The use of “ability”
I thought we need the definite article (sometimes indefinite article, or plural with no article) before “ability to verb.” But I found the sentences below, which are written by native English speakers;
Ability to digest lactose in milk as an adult is determined by a single SNP in Europeans.
Stain-steel propellers on ships have certain distinct benefits including ability to severe in ice where bronze and cast iron are not suitable and resistance to corrosion in seawater.
What’s the difference between “ability to verb” with no article and “the ability to verb” with the definite article? Is there a subtle difference here? Or do those two have the same meaning completely?
Top answer
Littleshiro What’s the difference between “ability to verb” with no article and “the ability to verb” with the definite article? It is mostly a judgment call each time, but I'd say that including "the" is the norm, and you can't go wrong that way. Littleshiro Ability to digest lactose in milk as an adult is determined by a single SNP in Europeans.
- Littleshiro What’s the difference between “ability to verb” with no article and “the ability to verb” with the definite article?
- It is mostly a judgment call each time, but I'd say that including "the" is the norm, and you can't go wrong that way.
- Littleshiro Ability to digest lactose in milk as an adult is determined by a single SNP in Europeans.
- The absence of the article makes it sound more technical and terse.
- Littleshiro Stain-steel propellers on ships have certain distinct benefits including ability to severe in ice where bronze and cast iron are not suitable and resistance to corrosion in seawater.
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LittleshiroWhat’s the difference between “ability to verb” with no article and “the ability to verb” with the definite article?
It is mostly a judgment call each time, but I'd say that including "the" is the norm, and you can't go wrong that way.
LittleshiroAbility to digest lactose in milk as an adult is determined by a single S
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