incompetent
incompetent — adjective
1. lacking the necessary skills or abilities to carry out a job or task successfull
lacking the necessary skills or abilities to carry out a job or task successfully
The new manager was so incompetent that the whole team missed the project deadline.
so + adjective + that + clause (expressing result)
Mauricio felt incompetent when he could not repair the kitchen tap himself.
After three incompetent cooks ruined the orders, the restaurant owner fired them all.
The clinic finally fired the incompetent nurse who had given the wrong medicine twice.
It is dangerous to let an incompetent driver take the school bus.
- inept
Carries a stronger sense of clumsiness or awkwardness — an inept speaker fumbles even when knowledgeable
- unskilled
Focuses on lack of training rather than inherent inability; more neutral
- incapable
Suggests a lack of power or ability to do something specific rather than a broad lack of qualification
- unqualified
Focuses on lacking formal credentials or specific requirements for a position
用法筆記
Can describe a person directly (an incompetent manager) or a person's actions (an incompetent attempt). Also used after linking verbs: feel incompetent, seem incompetent, prove incompetent.
常見錯誤
incompetent — noun
1. someone whose skills or ability fall short of what a job or task requires
someone whose skills or ability fall short of what a job or task requires
The department hired an incompetent who lost three important files in the first week.
article + incompetent + relative clause (defining the person)
Joon was promoted ahead of two incompetents who had been at the company much longer.
After months of poor work, the team finally removed the incompetent from the project.
Léa refused to work with an incompetent who always blamed others for his mistakes.
- expert
Person with a high level of skill or knowledge
- professional
Qualified person who does work to a high standard
用法筆記
Used as a countable noun to refer to a person, often carrying a strong critical or dismissive tone. More common in spoken workplace criticism than in formal writing.