ability

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

ability — 名詞

  • abilitysingular
  • abilitiesplural

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

1.名詞A2
釋義

能力；本領

做某件事所需的身體或心智條件

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.

Diego 在那場機車車禍後失去了走路的能力。

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

Octopuses have a remarkable ability to squeeze through tiny gaps.

章魚有從極小縫隙鑽過的驚人能力。

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

常見搭配
  • ability to do something
  • have the ability to
  • lack the ability to
  • lose the ability to
  • the ability to walk / read / understand
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

才能；資質

個人在某方面顯現的程度或水準

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.

Kwame 的音樂才能讓村莊比賽的評審大感驚訝。

modifier + ability (musical / artistic / athletic ability)

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

這所學校把不同資質的孩子編進同一個數學班。

of + adjective + abilities (mixed-ability classroom)

常見搭配
  • natural ability
  • musical / artistic / athletic ability
  • of mixed ability
  • demonstrate / show ability
  • to the best of one's ability
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'.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

常用片語

  • to the best of one's ability
  • have the ability to do something
  • people of mixed ability
  • natural ability

介系詞搭配