been unable to do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been unable to do" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a lack of ability or capacity to perform a specific action or task over a period of time. Example: "I have been unable to do my homework due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we've been unable to do that.

The Washington Post

In most cases they've been unable to do that.

The Guardian

But Mr Harper has been unable to do much more than survive.

The Economist

The Union's seafaring force had accomplished what its army had been unable to do.

The New York Times

The impact is that we've been unable to do much the past couple of months".

The New York Times

But on Friday the secretive organization acknowledged that it had been unable to do so.

The New York Times

what almost a year of information in the public realm has been unable to do.

The New Yorker

Bosnia's leaders agreed to fix the problem, but have been unable to do so.

The Economist

It's something I've been unable to do in more than two years.

The Times

"We have been unable to do so for the past several weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

Police have been unable to do so before as they lacked evidence.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "been unable to do", ensure that the reason for the inability is clear from the context, either explicitly stated or easily inferred. For example, "Due to the storm, we have "been unable to do" our field research."

Common error

Avoid using "been unable to do" when a simple past tense would be more appropriate. For example, instead of "They have "been unable to do" the repair yesterday", use "They were unable to do the repair yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been unable to do" functions as a verbal phrase expressing the inability to perform an action. It emphasizes a state of being unable to accomplish something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been unable to do" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate an inability to perform an action. As Ludwig AI states, it's a correct and usable phrase in English writing. It is commonly found in news articles, academic papers, and scientific reports, and can be effectively replaced with alternatives such as "failed to achieve" or "could not manage to". When using this phrase, ensure the reason for the inability is clear and avoid using it when a simple past tense would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have not been able to

A more direct synonym with minimal change in meaning.

could not manage to

Implies an attempt was made but was unsuccessful.

not been capable of

Highlights a lack of inherent ability or capacity.

found it impossible to

Stresses the difficulty and ultimately insurmountable nature of the task.

failed to achieve

Focuses on the lack of accomplishment of a goal.

been unsuccessful in

Similar to "failed to achieve", but puts more emphasis on lack of success.

not succeeded in

Focuses on the lack of success in an endeavor.

proven incapable of

Emphasizes a demonstrated lack of ability through past experience.

not had the opportunity to

Highlights a lack of chance or circumstance to perform the action.

not been permitted to

Indicates that external forces prevented the action, not necessarily ability.

FAQs

How can I use "been unable to do" in a sentence?

Use "been unable to do" to describe a continuous state of inability or a repeated failure to perform an action. For example, "The company has "been unable to do" significant business in the region due to political instability".

What can I say instead of "been unable to do"?

You can use alternatives like "failed to achieve", "not been capable of", or "could not manage to" depending on the context.

Is "been unable to do so" grammatically correct?

Yes, "been unable to do so" is grammatically correct. The "so" acts as a pro-verb, replacing the verb phrase that has already been mentioned. Example: "Bosnia's leaders agreed to fix the problem, but have "been unable to do so".

What is the difference between "been unable to do" and "not been able to do"?

The phrases "been unable to do" and "not been able to do" are often interchangeable. However, "been unable to do" can subtly imply a longer period of inability or a continuous state, while "not been able to do" can be more general. They are almost synonymous and the choice often comes down to style.