Breakdown of Она очень способная девочка.
она
she / it (for a feminine noun)
девочка
girl
очень
very
способный
capable, gifted
Questions & Answers about Она очень способная девочка.
Why is способная translated as "gifted" rather than "capable"?
While способный literally means "capable" or "able," when applied to a child or student like a девочка, it usually means they are a fast learner, gifted, or have high potential. It is very similar to calling a student "bright" in English.
Should there be a dash (-) between Она and девочка to replace the missing verb "is"?
No, you do not need a dash here. In Russian, a dash replaces the present-tense verb "to be" when both the subject and the core description (predicate) are nouns, like in Анна — девочка (Anna is a girl). Since the subject here is the pronoun Она, the dash is dropped.
Could I use девушка instead of девочка in this sentence?
That depends on her age! Девочка specifically refers to a female child or pre-teen. If you are talking about a teenager or a young woman, you must use девушка. Learners often mix these two up, but using the wrong one can sound very strange to a native speaker.
Does the word способная come from the same root as способ (method)?
Yes, they share the same root. A способ is a way or method of doing something, and способность is an ability. So, a способная девочка is a girl who has the innate ability or capacity to learn and do things well.
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