Ability

There are three main types of abilities: Activated, Triggered, and Static.

Static Abilities
Static abilities are abilities such as flying or "This creature is cannot be blocked". They are abilities that are always in effect.

Activated Abilities
Activated abilities include any abilities that require some sort of cost, and always include a colon. For example, the card Royal Assassin has an activated ability that reads: ": Destroy target tapped creature."

Triggered Abilities
Triggered abilities require a specific event to occur. For example, the card Verdant Force has a triggered ability that says "At the beginning of each upkeep, put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token onto the battlefield."