Learn English – capacity to read vs capacity for/of reading – preposition and verb tense choice

prepositions

Are the following sentences correct? Is there any difference in meaning? Are they equally usual?

  • She lost her capacity/ability to read.
  • She lost her capacity/ability of reading.
  • She lost her capacity/ability for reading.

Best Answer

All of these are correct and meaning-equivalent:

She lost her capacity to read.

She lost her ability to read.

She lost her capacity for reading.

Do not use of with capacity unless you mean it in the sense of "the maximum amount that something can contain" or "the maximum amount something can produce".

Do not use of or for with ability.

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