Ability, capability or capacity

Have you ever wondered “Should I put this into my sentence…or that, or…wait a minute, what was the difference?

Today we will have a look at the abilities, capabilities or capacities.

If someone has ability, a particular ability, or the ability to do something, they can do it because they have the skill or the knowledge that is needed to do it. You often use ability to say that someone can do something well:

He had remarkable ability as an administrator.

There are four main factors which determine mathematical ability.

…the ability to bear hardship.

A person’s capability is the amount of work they can do and how well they can do it.

The director has his own ideas both of the role and of the capability of the actor.

It was, in any case, beyond the capability of one man

If someone has a particular capacity, a capacity for something, or a capacity to do something, they have the characteristics required to do it. Capacity is a more formal word than ability.

…their capacity for being inspired by heroes.

…his capacity always to see the other’s point of view.

A bit but now you know it.

Your newbie Grammar guide,