If most members of a whole education board on which I sit “cannot be able” to see this, where are we headed? TAUTOLOGYIn the phrase “be able”, the word “be” is the verb (conjugated in the simple present as “am”, “are” and “is”, depending on the number and person), and the word “able” is an adjective, which means “capable” or “equal to a task”. Thus we say: “He is able”, “I am able”, “They are able”, et cetera. INFINITIVESThere is, however, something peculiar about the verb “can” which the verbal phrase “be able” does not have. But, your PhD notwithstanding, it is illiterate to claim that you “can be able” to teach at a university.

Source: Daily Nation May 29, 2020 20:37 UTC