Mental Capacity
Definition:
"Mental capacity" refers to the ability of a person to think, understand, learn, and make decisions. It involves how well someone can use their mind to process information and solve problems.
Usage Instructions:
You can use "mental capacity" when talking about someone's ability to think clearly or make decisions. It is often used in discussions about education, health, and law.
Example Sentence:
- "Despite her age, she still has excellent mental capacity and can solve complex math problems."
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced discussions, "mental capacity" can also relate to legal contexts, where a person's ability to understand their actions and the consequences can affect agreements or responsibilities.
Example Sentence (Advanced):
- "The court must evaluate the defendant's mental capacity to determine if he was capable of understanding the crime he committed."
Word Variants:
- Mentally (adverb) - "He mentally prepared himself for the challenge." - Capacity (noun) - Can also refer to the maximum amount that something can hold or contain.
Different Meanings:
While "mental capacity" primarily refers to cognitive abilities, "capacity" alone can refer to physical volume, such as the capacity of a container.
Synonyms:
- Cognitive ability
- Intellectual ability
- Mental ability
- Understanding
- Comprehension
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
While there are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically for "mental capacity," you might find phrases like: - "At full capacity" - meaning someone is functioning at their highest ability. - "Use your brain" - a way of saying to think carefully or use your mental capacity effectively.
Summary:
"Mental capacity" is an important term that describes how well someone can think and make decisions. It can be used in everyday conversations, as well as in more formal or legal discussions.