Ability vs Capability vs Competence

Cuándo usar cada una en inglés, con significado, registro y ejemplos.

Ability

Top 1000 (muy común)A2noun

Capability

Top 2000 (común)C1noun

Competence

Top 2000 (común)C1noun
Más común: Ability
 AbilityCapabilityCompetence
Pronunciación🇬🇧 /["/əˈbɪləti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈbɪləti/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtəns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtəns/"]/
SignificadoThe skill to do something.The ability to do something.the ability to do something well
EjemploShe has the ability to learn new languages quickly.Her capability as a leader impressed everyone at the meeting.Her competence in multiple languages impresses her colleagues.
RegistroNeutralNeutralNeutral
Qué tan comúnTop 1000 (muy común)Top 2000 (común)Top 2000 (común)
Nivel CEFRA2C1C1
Categoría gramaticalnounnounnoun
Colocacionesexceptional, extraordinary, great, level, have, possess, retain, ability in, to the best of your ability, high, limited, low, assess, measure, test, level, range, a range of ability, a range of abilitiesadvanced, enhanced, limited, demonstrate, have, possess, beyond somebody’s capability, within somebody’s capability, capability for, advanced, enhanced, limited, demonstrate, have, possess, beyond somebody’s capability, within somebody’s capability, capability forgreat, basic, academic, have, demonstrate, display, beyond somebody’s competence, within somebody’s competence, competence as, a level of competence, a standard of competence, formal, exclusive, have, outside somebody/​something’s competence, within somebody/​something’s competence, an area of competence
Antónimosinability, ineptnessincapability, inabilityincompetence, ineptitude
Errores comunesConfused with 'capability' — 'ability' refers to a skill, while 'capability' refers to the potential to develop a skill., Using 'ability' without a verb or context can make sentences unclear., Incorrectly pluralizing as 'abilities' when referring to a single skill.Confusing with 'capacity' which refers to volume or quantity., Using it as a verb instead of a noun., Misplacing the emphasis in pronunciation.Confused with 'competency'; both refer to abilities but 'competence' is broader., Misused as a verb; 'competence' is always a noun., Spelling errors, especially with the second 'e'.
Notas de usoUse 'ability' in contexts where referring to someone's skills or talents. Avoid it in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'skill' may be more appropriate.Use 'capability' in professional or academic contexts to discuss skills or potential. It's not commonly used in casual conversations.Use 'competence' in contexts such as job skills or educational achievements. Avoid in very casual conversations; prefer 'skill' or 'ability' instead.

Preguntas frecuentes: Ability vs Capability vs Competence

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre Ability, Capability y Competence?

Ability: The skill to do something. Capability: The ability to do something. Competence: the ability to do something well

¿Cuál es más común: Ability, Capability y Competence?

Ability es la más común en el inglés cotidiano.

¿Ability, Capability y Competence tienen el mismo nivel CEFR?

Ability: A2, Capability: C1, Competence: C1 en la escala CEFR.

¿Qué categoría gramatical son Ability, Capability y Competence?

Ability: noun, Capability: noun, Competence: noun.

¿Puedes mostrar un ejemplo de cada una?

Ability: She has the ability to learn new languages quickly. Capability: Her capability as a leader impressed everyone at the meeting. Competence: Her competence in multiple languages impresses her colleagues.

¿Puedo usar Ability, Capability y Competence indistintamente?

No siempre. Ability, Capability y Competence están relacionadas y a veces se solapan, pero difieren en registro, frecuencia y uso, así que cambiar una por otra puede alterar el significado o el tono. Revisa las diferencias de arriba antes de sustituir.

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