already been able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already been able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has achieved a certain ability or capability at some point in the past and continues to have that ability. Example: "I have already been able to complete the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One less than a mile, and we've already been able to reduce the footprint.

The New York Times - Science

Many of the "landmarks" the charity has already been able to save have been unconventional and unusual.

Independent

We've already been able to ascertain that young Idi is a female, a fact that probably wouldn't please Mr. Amin.

The New York Times

"But at this stage, we've already been able to refer more than 10,000 people to the US already".

The Guardian

We have already been able to provide nearly $500m in grants in the fund's first year of existence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fans have already been able to receive real-time scoring in various sports from sites like ESPN.com.

The New York Times

Dr Steve Kell, chair of NHS Bassetlaw CCG, says it has already been able to make improvements to local services.

The Guardian

But the venture has a cooperative spirit in which S.A.I.C. has already been able to do that, he said.

The New York Times

Partly as a result of a vacuum on the left, the Tea Party has already been able to shift the political debate dangerously to the right.

The New Yorker

"TARP fulfilled this mission and we've already been able to recover more than 75 percent of the taxpayers' money in a very short time.

The New York Times

That, he said, would require a degree of cuts in spending far beyond what Mr. Gaspar and his team have already been able to achieve.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already been able to" to highlight past achievements or capabilities that are still relevant or have ongoing implications.

Common error

Avoid using "able" unnecessarily in conjunction with other words that already imply capability. For example, instead of saying "already been capable and able to", simply say "already been capable of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already been able to" functions as a modal verb construction expressing a past ability or capacity that has been achieved. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts to indicate something has previously been possible. The ability or capacity often still exists or is relevant to the current situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "already been able to" is a versatile expression used to indicate a past achievement or capability that often has ongoing relevance. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in neutral to professional contexts, particularly within news, scientific, and business domains. The phrase highlights progress, existing competencies, or previously available opportunities. When writing, it's important to avoid redundancy and use it to effectively convey that a certain level of skill or opportunity was attained in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have already succeeded in

Emphasizes successful completion of an action; more focused on the result.

have previously managed to

Highlights past management or handling of a situation or task.

were already capable of

Focuses on inherent ability or potential at a prior time.

have earlier accomplished

Stresses earlier fulfillment or attainment of something.

have, in the past, been successful at

A more verbose way of expressing prior success; adds emphasis.

have before had the capacity to

Highlights prior capacity or capability to do something.

have earlier demonstrated the ability to

Focuses on a prior exhibition or showcasing of skill.

have formerly been in a position to

Highlights a past state or condition that enabled a certain action.

previously had the competence to

Emphasizes prior competence or skill level.

have at an earlier stage been able to

A more elaborate way of stating previous ability or opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "already been able to" in a sentence?

Use "already been able to" to indicate a capability or achievement that occurred before the present moment and may still hold true. For example: "We have "already been able to" reduce the footprint."

What are some alternatives to "already been able to"?

You can use alternatives like "have already succeeded in", "have previously managed to", or "were already capable of", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "already been able to" and "managed to"?

"Already been able to" emphasizes a state of capability achieved at some point in the past, while "managed to" focuses more on the act of successfully accomplishing something. "Already been able to" implies an ongoing ability, whereas "managed to" highlights a successful outcome.

What's the difference between "already been able to" and "already been possible to"?

"Already been able to" refers to a person or entity's achieved capability. Whereas "already been possible to" indicates a general condition or opportunity that has existed. The former refers to someone's specific skill, the latter to a general possibility.