having been able

USAGE SUMMARY

"having been able" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a past ability or permission that someone had that enabled them to do something. For example, "Having been able to access the restricted area, they were able to find the missing evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He blames himself for not having been able to protect his kids," Gionakis said.

The Guardian

"I truly apologize for not having been able to keep that promise".

The New York Times

What do you most regret not having been able to change?

The Guardian

Most lucid dreamers also report having been able to direct or manipulate the dream's content to some extent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

O'Neal said he left with some regrets, foremost among them not having been able to reach 30,000 points.

The New York Times

"After a youth murder, families often feel inadequate for not having been able to protect their child.

The Guardian

"The manager's obviously very important, having been able to oversee success for such a considerable amount of time.

The Guardian - Sport

Our real award this year is having been able to stimulate millions of people to get out and vote".

The New York Times

McCoy seemed fresher, having been able to rest for four days in Dallas because of his seeding.

The New York Times - Sports

Gomersall recalls a good working relationship with the woman's mother and having been able to discuss hours week by week.

The Guardian

They were also fresher for having been able to rest five players in their last league game.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having been able" to clearly indicate a past ability or opportunity that directly influenced a subsequent event or state. For example, "Having been able to secure funding, the project moved forward."

Common error

Avoid using "having been able" when describing current abilities. This phrase refers to past capabilities, not present ones. For current abilities, use "being able to" or "having the ability to."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having been able" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as the subject or part of the subject in a sentence. It signifies a completed action resulting from a past capability or opportunity. Ludwig confirms this is valid English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having been able" is a grammatically correct and frequently used gerund phrase that indicates a past ability or opportunity influencing a subsequent action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered valid English for expressing this specific nuance. While it appears most frequently in news and media sources, it is also common in scientific and formal business writing. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects a past capability and avoid using it in present-tense contexts. Alternatives like "having had the ability to" or "having managed to" may be suitable depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having had the ability to

Emphasizes the possession of a skill or capability in the past.

having been capable of

Focuses on the inherent capacity or potential to do something.

having managed to

Highlights the successful accomplishment of something, implying effort.

having succeeded in

Similar to 'having managed to', but with a stronger emphasis on achievement.

having been permitted to

Indicates that permission was granted to perform an action.

having been in a position to

Highlights the advantageous circumstances that allowed an action.

having had the opportunity to

Emphasizes the availability of a chance or occasion to do something.

having been empowered to

Suggests that authority or power was given to perform an action.

having been authorized to

Implies formal approval or permission to carry out an action.

having been eligible to

Indicates that certain conditions were met, making an action permissible.

FAQs

How can I use "having been able" in a sentence?

Use "having been able" to describe a past ability or opportunity that influenced a later action or state. For example, "Having been able to access the data, the team completed the analysis quickly."

What are some alternatives to "having been able"?

Alternatives include phrases like "having had the ability to", "having managed to", or "having succeeded in", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "having been able" in the present tense?

No, "having been able" refers to a past ability or opportunity. For present abilities, use phrases like "being able to" or "having the ability to".

What's the difference between "having been able" and "being able"?

"Having been able" refers to a completed action in the past that resulted from an ability or opportunity. "Being able" refers to a general or current ability.