Debut 3000 Oxford Flashcards
(3 cards)
ability
Noun (countable, uncountable)
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🔸 Definition (in simple English):
The power or skill to do something.
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🔸 3 most common situations:
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✦ 1. To talk about someone’s natural skill
Example: She has the ability to sing very well.
Meaning: She is naturally good at singing.
Ability is often used to describe talents people are born with.
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✦ 2. To describe what someone is capable of doing
Example: He lost the ability to walk after the accident.
Meaning: He can no longer walk.
Here, ability means the physical or mental power to do something.
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✦ 3. In general to show skill or level
Example: The test measures your reading ability.
Meaning: It checks how well you can read.
We use ability to talk about someone’s level of performance in a skill.
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🔸 Common idioms and expressions:
▪️ To the best of your ability → As well as you can
Example: Do the job to the best of your ability.
▪️ Have the ability to do something → Be able to do it
Example: She has the ability to lead a team.
▪️ Show your ability → Prove what you can do
Example: He showed his ability during the interview.
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💡 Don’t confuse:
• ability = skill or power to do something
• capacity = how much something or someone can hold or handle
• capability = the potential to do something (often future or technical)
• talent = natural ability, often in art or sports
about
🔸 Part of speech:
Preposition / Adverb
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🔸 Definition (in simple English):
Talking of, related to, or around something in topic, amount, or direction.
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🔸 3 most common situations:
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✦ 1. To talk about a topic or subject
Example: We talked about the movie.
Meaning: The movie was the subject of the conversation.
About is very common when saying what something is related to.
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✦ 2. To give an approximate number or time
Example: It costs about $10.
Meaning: The price is not exact — maybe a little more or less.
Here, about means “around” or “approximately.”
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✦ 3. To describe movement near or around a place (as an adverb)
Example: She walked about the room.
Meaning: She moved around the room.
In this case, about means here and there / around a space.
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🔸 Common idioms and expressions:
▪️ About to (do something) → Ready to do something soon
Example: I’m about to leave.
▪️ What’s it about? → What is the topic or story?
Example: What’s the book about?
▪️ Just about → Almost or nearly
Example: I’m just about finished.
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💡 Don’t confuse:
• about = topic, around, or approximately
• around = more physical (movement or place)
• approximately = more formal (used with numbers)
• on = can also mean “about” (in formal writing: a book on history)
above
🔸 Part of speech:
Preposition / Adverb / Adjective
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🔸 Definition (in simple English):
In a higher position or level than something else.
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🔸 3 most common situations:
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✦ 1. To describe something in a higher place
Example: The picture is above the sofa.
Meaning: The picture is in a position higher than the sofa.
Above is used to show vertical position.
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✦ 2. To talk about numbers, levels, or temperature
Example: The temperature is above 30 degrees.
Meaning: It is more than 30°C.
Here, above means greater than a number or level.
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✦ 3. In writing, to refer to something earlier on the page
Example: Read the paragraph above.
Meaning: Read the part that is higher in the text.
This is common in documents or instructions.
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🔸 Common idioms and expressions:
▪️ Above all → Most importantly
Example: Above all, be kind.
▪️ Rise above (something) → Stay strong or not be affected by problems
Example: She rose above the criticism.
▪️ Be above (something) → Think you are too good for something
Example: He thinks he’s above doing the dishes.
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💡 Don’t confuse:
• above = higher than (physically, in rank, or number)
• over = can mean the same as above, but also means “covering”
• on top of = directly touching the surface above
• up = direction, not position
