ability noun ⇨ability (have the ability to do sth)⇨skill1 (a child's natural abilities)
ability
noun
ability ♦︎ capability ♦︎ capacity ♦︎ powerThese are all words for the fact that sb is able to do sth, or the qualities necessary to do sth.这些词均表示能力、才能。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a capability / capacity for sth◆the ability / capability / capacity / power to do sth◆beyond / within your ability / capability / capacity / power◆(a / an) great / remarkable / extraordinary / amazing ability / capacity / powers◆natural / physical / intellectual / mental / limited ability / capability / capacity / powers◆to have / develop / acquire / lack / lose the ability / capability / capacity / power◆to demonstrate / show your ability / capability / capacity / power◆to restrict sb's ability / capability / capacity / power■ability [singular, uncountable] the fact that sb/sth is able to do sth能力◆The system has the ability to run more than one program at the same time.这个系统能同时运行两个或两个以上程序。◆Everyone has the right to good medical care regardless of their ability to pay.无论支付能力如何，人人都有权得到良好的医疗保健服务。◆I try to do the job to the best of my ability(= as well as I can).我尽全力做好这份工作。OPPinabilityⓘ Inability [singular, uncountable] is the fact of not being able to do sth. * inability表示无能或无力◆the government's inability to provide basic services政府在提供基本服务方面的无能◆Some families go without medical treatment because of their inability to pay.有些家庭无力支付医疗费用，生了病也得不到医治。▸able
adjective
◆You must be able to speak French for this job.干这份工作你得会说法语。◆A viral illness left her barely able to walk.一场病毒引起的疾病使她几乎不能走路。OPPunable to do sthⓘ not able is also used.也用not able◆He lay there, unable to move.他躺在那儿，动弹不得。◆Unfortunately they weren't able to come.可惜的是，他们来不了。■capability / /ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/ / [uncountable, countable] (ratherformal) the ability or qualities necessary to do sth能力；才能◆Animals in the zoo have lost the capability of catching food for themselves.动物园的动物已经丧失自己捕食的能力。◆Age affects the range of a person's capabilities.年龄影响一个人能力的大小。ⓘ Capability is often used to talk about how able a company or country is to produce sth. * capability常指公司或国家的生产能力◆a company / country's manufacturing / production / processing / defence / weapons / nuclear capability公司或国家的制造／生产／加工能力；国家的防御／军械／核力量▸capable
adjective
◆You are capable of better work than this.你有能力做得比这更好。◆I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself, thank you.谢谢，我完全有能力自己做。■capacity / /kəˈpæsəti/ / [countable, usually singular] (ratherformal) the ability to understand or do sth（领悟或办事）能力◆She has an enormous capacity for hard work.她特别能吃苦耐劳。◆A habit becomes an addiction when it reduces your capacity to enjoy life.习惯使人难以享受生活的乐趣时，就成了一种瘾。ⓘ Capacity is often used to talk about social, educational and work-related life skills. * capacity常指社交技巧、学习能力和工作技能◆a capacity for hard work / humour / enjoying life / learning languages / love / reflective thinking吃苦耐劳的能力；有幽默感；会享受生活；有语言天赋；敢爱敢恨；反思能力■power [uncountable] ( powers [plural]) a particular ability of the body or mind; all the abilities of your body or mind（身体或心智的）某种能力；（全部）体力，智力◆He had lost the power of speech.他丧失了言语的能力。◆The drug may affect your powers of concentration.这种药可能会影响你的注意力集中。◆At 26, he is at the height of his powers and ranked fourth in the world.26岁时，他处于巅峰状态，排名世界第四。ⓘ Sb's power [uncountable] is also their ability or opportunity to do sth, used especially in the phrases (not) within sb's power, beyond sb's power and do everything within your power. * power还表示能力或机会，尤用于(not) within sb's power、beyond sb's power和do everything within your power等短语中◆It is not within my power(= I am unable) to help you.我是爱莫能助啊。◆I will do everything in my power to help you.我将尽全力帮助你。
skill1
noun
practical skills实用技能a high level of skill技艺水平高skill ♦︎ ability ♦︎ talent ♦︎ art ♦︎ gift ♦︎ flair ♦︎ knack ♦︎ aptitudeThese are all words for sth that sb is able to do well.这些词均表示技能、才能、才华。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a talent / a gift / a flair / a knack / an aptitude for (doing) sth◆(a) great skill / ability / talent / gift / flair / aptitude◆a useful skill / talent / gift◆(a) rare skill / ability / talent / gift◆a special skill / ability / talent / gift / aptitude◆(a) natural skill / ability / talent / gift / flair / aptitude◆(an) artistic skill / ability / talent / gift / flair◆(a) musical skill / ability / talent / gift◆(an) entrepreneurial / organizational skill / ability / talent / flair◆to have a skill / an ability / a talent / the art / a gift / flair / the knack / the aptitude◆to need / lack a skill / an ability / a talent / a gift / flair◆to show a skill / an ability / a talent / a gift / flair / an aptitude◆to demonstrate a skill / an ability / a talent / flair / an aptitude◆to acquire a skill / an ability / the knack◆to develop a skill / an ability / a talent / the art / a gift / a flair / the knack / the aptitude◆to master / perfect a skill / the art◆to lose a skill / an ability / a talent / the art / the knack■skill [countable] something that sb is able to do well, especially when this has been acquired through practice技术；技能◆We need people with practical skills like carpentry.我们需要有木工等实用技能的人。◆The course focuses on management skills and customer service.这门课主要讲管理技巧与客户服务。ⓘ Skill or skills often comes after an adjective or noun that describes a particular type of ability. Skills are usually a result of experience and training. * skill或skills前面常有描述某种能力的形容词或名词作定语。skills所指的技能通常是经验和训练得来的。 see also skilled,skilful ⇨ good4, experience ⇨ knowledge■ability [uncountable, countable] a level of skill or intelligence; something that sb is able to do well, especially because they are just naturally good at it才能；本领；才智；能力◆Almost everyone has some musical ability.几乎人人都有一些音乐才能。◆Are you used to teaching students of mixed abilities?你习惯教能力参差不齐的学生吗？◆This programme is about discovering the natural abilities of each child.这个项目旨在发掘每个孩子的天赋。 see also able ⇨ good4■talent / /ˈtælənt/ / [uncountable, countable] a natural ability to do sth well天资；天生的才能；天赋◆Hard work is important but it is no substitute for raw talent.辛勤努力很重要，但绝对替代不了天赋。◆She showed considerable talent for getting what she wanted.她很有天资，能够达成自己的目标。◆He's a man of many talents.他是个多才多艺的男子。 see also talented ⇨ good4■art [countable, uncountable] (especiallywritten) a skill that you can develop with training and practice技能；技术；技巧◆Painting is the art of reaching the soul through the eyes.绘画是透过眼睛触及心灵的艺术。◆Letter-writing is a lost art nowadays.如今尺牍已是一种消失的技巧。◆Appearing confident at interviews is quite an art(= rather difficult).面试时表现出自信是一种很高的技术。NOTE辨析 Skill or art?Skills are usually practical or technical things, using your hands or managing or organizing people or things. An art is usually more about expressing yourself and/or relating to other people. * skill通常指实用性或专业性的技能、技巧，涉及动手制作或组织管理等方面。art则多指自我表达或与他人打交道的技巧、艺术◆the art of fiction / poetry / painting / film小说／诗歌／绘画／电影艺术◆the art of conversation / communication / persuasion / negotiation / compromise / healing / listening / love谈话／交际／说服／谈判／各让一步／抚慰心灵／倾听／恋爱的技巧■gift [countable] (especiallywritten) a natural ability to do sth very well天赋；天才；才能◆She has a great gift for music.她极有音乐天赋。◆He has the gift of making friends easily.他天生善交朋友。 see also gifted ⇨ good4NOTE辨析 Talent or gift?Gift is often used in more literary contexts, especially to talk about people's ability in the arts, as well as in relationships and helping people. * gift常用于文学性较强的语境，尤指艺术才能以及与人相处和助人的才能◆a gift for drawing / painting / writing / drama / improvisation / languages / music素描／绘画／写作／戏剧／即席创作／语言／音乐天赋◆a gift for friendship / teaching / humour / calming people down / bringing people together / healing交友／教学／幽默／平抚他人情绪／使人和好／抚慰心灵的天赋Talent is used more often than gift in spoken English. It can also be used to talk about people's abilities in the arts, but it is commonly used to talk about business skills. * talent比gift更常用于口语，也可指人在艺术方面的才能，但通常指业务才能◆a talent for business / computing / diplomacy / leadership / figures / governing / management / organization业务／计算机／外交／领导／算术／治理／管理／组织才能■flair [singular, uncountable] (especiallywritten) a natural ability to do sth well; the ability to do sth with style and imagination天资；天赋；天分；才华◆He has a flair for languages.他有学习语言的天分。◆She dresses with real flair.她的衣着特别有品味。■knack / /næk/ / (ratherinformal) a special skill that you have naturally or can learn（天生或可习得的）技能，本领◆It's easy, once you've got the knack.你一旦掌握了决窍就容易了。◆He had a knack for picking winners.他有预测胜利者的本领。■aptitude /ˈæptɪtjuːd; NAmEˈæptɪtuːd/ [uncountable, countable] (ratherformal, especiallywritten) a natural ability to do sth well天资；天生的才能；天赋◆She showed a natural aptitude for the work.她表现出了做这项工作的天赋。◆They may ask you to do an aptitude test(= one designed to show whether sb has the natural ability for a particular job or educational course).他们可能会让你做一个能力倾向测试。