diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rdoc b/CHANGELOG.rdoc
index 3e04fdc..62d219c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rdoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rdoc
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 1.1.0 (not released)
 
+* Supporting arrays, ranges, and nested hashes in ability conditions
+
 * Removing "unauthorized!" method in favor of "authorize!" in controllers
 
 * Adding action, subject and default_message abilities to AccessDenied exception - see issue #40
diff --git a/lib/cancan/ability.rb b/lib/cancan/ability.rb
index 9bd268b..75c7826 100644
--- a/lib/cancan/ability.rb
+++ b/lib/cancan/ability.rb
@@ -244,15 +244,26 @@ module CanCan
         if subject.class == Class
           true
         else
-          defined_conditions.all? do |name, value|
-            subject.send(name) == value
-          end
+          matches_conditions? subject, defined_conditions
         end
       else
         true
       end
     end
     
+    def matches_conditions?(subject, defined_conditions)
+      defined_conditions.all? do |name, value|
+        attribute = subject.send(name)
+        if value.kind_of?(Hash)
+          matches_conditions? attribute, value
+        elsif value.kind_of?(Array) || value.kind_of?(Range)
+          value.include? attribute
+        else
+          attribute == value
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    
     def includes_action?(actions, action)
       actions.include?(:manage) || actions.include?(action)
     end
diff --git a/spec/cancan/ability_spec.rb b/spec/cancan/ability_spec.rb
index c2df887..c51b22b 100644
--- a/spec/cancan/ability_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cancan/ability_spec.rb
@@ -148,6 +148,26 @@ describe CanCan::Ability do
     @ability.can?(:read, Array).should be_true
   end
   
+  it "should allow an array of options in conditions hash" do
+    @ability.can :read, Array, :first => [1, 3, 5]
+    @ability.can?(:read, [1, 2, 3]).should be_true
+    @ability.can?(:read, [2, 3]).should be_false
+    @ability.can?(:read, [3, 4]).should be_true
+  end
+  
+  it "should allow a range of options in conditions hash" do
+    @ability.can :read, Array, :first => 1..3
+    @ability.can?(:read, [1, 2, 3]).should be_true
+    @ability.can?(:read, [3, 4]).should be_true
+    @ability.can?(:read, [4, 5]).should be_false
+  end
+  
+  it "should allow nested hashes in conditions hash" do
+    @ability.can :read, Array, :first => { :length => 5 }
+    @ability.can?(:read, ["foo", "bar"]).should be_false
+    @ability.can?(:read, ["test1", "foo"]).should be_true
+  end
+  
   it "should return conditions for a given ability" do
     @ability.can :read, Array, :first => 1, :last => 3
     @ability.conditions(:show, Array).should == {:first => 1, :last => 3}