| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| ability, capacity (nn.) |
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| Capacity is applied to inanimate as well as animate things; ability refers mostly to people and animals. In combined use, ability takes to plus an infinitive, capacity takes for, in a prepositional phrase: She has the ability to beat the current champion. He has a remarkable capacity for hard work. Capacity with for is also used literally for what either persons or things can contain: Teenaged stomachs [Teenagers] have an astonishing capacity for food. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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