abilities to comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abilities to comprehend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity or skill to understand information or concepts. Example: "The training program aims to enhance the participants' abilities to comprehend complex theories in physics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

By 1936, Nazism has set its mark on Europe, a crime so monstrous that it's beyond Hoffner's abilities to comprehend.

The New York Times - Books

Our brains are the most complexly organized things in the known universe, just the sort of thing that could eventually make sense of why each of us is unique, why we are conscious creatures and why humans have abilities to comprehend, converse, and create that go well beyond the precursors of these abilities in other animals.

The New York Times

Even so, some concerns about young students' abilities to comprehend abstract and complex concepts are warranted.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Dogs' abilities to comprehend human communicative signals make them one of the only animals to understand what people mean when they point at something.

BBC

The Representational Competence of learners subsumes learners' abilities to comprehend how two representations are related and how they can be used together.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

In the context of Signals and Systems, learners' abilities to comprehend signal representations in both domains (time and frequency), to translate smoothly between domains, and to apply the integrated representation of a signal in newer contexts are indications of deeper and complete learning process.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Why is my ability to comprehend and accept things automatically inferior to yours?

The Guardian

This also reflected confidence in human ability to comprehend that world and replicate its organization.

The New York Times - Arts

Being sick can impair their ability to comprehend or remember information.

Independent

True autism reflects major problems with receptive language (the ability to comprehend sounds and words) and with expressive language.

The New York Times

Liverpool's ability to comprehend the fact they are now in the Europa League will also bear inspection.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the development of understanding, pair "abilities to comprehend" with specific areas, such as "abilities to comprehend scientific data" or "abilities to comprehend complex legal documents".

Common error

Avoid using "abilities to comprehend" in simple contexts where "understanding" or "grasping" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly formal and less direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abilities to comprehend" functions as a noun phrase, specifying the capacity or skill to understand something. It often appears as the subject or object of a sentence, describing someone's intellectual capabilities. Ludwig examples show the phrase in academic and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abilities to comprehend" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone's capacity to understand complex information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While relatively uncommon, it is frequently found in scientific and news media contexts. It's important to use this phrase judiciously, avoiding overuse in simple contexts. Alternatives like "capacity for understanding" or "skills in comprehension" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey. Using the tips and related phrases provided here can help enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity for understanding

Replaces "abilities" with "capacity" and "comprehend" with "understanding", emphasizing the potential for grasping information.

skills in comprehension

Substitutes "abilities" with "skills" and uses the noun form "comprehension", highlighting developed expertise.

aptitude for grasping

Emphasizes a natural talent or quickness in understanding, using "aptitude" and "grasping".

potential for perceiving

Focuses on the capability to become aware of and understand something using "perceiving".

facility with understanding

Highlights ease and fluency in understanding concepts, using "facility".

power of apprehension

Replaces "abilities" with "power" and uses "apprehension" to convey a strong grasp of understanding.

intellectual capacity

Focuses on the general mental ability to understand and learn.

cognitive skills

Emphasizes the mental processes involved in knowing, understanding, and learning.

comprehension capabilities

Uses a more technical term, "capabilities", emphasizing the system's capacity for understanding.

understanding prowess

Uses "prowess" to indicate exceptional skill or ability in understanding.

FAQs

How can I improve my "abilities to comprehend" complex texts?

Enhance your "abilities to comprehend" complex texts by practicing active reading, summarizing key points, and looking up unfamiliar terms. Breaking down the material into smaller sections can also aid understanding.

What's the difference between "ability to understand" and "abilities to comprehend"?

While both phrases relate to understanding, "abilities to comprehend" often implies a broader, more developed skill set, whereas "ability to understand" can refer to a more basic or general capacity.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "abilities to comprehend"?

"Abilities to comprehend" is suitable in academic, scientific, or professional settings where the capacity for understanding complex information is being discussed. It is more formal than simpler alternatives.

What are some synonyms for "abilities to comprehend" that I can use to vary my writing?

Alternatives include "capacity for understanding", "skills in comprehension", or "aptitude for grasping", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.