Italian → English
► able
/BrE ˈeɪb(ə)l 
, AmE ˈeɪbəl /
To be able to meaning can is usually translated by the verb potere: I was not able to go = non ci sono potuto andare; I was not able to help him = non ho potuto aiutarlo. - The main exception to this occurs when to be able to implies the acquiring of a skill, when sapere is used: he's nine and he's still not able to read = ha nove anni e ancora non sa leggere. - Note that to be able to in the past is translated by riuscire, especially when some effort is implied: compare He could swim very well = sapeva nuotare benissimo, and he was able to swim ashore before he fainted = riuscì a nuotare fino a riva prima di svenire. See this entry for more examples and other uses.
adjective
1 (having ability to)
to be able to do potere fare, saper fare, essere capace di fare, riuscire a fare
he was, wasn't able to read it era, non era in grado di leggerlo
she was able to play the piano at the age of four sapeva suonare il piano a quattro anni
I'll be (better) able to give you more information after the meeting potrò darti maggiori informazioni dopo la riunione
2 (skilled) [lawyer, teacher etc.] abile, capace; (gifted) [child] dotato