NOUN
If you have ability, you have the intelligence and skill to do things.
competence
Sunita showed competence in most school subjects, particularly science.
gift
Jack had a gift for remembering long and complicated equations.
skill
Brackford United played with enthusiasm but little skill in Saturday’s match.
talent
Seamus has a talent for cooking delicious seafood dishes.
ANTONYM: inability
able ADJECTIVE
If you are able to do something, you can do it.
allowed
“I’m allowed to play for half an hour, but then I have to go home,” Ron complained.
available
Rhys said he was available to swim for the team on Saturday.
capable
Mrs Diss said that my twin brother was a capable pupil, but rather lazy.
free
My big sister is free to take me bowling now.
ANTONYM: unable
Other adjectives related to able:
| able… | |
| …to be dissolved | soluble |
| …to be easily fooled | gullible |
| …to be eaten safely | edible |
| …to be heard | audible |
| …to be seen | visible, noticeable |
| …to catch fire | flammable |
about (1) PREPOSITION
If you talk or write about a particular thing, you say things that are to do with that subject.
concerning
The police interviewed the bank manager concerning the robbery.
regarding
Parents were sent a letter regarding half term.
to do with
Mum had a long phone conversation to do with our holiday plans.
about (2) ADVERB
You say about in front of a number to show it is not exact.
approximately
The theatre held approximately 800 people.
around
Around 50 000 people attended the big game.
in the region of
The bike cost in the region of £100.
more or less
Each jar holds more or less five litres.
roughly
We had to wait for roughly three hours.
about (3) ADVERB
About can mean in different directions.
around
“Stop dancing around while I’m talking to you,” Mum said irritably.
here and there
My sister’s clothes were scattered here and there in her room.
hither and thither OLD-FASHIONED
The bee flew hither and thither collecting pollen from the flowers.
about to PREPOSITION
If you are about to do something, you are just going to do it.
on the point of
I was on the point of closing the front door, when the phone rang.
ready to
The pilot was ready to turn back, when he saw the missing boat.
above (1) PREPOSITION
If one thing is above another, it is directly over or higher than it.
on top of
Ali balanced the bag of flour on top of the door, so that it would fall on Craig when he came in.
over
A cloud of smoke hung ominously over the grumbling volcano.
ANTONYM: below
above (2) PREPOSITION
Above can mean greater than something in level or amount.
beyond
The dancer’s skill was beyond anything we could have imagined.
greater than
The number of visitors to the museum this year is greater than last year.
higher than
The cost of the repairs was higher than Mum had expected.
ANTONYM: below
absolutely ADVERB
If you are absolutely sure about something, you are completely sure of it.
completely
Anoop was completely satisfied with his new computer.
thoroughly
“I am thoroughly fed up of washing dishes,” moaned Cinderella.
totally
We sat totally enthralled by the magician’s amazing tricks.
utterly
The instructions to the board game left me utterly confused.
abuse (1) Said “ab-yooss” NOUN
Abuse
