could be able to

USAGE SUMMARY

'could be able to' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express a possibility, especially one that is more remote or difficult to achieve. For example, "With the right training, I think I could be able to compete in the Olympics someday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Macintosh estimates that his team could be able to discover and characterize 20 to 50 planets.

Stanford University

Any person could be able to use our code or any documentation created by our group.

Cornell University

If the transplant holds, she could be able to get pregnant.

The Guardian

"I feel good that I could be able to stand up for my team," Strickland said.

The New York Times - Sports

Eventually, those robots could be able to prepare entire meals in the style of their teachers.

The Washington Post

Our study suggests that the IDDES model could be able to simulate the wind-structure interaction around a Silsoe cube.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

It's bad enough governments can read our phones; now they could be able to read our minds.

Princeton University

The obtained results show that the system could be able to provide a significant amount of the required cooling.

Applied Thermal Engineering

"Something which I never thought I could be able to say about a plane is: next stop Salina".

The Guardian

As with other types of insurance, you could be able to cut your premiums by taking on a bigger excess.

The Guardian - Money

The deadline means that several Central European and Mediterranean countries could be able to join in 2004.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be able to" to express a possibility or potential, especially when indicating a condition or future development that would enable the action. For instance, "With further funding, the project could be able to achieve its goals."

Common error

Be mindful of potential redundancy. While grammatically correct, "could be able to" can sometimes be streamlined to simply "could" without losing meaning. For example, instead of "The system could be able to handle the increased load", consider "The system could handle the increased load."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be able to" functions as a modal phrase expressing possibility or potential capability. It suggests that under certain conditions or with sufficient means, someone or something has the potential to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

26%

News & Media

43%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

18%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could be able to" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey potential or conditional ability. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's essential to be mindful of potential redundancy and to consider simpler alternatives like "could" when appropriate.

Usage is common across diverse domains, including "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia", with primary functions including expressing future possibility, or describing a potential capability. When writing, use "could be able to" to emphasize the conditions or factors that would enable a specific action. Ludwig's examples can help when determining the most appropriate way of formulating a sentence with this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could potentially

Replaces "be able to" with the adverb "potentially" for brevity, slightly weakening the sense of assured ability.

might be capable of

Replaces "could" with "might" for a slightly weaker possibility and "able to" with "capable of", which is a more formal construction.

might conceivably

Uses the adverb "conceivably" to express a possibility that is imaginable, though perhaps unlikely.

could have the capacity to

Emphasizes the inherent "capacity" or potential, making it slightly more formal.

may have the ability to

Expands the phrase to emphasize the "ability" aspect, using "may" instead of "could" for a different nuance of possibility.

may be likely to

Focuses on probability rather than capability, suggesting a higher chance of something happening.

might be in a position to

Shifts the focus to the circumstances allowing the action, rather than inherent ability.

may be equipped to

Suggests having the necessary tools or resources, implying capability through provision.

might manage to

Focuses on successfully completing an action, implying effort or overcoming obstacles.

may find it possible to

Highlights the discovery of possibility, rather than an existing capability.

FAQs

How can I use "could be able to" in a sentence?

Use "could be able to" to express a potential or conditional ability. For example, "If they invest more, they "could be able to" expand the business".

What are some alternatives to "could be able to"?

You can use alternatives like "might be capable of", "may have the ability to", or "could potentially" depending on the context.

Is "could be able to" redundant?

While grammatically correct, "could be able to" can sometimes be redundant. Consider using simply "could" if the meaning remains clear. Compare "They "could be able to" finish on time" versus "They could finish on time".

When is it best to use "could be able to" instead of just "could"?

Use "could be able to" when you want to emphasize the conditions or factors that would enable someone or something to perform a specific action. For example, "With the new software update, users "could be able to" access more features" emphasizes that the update enables the action.