ability

IPA/əˈbɪləti/
KK[əbˈɪlətˌi]IPA/əˈbɪləti/

ability — noun

  • abilitysingular
  • abilitiesplural

1. what makes a person or thing able to do a particular activity — whether through

1.名詞A2
釋義

what makes a person or thing able to do a particular activity — whether through body, mind, or training.

例句

Diego lost the ability to walk after the motorcycle crash.

ability + to-infinitive (loss-of-ability frame)

Octopuses have a remarkable ability to squeeze through tiny gaps.

subject = animal/object; ability + to-infinitive describing a property

同義詞
  • capacity

    more formal; emphasises the limit of what someone or something can hold or do.

  • capability

    near-synonym; often used for machines, organisations, or trained skills.

  • power

    wider scope; includes strength, authority, or right, not just skill.

反義詞
  • inability

    direct opposite — not being able to do something.

  • incapacity

    formal; often medical or legal context for lacking ability.

文法句型

ability + to-infinitive

have the ability to do something

of + ability (people of mixed ability)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person or living thing; the to-infinitive names the specific activity. Distinguish from sense 2 — sense 1 answers whether the activity is possible at all, sense 2 answers how well it is done.

常見錯誤

❌I have the ability of swim.
✅I have the ability to swim.
💡'ability' takes a to-infinitive, not 'of + -ing'.
❌She has ability to read music.
✅She has the ability to read music.
💡when naming a specific skill, use 'the ability', not bare 'ability'.

2. how good someone is at something — the level of skill, talent, or intelligence t

2.名詞B1
釋義

how good someone is at something — the level of skill, talent, or intelligence they show, often compared with other people.

例句

Kwame's musical ability surprised the judges at the village competition.

modifier + ability (musical / artistic / athletic ability)

The school groups children of different abilities into the same maths class.

of + adjective + abilities (mixed-ability classroom)

同義詞
  • talent

    implies natural, often impressive skill; not used for ordinary competence.

  • aptitude

    formal; the natural tendency to learn a particular subject well.

  • proficiency

    formal; trained skill at a measurable level (often languages or trades).

  • skill

    wider; covers any learned competence, with or without natural talent.

反義詞

文法句型

of + adjective + ability

abilities (plural)

natural / academic / musical ability

用法筆記

Often paired with descriptive adjectives (natural, academic, musical, athletic) or appears in the plural ('abilities') to cover a set of related skills. Distinguish from sense 1 — this sense compares degrees of competence rather than stating whether an activity is possible.

常見錯誤

❌Students with high ability go to advanced class.
✅Students of high ability go to the advanced class.
💡for level descriptions, prefer 'of + adjective + ability'.
❌His abilities to play the piano is amazing.
✅His ability to play the piano is amazing.
💡when followed by a single to-infinitive activity, use singular 'ability'.