# Có khả năng: likely to / able to in Vietnamese (B2)

> Có khả năng has two meanings, and the subject usually tells you which. With an event or a risk, it means "is likely to, could": Bão có khả năng mạnh lên…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-kha-nang/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**likely to / able to**

Pattern: `[subject] + có khả năng + [verb]`

Level: B2 (our estimate) · Register: formal

Typed without accents: co kha nang

*Có khả năng* has two meanings, and the subject usually tells you which. With an event or a risk, it means "is likely to, could": *Bão có khả năng mạnh lên* (the storm is likely to strengthen). With a person or an organisation, it means "be able to, be capable of": *Doanh nghiệp có khả năng trả nợ* (the company is able to repay its debts). Either way, it goes before the verb, like *có thể*.

The "likely" sense fills weather reports and risk warnings: *có khả năng xảy ra lũ quét* (flash floods may occur). The "capable" sense fills job ads and regulations: *có khả năng làm việc độc lập* (able to work independently).

Degrees are easy to add: *có nhiều khả năng* (quite likely), *ít có khả năng* (unlikely), *không có khả năng* (unable to, or no chance of). The noun works alone too: *Khả năng cao là …* (it's highly likely that …).

*Có thể* (can, may) is the everyday word for both meanings and fits any register; *có khả năng* sounds more measured, as if someone has assessed the odds or the ability. *Dự kiến* (expected to) is for planned events, not risks: a meeting *dự kiến* opens on Monday; a storm *có khả năng* arrives on Monday.

In conversation, say *có thể* or *chắc* (probably): *Chắc mai mưa.*

## Examples

- Áp thấp nhiệt đới có khả năng mạnh lên thành bão trong 24 giờ tới. — The tropical depression is likely to strengthen into a storm in the next 24 hours.
- Các tỉnh miền núi phía Bắc có khả năng xảy ra lũ quét và sạt lở đất. — Flash floods and landslides may occur in the northern mountain provinces.
- Ứng viên cần có khả năng làm việc độc lập và chịu được áp lực cao. — Candidates must be able to work independently and cope with high pressure.
- Theo các chuyên gia, lãi suất ít có khả năng giảm trong quý tới. — According to experts, interest rates are unlikely to fall next quarter.

## Compare

- [Expected to (news): dự kiến](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/du-kien/): is expected to
- [Can, may: có thể + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-the-can/): can / may

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