ability 30秒で
- Ability is the power or skill to perform a task, encompassing both natural talent and learned expertise in various fields.
- Grammatically, it is a noun usually followed by 'to' and an infinitive verb, such as 'ability to speak'.
- It is commonly used in professional, academic, and athletic contexts to evaluate a person's competence or potential.
- Synonyms include skill, talent, and capacity, though each has a slightly different nuance in meaning and usage.
The term ability is a fundamental noun in the English language, serving as the cornerstone for discussing potential, skill, and the capacity to perform actions. At its core, it represents the state of being able to do something, whether that capacity is innate, like the ability to breathe, or acquired, like the ability to play the violin. It encompasses both physical power and mental proficiency. When we speak of someone's ability, we are often evaluating their competence in a specific domain. For instance, in an academic setting, a teacher might assess a student's ability to solve complex equations. In a professional context, a manager looks for the ability to lead a team effectively. The word is versatile, appearing in daily conversations, scientific journals, and legal documents alike.
- Innate Ability
- A natural talent or capacity that one is born with, such as a musical ear.
- Acquired Ability
- A skill developed through practice, education, or experience, such as coding.
- Legal Ability
- The legal power or capacity to enter into a contract or perform a duty.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts, but having the ability to adapt is what ensures survival."
To understand 'ability' deeply, one must distinguish it from 'capacity'. While capacity often refers to the volume or potential to hold or receive, ability focuses on the active execution of a task. A glass has the capacity to hold water, but a human has the ability to drink it. This distinction is crucial in technical writing. Furthermore, the word often implies a level of excellence. When we say someone is 'of great ability', we are complimenting their high level of skill. It is a positive attribute that people strive to improve throughout their lives. In psychology, the study of cognitive ability explores how humans process information and solve problems, highlighting that ability is not a static trait but something that can be nurtured and expanded.
The athlete's ability to remain calm under pressure was the key to her victory.
- Physical Ability
- Strength, speed, and coordination required for manual tasks.
- Mental Ability
- Intelligence, memory, and reasoning skills.
In summary, ability is the bridge between potential and action. It is the 'can-do' factor that defines human achievement. Whether we are discussing a child's emerging ability to walk or a scientist's ability to map the genome, we are celebrating the power of doing.
Using the word ability correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical patterns and common collocations. The most frequent structure is ability + to + verb. For example, 'She has the ability to speak five languages.' It is incorrect to say 'ability of speaking'. This is a common pitfall for learners of English. Another important aspect is the use of adjectives to modify the noun. We often use words like 'great', 'remarkable', 'natural', 'limited', or 'proven' to describe the level or type of ability being discussed.
His ability to synthesize complex data into simple reports is highly valued.
- To the best of one's ability
- Doing something as well as one possibly can.
- Mixed-ability
- Used to describe a group (like a classroom) where people have different levels of skill.
In formal writing, ability is preferred over 'can' when you want to sound more professional or precise. Instead of saying 'He can lead', you might write 'He possesses the ability to lead'. This shifts the focus from the action to the quality of the person. Furthermore, 'ability' is often paired with verbs like 'demonstrate', 'show', 'develop', 'improve', or 'lack'. For instance, 'The candidate demonstrated an ability to handle stress.' If someone cannot do something, we say they 'lack the ability' or have an 'inability'.
The course is designed to enhance your ability to communicate in business settings.
When discussing groups, the term 'mixed-ability' is very common in education. A 'mixed-ability class' contains students who learn at different speeds. Understanding this helps in choosing the right teaching strategies. In sports, 'athletic ability' is a standard phrase used by scouts and coaches to evaluate players. By mastering these collocations, you can use ability in a way that sounds natural and sophisticated.
The word ability is ubiquitous, appearing in a variety of environments ranging from the kitchen to the boardroom. In the workplace, it is perhaps most common. During job interviews, recruiters ask about your ability to meet deadlines or your ability to work with a team. Performance reviews often center on how well an employee has demonstrated their ability to fulfill their role. You will see it in job advertisements: 'Must have the ability to lift 50 pounds' or 'Seeking someone with the ability to multi-task'.
The job requires the ability to travel frequently and work long hours.
In educational settings, 'ability' is a key term for assessment. Teachers talk about a student's reading ability or mathematical ability. Standardized tests are often called 'ability tests' because they aim to measure a student's potential for future learning rather than just what they have already learned. In sports and athletics, commentators frequently praise an athlete's 'natural ability' or their 'scary ability' to score from distance. Here, it often refers to physical prowess and instinct.
- Medical Context
- Doctors assess a patient's 'cognitive ability' after a head injury.
- Legal Context
- Lawyers discuss a person's 'mental ability' to stand trial.
You will also encounter ability in technology and gaming. A character in a video game might have a 'special ability' like invisibility or super strength. Software descriptions might mention the 'ability' of a program to export files in different formats. In everyday life, we use it to express modesty or pride: 'I don't have the ability to cook like you do!' or 'He has a strange ability to remember everyone's birthday.' It is a word that bridges the gap between technical jargon and casual conversation.
Even advanced learners can struggle with the nuances of ability. The most frequent error is using the wrong preposition. Many people say 'ability of doing' when the correct form is always ability to do. For example, 'His ability to sing' is correct, while 'His ability of singing' is not. Another common mistake is confusing 'ability' with 'capability' or 'capacity'. While they are related, they are not always interchangeable.
Incorrect: He has the ability of swimming fast.
Correct: He has the ability to swim fast.
Another error involves the word 'can'. While 'can' and 'ability' express the same idea, they cannot be used together in the same phrase. You should not say 'He has the ability can swim.' Instead, use 'He has the ability to swim' or simply 'He can swim.' Furthermore, learners often forget that 'ability' is a noun and 'able' is an adjective. You 'have an ability' but you 'are able'. Confusing these parts of speech leads to awkward sentences like 'He is ability to run.'
- Ability vs. Skill
- 'Ability' is more general; 'Skill' is usually something specific you've learned, like 'typing skills'.
- Ability vs. Talent
- 'Talent' is usually something you are born with; 'Ability' can be born or learned.
Lastly, be careful with the plural. Use 'abilities' when referring to a variety of different skills. If you are talking about one specific skill, use the singular 'ability'. For example, 'His musical abilities (plural) include playing the piano and the flute,' versus 'His ability (singular) to play the piano is amazing.' Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your English sound much more natural and precise.
To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that are similar to ability but have different shades of meaning. Skill is perhaps the closest synonym. However, a skill is usually something very specific that you have practiced, like 'carpentry skills'. Ability is broader. Talent refers to a natural, innate ability that didn't require much effort to start with. You might have a 'talent for drawing' but the 'ability to paint' after years of study.
While he had the ability to learn, it was his talent that made him a star.
- Competence
- The quality of being adequately functional or capable.
- Proficiency
- A high degree of skill or expertise.
- Aptitude
- A natural tendency or suitability for a specific task.
Capacity is another similar word, but it often refers to the maximum amount that something can contain or produce. In a human context, it can mean the mental power to understand something. 'He has the capacity to understand complex physics.' Capability is often used in a more technical or future-oriented way. 'The new software has the capability to process data faster.' It suggests what something *could* do if required. Finally, Expertise is a very high level of ability in a specific field, usually gained through long experience.
Understanding these differences allows you to be more precise. If you want to praise someone's natural gift, use 'talent'. If you want to describe their professional training, use 'expertise' or 'skill'. If you are talking about their general power to do something, ability is your best choice. This variety in your word choice will make your writing and speaking much more engaging.
How Formal Is It?
難易度
知っておくべき文法
Infinitive after nouns
Adjective vs Noun usage
Prefixes (in-)
Suffixes (-ity)
Collocations with 'have'
レベル別の例文
He has the ability to run very fast.
Il a la capacité de courir très vite.
ability + to + infinitive
Birds have the ability to fly.
Les oiseaux ont la capacité de voler.
plural subject + plural verb
Do you have the ability to cook?
As-tu la capacité de cuisiner ?
question form with 'do'
She has a great ability to draw.
Elle a une grande capacité à dessiner.
adjective 'great' modifies 'ability'
My ability to speak English is improving.
Ma capacité à parler anglais s'améliore.
possessive 'my' + ability
Fish have the ability to swim under water.
Les poissons ont la capacité de nager sous l'eau.
prepositional phrase 'under water'
He lacks the ability to read well.
Il manque de la capacité à bien lire.
verb 'lack' + ability
The ability to walk is important.
La capacité de marcher est importante.
subject of the sentence
She showed a natural ability for music.
Elle a montré une capacité naturelle pour la musique.
ability + for + noun
It is important to develop your ability to listen.
Il est important de développer votre capacité d'écoute.
infinitive 'to develop' + object
He has a limited ability to speak French.
Il a une capacité limitée à parler français.
adjective 'limited' modifies 'ability'
The test measures your reading ability.
Le test mesure votre capacité de lecture.
noun adjunct 'reading' + ability
They have the ability to work together.
Ils ont la capacité de travailler ensemble.
adverb 'together' after the verb
She has many different abilities.
Elle a beaucoup de capacités différentes.
plural form 'abilities'
His ability to remember names is amazing.
Sa capacité à se souvenir des noms est incroyable.
gerund 'remembering' is not used here; use 'to remember'
I will do the work to the best of my ability.
Je ferai le travail au mieux de mes capacités.
idiomatic phrase
The course will enhance your ability to lead.
Le cours renforcera votre capacité à diriger.
verb 'enhance' + ability
Mixed-ability classes can be challenging for teachers.
Les classes à niveaux multiples peuvent être un défi pour les enseignants.
compound adjective 'mixed-ability'
He has a remarkable ability to solve problems.
Il a une capacité remarquable à résoudre des problèmes.
adjective 'remarkable'
The manager questioned his ability to handle the project.
Le manager a mis en doute sa capacité à gérer le projet.
verb 'question' + ability
She lost the ability to speak after the accident.
Elle a perdu la capacité de parler après l'accident.
verb 'lose' in past tense
We need to assess the students' artistic ability.
Nous devons évaluer la capacité artistique des étudiants.
possessive plural 'students''
His musical ability was evident from a young age.
Sa capacité musicale était évidente dès son plus jeune âge.
adjective 'evident'
The ability to adapt is crucial in a changing world.
La capacité de s'adapter est cruciale dans un monde qui change.
abstract noun as subject
The job requires a proven ability to manage people.
Le poste exige une capacité prouvée à gérer les gens.
adjective 'proven'
There is a wide range of abilities in this classroom.
Il y a un large éventail de capacités dans cette classe.
phrase 'wide range of'
His inability to accept criticism was his downfall.
Son incapacité à accepter la critique a causé sa perte.
negative prefix 'in-'
The athlete's physical ability is beyond doubt.
La capacité physique de l'athlète ne fait aucun doute.
phrase 'beyond doubt'
She has an uncanny ability to predict the future.
Elle a une capacité étrange à prédire l'avenir.
adjective 'uncanny'
The software lacks the ability to process large files.
Le logiciel n'a pas la capacité de traiter de gros fichiers.
verb 'lack' + ability
He demonstrated his ability to stay calm under pressure.
Il a démontré sa capacité à rester calme sous la pression.
verb 'demonstrate'
The study looks at the cognitive ability of elderly people.
L'étude porte sur la capacité cognitive des personnes âgées.
technical term 'cognitive ability'
The candidate's intellectual ability is highly impressive.
La capacité intellectuelle du candidat est très impressionnante.
adjective 'intellectual'
He was chosen for his administrative ability.
Il a été choisi pour sa capacité administrative.
adjective 'administrative'
The poem reflects the author's ability to evoke emotion.
Le poème reflète la capacité de l'auteur à susciter l'émotion.
verb 'evoke'
They questioned the government's ability to handle the crisis.
Ils ont mis en doute la capacité du gouvernement à gérer la crise.
possessive 'government's'
Her linguistic ability allowed her to bridge the two cultures.
Sa capacité linguistique lui a permis de faire le pont entre les deux cultures.
adjective 'linguistic'
The experiment tests the rats' ability to navigate a maze.
L'expérience teste la capacité des rats à naviguer dans un labyrinthe.
possessive plural 'rats''
He has a rare ability to make people feel at ease.
Il a une capacité rare à mettre les gens à l'aise.
adjective 'rare'
The loss of his creative ability was a tragedy.
La perte de sa capacité créative a été une tragédie.
noun phrase as subject
The statesman's oratorical ability was legendary.
La capacité oratoire de l'homme d'État était légendaire.
adjective 'oratorical'
She possesses an innate ability to perceive subtle changes.
Elle possède une capacité innée à percevoir les changements subtils.
adjective 'innate'
The project's success hinges on our ability to secure funding.
Le succès du projet dépend de notre capacité à obtenir un financement.
phrasal verb 'hinge on'
His analytical ability is second to none.
Sa capacité d'analyse est inégalée.
idiom 'second to none'
The defendant's mental ability was a key issue in the trial.
La capacité mentale du prévenu était une question clé du procès.
legal context
The machine's ability to self-repair is a breakthrough.
La capacité de la machine à s'auto-réparer est une percée.
compound verb 'self-repair'
He has the uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Il a l'étrange capacité d'être au bon endroit au bon moment.
adjective 'uncanny'
The author's descriptive ability brings the setting to life.
La capacité descriptive de l'auteur donne vie au décor.
adjective 'descriptive'
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
よく混同される語
慣用句と表現
間違えやすい
文型パターン
使い方
Always use 'to' before a verb.
Use 'abilities' for a collection of different skills.
- Using 'ability of' instead of 'ability to'.
- Confusing the noun 'ability' with the adjective 'able'.
- Using 'ability' and 'can' together in the same phrase.
- Using the singular 'ability' when referring to multiple different skills.
- Confusing 'ability' with 'capacity' in technical contexts.
ヒント
Verb Form
Always follow 'ability' with an infinitive verb (to + verb). This is the most natural structure in English.
Synonym Use
Use 'talent' for natural gifts and 'skill' for things you learned. This makes your writing more precise.
Resumes
Use 'proven ability to' when describing your work experience to show you have successfully used a skill before.
Modesty
Using 'to the best of my ability' is a polite way to say you will try your hardest.
Variety
Don't repeat 'ability' too much. Switch to 'capability' or 'expertise' to keep your writing interesting.
Key Words
In lectures, 'ability' often introduces a key concept or a definition. Pay close attention when you hear it.
Testing
In exams, 'reading ability' or 'writing ability' refers to your score in those specific sections.
Compliments
Telling someone they have a 'great ability' is a very high compliment for their hard work or talent.
Avoid 'Can'
Never say 'ability can'. Choose one or the other: 'I can' or 'I have the ability to'.
Stress
Remember the stress is on the 'BIL'. Practice saying 'a-BIL-ity' to sound more like a native speaker.
暗記しよう
記憶術
A-B-I-L-I-T-Y: Always Believe In Learning Important Talents Yearly.
語源
Middle English
文化的な背景
The term 'differently abled' is sometimes used to focus on unique abilities.
The belief that people should progress based on their ability.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
会話のきっかけ
"What is one ability you wish you had?"
"Do you think musical ability is born or learned?"
"How do you improve your ability to focus?"
"What is the most important ability for a leader?"
"Do you have any secret abilities?"
日記のテーマ
Describe an ability you have developed over the last year.
Write about a time you had to work to the best of your ability.
What abilities do you think will be most important in the future?
Reflect on an ability you admire in someone else.
How does your ability to communicate affect your relationships?
よくある質問
10 問It is always 'ability to' followed by a verb. For example, 'ability to sing'. Using 'ability of' is a common mistake.
Yes, you can use it to describe what animals can do, like 'the ability of birds to fly'.
Ability is more general and can be natural. Skill is usually something specific you have learned and practiced.
It is neutral but often used in formal contexts like job applications and academic writing.
The most common opposite is 'inability'.
Yes, 'abilities' is used when talking about several different skills.
You can say 'I have the ability to...'.
It describes a group where people have different levels of skill, common in education.
Yes, they are very similar and often used as synonyms.
It is pronounced a-BIL-i-ty, with the stress on the second syllable.
自分をテスト 180 問
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Ability is a versatile noun representing the 'can-do' factor in humans, essential for describing skills, talents, and potential across all areas of life, from basic physical movements to complex intellectual achievements.
- Ability is the power or skill to perform a task, encompassing both natural talent and learned expertise in various fields.
- Grammatically, it is a noun usually followed by 'to' and an infinitive verb, such as 'ability to speak'.
- It is commonly used in professional, academic, and athletic contexts to evaluate a person's competence or potential.
- Synonyms include skill, talent, and capacity, though each has a slightly different nuance in meaning and usage.
Verb Form
Always follow 'ability' with an infinitive verb (to + verb). This is the most natural structure in English.
Synonym Use
Use 'talent' for natural gifts and 'skill' for things you learned. This makes your writing more precise.
Resumes
Use 'proven ability to' when describing your work experience to show you have successfully used a skill before.
Modesty
Using 'to the best of my ability' is a polite way to say you will try your hardest.
例文
She has the ability to swim very fast.
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文脈で学ぶ
Educationの関連語
abalihood
C1アバリフッドは、スキルの習得に向けた潜在的な状態を指します。これは、まだ習得していなくても、効果的に学習するための生来の認知的基盤です。
abcedation
C1Abcedation（アベセデーション）は、アルファベット順に何かを教えたり、学んだり、配置したりする行為を指します。これは、体系的な組織化や初期の識字能力を説明するために、主にアーカイブ、言語学、または歴史教育の文脈で使用される、あまり知られていない、または専門的な用語です。
abcognful
C1「アブコグフル (abcognful)」とは、個人が一度に意識的に処理できる、あるいはワーキングメモリに保持できる抽象的な認知データの最大量を指します。これは、概念的合成と精神的能力の上限を定量化するために、心理測定テストで用いられる専門用語です。 <br><br> アブコグフルの概念を理解することは、なぜ特定の知的タスクが他のタスクよりも困難なのか、そして個人が複雑なアイデアを同時に処理する能力においてどのように異なるのかを理解する上で重要です。
abspirary
C1研究や運用の主な焦点から逸脱する、二次的または接線的な目標に関連すること。
abstract
B2研究論文やレポートの要点をまとめた短い要約のことです。
abstruse
C1「abstruse」は、知的であったり、複雑であったり、難解であったりするために理解しにくいことを表します。
academic
A2学問的な、または学校や大学に関する言葉です。
accreditation
B2認定（アクレディテーション）とは、機関が特定の基準を満たしていることを公的に認めることです。
acquire
A2「Acquire」は、努力や購入によって何か（スキルや知識など）を手に入れることを意味します。
admission
B2入場とは、場所に入る許可、または真実を認める行為を指します。入場料や自白を意味することもあります。
