loses the ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "loses the ability" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to no longer have the skill or capacity to do something. Example 1: As people age, their eyesight deteriorates and they often lose the ability to drive safely. Example 2: After his accident, John lost the ability to walk and had to use a wheelchair. Example 3: The illness caused her to lose the ability to taste and enjoy food.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or a leader who loses the ability to govern.

The New York Times

If humanity loses the ability to print books, that's covered.

The New York Times

In the spring he loses the ability to speak.

The Guardian - Books

As the salesperson waits, he or she loses the ability to move the deal forward.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

After that, they theorized, the brain loses the ability to change in response to new input.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

After 10 minutes of DeVos, the human brain loses the ability to perform simple arithmetic.

The Washington Post

Eventually, he loses the ability to distinguish his real-life experiences from his invented ones.

The Guardian - Books

After his baby half sister slips into a coma, a boy loses the ability to speak.

The New York Times - Books

Anyone with an intense emotional interest in a subject loses the ability to observe it objectively: You selectively perceive events.

The Washington Post

How will Mr Brown cope if he loses the ability to "do something" at the highest level?

Independent

For years, researchers have investigated how the body loses the ability to produce enough insulin, a hallmark of diabetes.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "loses the ability", ensure the context clearly specifies what ability is being lost. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "loses the ability" without specifying the context. Instead of saying "he loses the ability", specify "he loses the ability to speak" to provide a clear understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "loses the ability" functions as a verbal phrase expressing the loss of a specific capacity or skill. It typically connects a subject with an action they are no longer capable of performing. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in diverse contexts from physical capabilities to abstract concepts like political influence or cognitive functions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "loses the ability" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression signifying the decline or deprivation of a specific skill or capacity. As indicated by Ludwig, it commonly appears in news, scientific, and academic contexts, reflecting its usefulness in formal and analytical discussions. To maximize clarity, it's important to specify the ability being lost and avoid overgeneralization. While alternatives like "becomes incapable of" and "forfeits the capacity to" exist, "loses the ability" provides a direct and understandable way to convey a change in capability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becomes incapable of

Emphasizes the resulting state of being unable to perform an action, highlighting a change in capability.

forfeits the capacity to

Suggests a loss of capacity, often due to specific circumstances or actions.

is deprived of the skill to

Highlights the deprivation of a particular skill needed to perform an action.

suffers an impairment in

Focuses on the impairment or damage to a specific ability, indicating a medical or functional loss.

experiences a decline in aptitude for

Indicates a gradual reduction in skill or aptitude, emphasizing a decline over time.

is rendered unable to

Highlights the resulting state of being unable to perform an action due to external factors.

sees a reduction in competence at

Focuses on a decrease in competence, indicating a diminished ability to perform effectively.

has the skill to no longer

The ability to perform a given activity is removed.

is robbed of the talent for

Highlights the sudden loss of talent

succumbs to functional deficiency in

Focuses on functional deficiency, typically in a medical context.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "loses the ability" to sound more formal?

You can use more formal alternatives such as "becomes incapable of", "forfeits the capacity to", or "is rendered unable to" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "loses the ability" and "lacks the ability"?

"Loses the ability" implies a prior capability that has been diminished or removed, whereas "lacks the ability" indicates a current absence of a skill or capacity without implying prior possession. They aren't interchangeable because "lacks the ability" means has never had the ability in the first place.

How to use "loses the ability" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a decline or deprivation of a specific skill, for example: "Due to the injury, he loses the ability to walk" or "Over time, the software loses the ability to support newer file formats".

Is "loses the ability of" grammatically correct?

While understandable, it's more concise and grammatically standard to say "loses the ability to" followed by a verb. For example, prefer "loses the ability to speak" over "loses the ability of speaking".