has been unable

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "has been unable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing that someone has not been able to do something in the past. For example: "John had been trying to find a job since he graduated college, but he has been unable to find anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It has been 22 days".

The New York Times - Tech

It has been 23 years, not 13.

The New York Times

It has been 10 years since.

The New York Times

It has been 13 years.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It has been 58 days.

The Guardian

That conclusion has been 4 decades coming.

Science Magazine

He has been HS2 chairman since January.

BBC

yes, facebook has been 0wn3d.

TechCrunch

The average training has been 35 hours.

WikiHow

Could've been 30 seconds.

Independent

That would have been 2004".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been unable", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject was unable to do. Specify the action or outcome that was not achieved to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been unable" in informal contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "couldn't" or "wasn't able to" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been unable" functions as a predicate adjective describing a subject's lack of capacity or capability. It indicates a state of inability that has persisted over time. The absence of usage examples indicates its relative rarity in common language.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been unable" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a continued lack of ability or capability. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, but the absence of examples suggests it's not frequently used. More straightforward or informal alternatives may be preferable depending on the context. When you choose to use it, be clear about what the subject has been unable to do. Due to its formality, this phrase might be more suitable for professional or formal contexts than for casual conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not been capable of

Replaces "unable" with a more formal equivalent.

has been incapable of

Similar to 'has not been capable of', but emphasizes inherent inability.

has failed to

Focuses on the lack of success in achieving something.

could not manage to

Indicates a lack of success despite effort.

has been unsuccessful in

Highlights the lack of a positive outcome.

has not succeeded in

Emphasizes the absence of a favorable result.

was not able to

Uses a past tense construction to indicate inability.

has lacked the ability to

Highlights the absence of the necessary skill or resource.

has found it impossible to

Emphasizes the difficulty encountered.

has proven unable to

Suggests that previous attempts have demonstrated inability.

FAQs

How can I use "has been unable" in a sentence?

Use "has been unable" to indicate a past lack of ability or failure to achieve something. For example, "The company has been unable to meet its financial targets this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "has been unable"?

You can use alternatives such as "has failed to", "could not", or "was not able to" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "has been unable" and "was unable"?

"Has been unable" implies a state that has persisted over a period, while "was unable" refers to a specific instance in the past. For example, "He has been unable to find a job for months" versus "He was unable to attend the meeting yesterday".

Is it better to use "has been unable" or "has not been able to"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "has been unable" is often considered more concise and slightly more formal than "has not been able to".