is not able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'is not able to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone is incapable of doing something. For example: "The child is not able to understand the physics problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Greek government is not able to do this.

University of California, Berkeley

The young man is not able to recall what happened".

The New York Times

It is not able to produce real change.

The New York Times

He is not able to broadcast his ideas.

The Guardian

Barclays is not able to estimate the financial impact.

The Guardian - Business

Our Congress is not able to endorse that.

The New York Times

"But this government is not able to do even that.

The New York Times

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The New York Times

However, this approach is not able to handle stiff source terms.

Journal of Computational Physics

When the interaction is strong (γ-Al2O3), citric acid is not able to improve catalytic performance.

Catalysis Today

It is shown that the direct forcing scheme is not able to satisfy the impenetrability condition.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine if a more specific synonym like "is incapable of" or "lacks the ability to" would be more precise.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "is not able to" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "cannot", "is unable to", or rephrasing the sentence entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not able to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a lack of capacity, skill, or opportunity to perform an action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is not able to" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express inability or a lack of capacity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While widely used across various contexts like news, science, and academia, consider using more concise alternatives like "cannot" for brevity. Avoid overuse to prevent repetitive writing. Be mindful of the specific nuance you wish to convey—options like "is incapable of" or "lacks the ability to" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot

A more direct and concise way to express inability.

is incapable of

Emphasizes a lack of inherent ability or capacity.

is unable to

A formal synonym, highlighting a lack of ability.

lacks the ability to

Focuses on the missing capability required for an action.

is not in a position to

Indicates inability due to circumstances or situation.

is not equipped to

Suggests a lack of necessary tools, skills or resources.

is unequipped to

Shortened version of is not equipped to.

fails to

Highlights a consistent failure or inability to achieve something.

is prevented from

Emphasizes an external obstruction causing inability.

is restricted from

Suggests an imposed limit or boundary causing the inability.

FAQs

What's a simpler alternative to "is not able to"?

The simplest alternative to "is not able to" is "cannot". It's more concise and often sounds more natural.

When is it better to use "is not able to" instead of "cannot"?

"Is not able to" is suitable when you want to emphasize the inability or when a more formal tone is required. In everyday conversation or informal writing, "cannot" is generally preferred.

What does it mean if someone "is not able to" do something?

It means they lack the capacity, skill, resources, or permission to perform a specific action. The reason for the inability can vary widely based on the context.

Is "is not able to" the same as "is unable to"?

Yes, "is not able to" and "is unable to" are largely interchangeable. The latter is often considered slightly more formal, but the difference is minimal.