1.ability的基本意思是泛指做各种事情的“能力”。可以是体力方面的,也可以是智力方面的(有时还指法律上的能力);可以是生来就有的生理功能,也可以是后天通过实践学得的各种能力。作此解时仅指能力而不涉及能力的高低,只用单数形式。
2.ability也可作“聪明,智慧; 智力,技能”解, 指“聪明,智慧”时用作不可数名词; 指“智力,技能”时用作可数名词,常用于复数形式。
3.ability后接介词in, at, for等可表示“在某方面有能力”；表示“做某事的能力”时可接动词不定式,也可接“in+动名词”, 但不接“of+动名词”。
4.可以说an ability to do it, 也可以说the ability to do it, 还可以说sb's ability to do it, 但较少说ability to do it。注意这种结构中的动词不定式不可用于被动语态。
5.abilities有时可和many连用。

to the best of one's ability
尽自己最大努力using all one's ability; as well as one can
I will do it to the best of my ability. 我将尽力而为。
I'll try to do my work to the best of my ability.我将竭尽全力地做好工作。
The mother educated her children to the best of her ability.这位母亲尽力教育好自己的子女。
You are just there to do your job to the best of your ability.你到那儿只要尽你最大的努力工作就行了。

His ability falls short. 他的能力不足。
Musical ability often shows itself early in life. 音乐天才往往在幼年时期就显露出来。
His ability is limited.他的能力有限。
The acting abilities of both were well-known.这两个人的表演才能是众所周知的。
Natural abilities are like natural plants that need pruning by study.天资如同自然植物,需学习为之剪枝。
Almost everyone has some musical ability.几乎人人都有一些音乐才能。
He has listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities.他具有听说读写的技能。
He had the all-round ability as a director. 他有当导演的多方面才能。
He has great abilities as a general.他具备作为一个将军的卓越才能。
Everyone has a chance to develop his natural abilities. 人人都有发展自己才能的机会。
We appreciate his oratorical ability. 我们赏识他的口才。
Everyone admired his abilities.大家都钦佩他的才干。
His job really fits his abilities.他的工作能使他真正发挥自己的才能。
His ambition outran his ability. 他眼高手低。
You must place your abilities at the service of the people.你应该用你的才能为人民服务。
He is wanting in organizing ability. 他缺乏组织才能。
I have great respect for his ability and integrity as a journalist. 他作为新闻记者,道德文采俱佳,我深表敬佩。
We believed in the ability of government to ensure social justice.我们相信政府有能力维护社会正义。
This is called ability grouping.这叫因材施教。
This task is altogether beyond my ability. 这件事我完全无能为力。
By sheer ability and force of character he has acquired the present position. 他获得目前的职位全凭他的才能和坚毅的性格。
His speedy promotion is from sheer ability. 他全凭才干而被迅速提拔。
Our courses cater for different levels of ability.我们的课程可以满足不同能力水平的需要。
A woman of her ability will easily find a job.有她这样才能的女性找工作不难。
He is a man of great ability.他是个非常有才能的人。
He is a man of great physical ability.他是个体格强壮的人。
He is a man of many abilities.他多才多艺。
He is a man of remarkable musical ability. 他是一位有非凡音乐天赋的人。
He was a man of extraordinary abilities.他才干卓著。
Mr. Sapir is a surgeon of undoubted ability. 沙比尔先生无疑是一位很有本领的外科医生。
Gladstone was a politician of great ability.格拉德斯通是位极具才干的政治家。
His failure was not due to lack of ability.他的失败不是由于缺乏能力。
Someone of her ability is bound to succeed.具有她这样能力的人一定会成功。
He doesn't have an ounce of ability.他一点能力都没有。
They found her work more suited to her abilities.他们给她找到了更适合她能力的工作。
He speaks English with some ability. 他英语讲得还算不错。
A man with your ability should be able to do this job well.以你的能力应可以把这件事做好。
▲～+prep.-phrase
She exhibited exceptional ability at high-energy physics. 她在高能物理学方面表现出非凡的才能。
Their ability at pingpong is world-renowned.他们打乒乓球的本领是举世闻名的。
The new manager shows considerable ability for organization.新经理表现出非凡的组织能力。
She has no ability in〔for〕 that kind of work.她没有做那种工作的能力。
He showed rare ability in this direction. 他在这方面表现出罕见的能力。
He displayed more than average ability in business. 他的经商才能比一般人略高一筹。
He showed his ability in drawing.他在绘画上显示出才能。
He has outstanding abilities in making money. 他特别能赚钱。
He lacked ability in reasoning. 他缺乏推理能力。
She has great ability in teaching English. 她很有教英语的才干。
▲～+to-v
He has the ability to do the work.他有能力做这项工作。
He has the ability to express himself on paper. 他有书面表达能力。
She has the ability to speak four languages.她会说四种语言。
She has the ability to speak English fluently. 她能够流利地说英文。
He has the ability to predict future events.他有预测未来大事的能力。
You have the ability to sue them for the damages done.你可以控告他们对此造成的损失。
What I need is a camera which has the ability to focus automatically.我需要的是一架可以自动对焦的照相机。
The system has the ability to run more than one program at the same time.该系统能够同时运行一个以上的程序。
The ability to use a language can be acquired by the act of using the language.运用语言的能力只能通过不断练习才能获得。
I doubt his ability to do the job. 我认为他没有做这工作的能力。
I do not doubt your ability to analyse and solve problems.我不怀疑你分析问题和解决问题的能力。
She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to get things done.在办事方面,她显示了非凡的能力。
She lost the ability to walk after her car accident.车祸后,她丧失了行走能力。
Tiredness can seriously impair your ability to drive.疲劳会大大影响你的驾驶能力。

ability, capacity, talent
这组词都可表示“个人的能力”。其区别是：
1.ability指人表现出来的实际能力,既指天赋能力,也指经培养造就而获得的本领; capacity用于物时指容纳能力,用于人时指潜在的能力,尤指接受能力、领悟性、敏感度等,接of 短语时还含有除必需的技能外还须具有做某事的意志或力量的意味; talent表示做某事的特殊才能,这种才能是先天所赋予的,可以经过训练或使用而有所发展和成熟。
2.ability和talent主要用于人; capacity可以用于人,也可以用于物。
3.ability后常接介词at, in, for或动词不定式; talent后常接介词for。

-ability可取代-able加在形容词末尾构成不可数名词,意思是“具有……的特性”。例如:affordability可承受性, portability便携性, stability稳定性, washability可洗性等。

［同义词］   adeptness, aptitude, bent, capability, cleverness, competence, expertise, facility, faculty, flair, genius, gift, intelligence, knowhow, power, proficiency, qualification, skill, talent
［反义词］   disability, helplessness, inability, inaptitude, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, powerlessness, weakness