inability

inability — noun

1. the condition of not having the skill, strength, or opportunity needed to do som

1.名詞B2
釋義

the condition of not having the skill, strength, or opportunity needed to do something

例句

Adina's inability to swim kept her away from the beach trips with her classmates.

noun + to-infinitive pattern

Pedro felt frustrated by his inability to fix the leaky kitchen tap.

collocation: inability to [do something]

同義詞
  • incapacity

    more formal; often implies a legal or official lack of power

  • incompetence

    stronger negative judgment; suggests a blameworthy lack of skill

  • powerlessness

    focuses on lack of authority or control rather than skill

反義詞
  • ability

    direct opposite — having the skill or means to do something

  • capability

    similar to ability, emphasises potential or capacity

文法句型

inability + to-infinitive

用法筆記

A more formal alternative to 'not being able to'. The noun is uncountable and is almost always followed by a to-infinitive ('inability to do something'), not by 'of + -ing'.

常見錯誤

❌His inability of finishing the project worried the team.
✅His inability to finish the project worried the team.
💡'inability' takes a to-infinitive, not 'of + -ing'.
❌She has an inability to lie.
✅She is unable to lie.
💡'inability' is uncountable and not usually used with 'a/an'.