ADJ

great
basic
administrative, managerial, professional, social, technical
communicative, language, linguistic, reading

VERB + COMPETENCE

have
demonstrate, display, prove, show
She shows a high level of technical competence
lack
achieve, acquire, develop, gain
He gradually developed the competence to deal with the more difficult cases
challenge, question

PREP

beyond sb's ~
I'm afraid the work is beyond his competence
within sb's ~
This should be well within your competence
~ as
Students had questioned her competence as a teacher
~ for
He displayed great competence for the job
~ in
competence in English

PHRASES

a level/standard of competence

ADJ

formal
exclusive

VERB + COMPETENCE

have
The commission has no formal competence in cultural matters

PREP

outside sb/sth's ~
matters that fall outside the court's competence
within sb/sth's ~
The decisions come within the competence of the council

PHRASES

an area of competence