanish?
Are you able to attend the meeting tomorrow?
Are you able to help me with this task?

Alternatives:

Can you
Do you have the ability to
Are you capable of
Can you manage to
Are you in a position to

Answer 1

can you do

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to ask if someone has the ability or permission to do something.

Answer 2

are you able

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to inquire about someone's capability or capacity to do something.

"can you do" vs "are you able"

can you do

are you able

Related Comparisons