it became able

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it became able" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has gained the ability to do something, but the phrasing is awkward and not commonly used. Example: "After months of training, it became able to perform complex tasks."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In European chess it became able to leap two squares diagonally, forwards, backwards, or to left or right on its first move; some area also gave this right to a newly promoted pawn.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Associated with potassium, it becomes able to intercalate easily into graphite, leading to a first stage graphite potassium gold compound.

Carbon

Intuitively, it is reasonable to think that if the SLS stays at stable subsystems long enough – using a slow switching rule – it becomes able to avoid the energy increase caused by the switchings, maintaining the desired stability.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

One month prior to being diagnosed with cancer is when I became able to finally feel it.

Huffington Post

How do I become able to trust love again.

BBC

The modern system — he calls it moral judgment — came after language, when people became able to articulate why something was right or wrong.

The New York Times - Science

Palestinian thieves became able to disappear into Palestinian-ruled land.

The New York Times

Hviezdoslav was a lawyer until he became able to devote himself to literature.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They became able to fly farther and were more fuel-efficient than their four-engined competitors.

BBC

And at that point, we became able to begin to seek public consultation about the plan.

Science Magazine

With the dedication and talent, ZR soon learned clothing techniques and industry terminology and rapidly became able to work independently.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more common and grammatically sound alternatives such as "it became capable" or "it gained the ability to" for clearer and more effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "it became able" as it sounds unnatural. Instead, rephrase your sentence to use a more direct verb or a stronger adjective to convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it became able" functions as a predicate describing a change in state, specifically the acquisition of an ability. While grammatically understandable, Ludwig AI flags it as awkward and suggests using stronger alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it became able" is technically understandable, it is considered grammatically awkward and infrequently used in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that it's better to use alternatives such as "it became capable", "it gained the ability", or "it was enabled" for improved clarity and style. These alternatives are more idiomatic and provide a more natural flow in writing. While contexts may vary, aiming for stronger verbs and adjectives will generally result in clearer communication. Therefore, avoid "it became able" in favor of its more common and graceful counterparts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it became capable

Replaces "able" with "capable", a more standard and natural-sounding adjective to describe ability.

it was enabled

Suggests that something was activated or made functional, focusing on the enabling action.

it gained the ability

Emphasizes the acquisition of a new skill or power, providing a more formal and descriptive alternative.

it was empowered

Indicates that something received the authority or power to act, shifting the focus to authorization.

it was rendered able

Uses "rendered" to describe the process of becoming able, highlighting the transformation.

it managed to

Focuses on the successful completion of an action, implying ability through achievement.

it proved to be able

Highlights the demonstration of ability through evidence or performance.

it evolved to be able

Suggests a gradual development of ability over time, fitting contexts of evolution or growth.

it was suited to

Implies that something has become fit or appropriate for a task, connecting ability to suitability.

it was fitted to

Suggests that something was equipped for a task.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "it became able"?

Better alternatives include "it became capable", "it gained the ability", or "it was enabled", depending on the context.

Why is "it became able" considered awkward?

The phrasing is not commonly used in standard English. While understandable, it's less direct and more verbose than alternatives like "it became capable".

Is "it became able" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "it became able" is considered awkward and less idiomatic. Better phrasing options exist, such as "it became possible" or "it was able to".

In what contexts might "it became able" be used?

While generally avoidable, you might see "it became able" in technical or descriptive writing where the focus is specifically on the process of gaining an ability, but even there, alternatives are usually preferable.