longed to be able

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "longed to be able" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express a strong desire or wish to do something. For example, "She longed to be able to provide for her family but her financial situation made that impossible".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I longed to be able to tell stories in that way.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

More practically, the camera frequently misbehaves, which can leave you lunging towards thin air; I also longed to be able to zoom out further for better tactical oversight.

The Guardian - Tech

At those moments I longed to be able to make a decision, to solve the problem myself, to take responsibility for what would happen next — all the elements that make a game.

The New York Times - Arts

Valentine has longed to be able to own -- and afford -- a home in his native Stamford, Conn., and he said his loyalty compelled him to stay with an organization that he has worked for in parts of four decades.

The New York Times - Sports

I'd published my first book in 1963; which was not the tough raw Norman Mailer book I'd longed to be able to write.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I long to be able to teach the medical students and residents I work with that the Hippocratic oath actually means something.

The New York Times

I love going to the movies too much, and have admired Jack Nicholson for too long, to be able to ask for better than to see Mr. Nicholson create my Schmidt on the screen.

The New York Times

You are dependent on others to do what you so dearly long to be able to do for your own child.

Huffington Post

"The monks have been controlled for too long to be able to self-cleanse, self-discipline," Xianqi, whose lay name is Du Qixin, told the AP.

Huffington Post

I'm not even going to resolve to read the "impressive" books I shamefully long to be able to drop into party conversation, like Ulysses or Infinite Jest, though I plan to read them someday (apparently they're pretty good).

Huffington Post

I refuse to build my sukkah this year, or listen to Ecclesiastes, without contributing towards a shelter for at least one family who long to be able to eat and drink and put their children to bed in safety.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "longed to be able" to express a deep, often wistful desire for a capability you currently lack. For example, "She longed to be able to speak French fluently."

Common error

Avoid using "longed" in the present tense to describe a current desire. "Longed" implies a past yearning. Use "long" or "yearn" instead to describe a present desire. For example, say "I long to travel" not "I longed to travel" if it's a current wish.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "longed to be able" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a strong desire or yearning for a specific ability or capacity. Ludwig's examples show its use across various narrative and descriptive contexts, highlighting a wistful or aspirational sentiment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "longed to be able" is a verbal phrase used to express a deep yearning for a skill or ability. Ludwig's AI analysis indicates its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific sources. While relatively rare, its use conveys a strong sense of desire. Remember to use the correct tense and consider alternatives like "wished to have the ability to" or "desired the capacity to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a strong desire to be able to

Adds emphasis to the desire.

felt a deep craving to be able to

Emphasizes the intensity of the craving.

desired the capacity to

Replaces "longed" with a more formal synonym and restructures the sentence.

yearned for the power to

Substitutes "longed" with "yearned" and "be able" with "power to", intensifying the desire.

wished to have the ability to

Replaces "longed" with "wished" and expresses ability more explicitly.

craved the opportunity to

Focuses on the opportunity rather than just the ability.

aspired to be capable of

Replaces "longed" with "aspired" and uses "capable of" instead of "be able".

dreamed of being equipped to

Emphasizes being prepared or furnished to do something.

hoped to gain the skill to

Focuses on acquiring a specific skill.

was eager to be able to

Expresses enthusiasm and anticipation for being able to do something.

FAQs

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

Use "longed to be able" to express a strong desire for a past ability or skill you wished you possessed. For example, "He "longed to be able" to play the piano like his father."

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

You can use phrases like "wished to have the ability to", "desired the capacity to", or "yearned for the power to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I long to be able" or "I longed to be able"?

"I long to be able" expresses a current desire, while "I "longed to be able"" expresses a past desire. Choose the tense that matches the time frame of your desire.

What's the difference between "wished to be able" and "longed to be able"?

Both phrases express a desire for an ability, but ""longed to be able"" suggests a deeper, more intense yearning than "wished to be able".