Ability vs Capability vs Competence vs Skill

Quando usare ciascuno in inglese, con significato, registro ed esempi.

Ability

Top 1000 (molto comune) A2 noun

Capability

Top 2000 (comune) C1 noun

Competence

Top 2000 (comune) C1 noun

Skill

Top 1000 (molto comune) A1 noun

	Ability	Capability	Competence	Skill
Pronuncia	🇬🇧 /["/əˈbɪləti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈbɪləti/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmpɪtəns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmpɪtəns/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/skɪl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/skɪl/"]/
Significato	The skill to do something.	The ability to do something.	the ability to do something well	The ability to do something well, usually because of training or practice.
Esempio	She 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.	He has a skill for painting that impresses everyone.
Registro	Neutro	Neutro	Neutro	Neutro
Quanto è comune	Top 1000 (molto comune)	Top 2000 (comune)	Top 2000 (comune)	Top 1000 (molto comune)
Livello CEFR	A2	C1	C1	A1
Categoria grammaticale	noun	noun	noun	noun
Collocazioni	exceptional, 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 abilities	advanced, 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 for	great, 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	considerable, consummate, extraordinary, range, set, have, possess, combine, level, set, acquisition, with skill, skill as, skill at, a degree of skill, a level of skill, a lack of skill, considerable, consummate, extraordinary, range, set, have, possess, combine, level, set, acquisition, with skill, skill as, skill at, a degree of skill, a level of skill, a lack of skill
Contrari	inability, ineptness	incapability, inability	incompetence, ineptitude	inability, ignorance
Errori comuni	Confused 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'.	Confused with 'ability' — skill usually implies training or practice., Used as a verb incorrectly — skill is a noun.
Note d'uso	Use '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.	Use 'skill' to talk about abilities in various contexts, from sports to arts. Avoid using it in very informal settings where simpler terms like 'talent' might fit better.

Domande frequenti: Ability vs Capability vs Competence vs Skill

Qual è la differenza tra Ability, Capability, Competence e Skill?

Ability: The skill to do something. Capability: The ability to do something. Competence: the ability to do something well Skill: The ability to do something well, usually because of training or practice.

Ability, Capability, Competence e Skill sono allo stesso livello CEFR?

Ability: A2, Capability: C1, Competence: C1, Skill: A1 sulla scala CEFR.

Che categoria grammaticale sono Ability, Capability, Competence e Skill?

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

Puoi mostrare un esempio di ciascuna?

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. Skill: He has a skill for painting that impresses everyone.

Posso usare Ability, Capability, Competence e Skill in modo intercambiabile?

Non sempre. Ability, Capability, Competence e Skill sono affini e a volte si sovrappongono, ma differiscono per registro, frequenza e uso, quindi scambiarle può cambiare il significato o il tono. Controlla le differenze qui sopra prima di sostituire.