needs to be able

USAGE SUMMARY

"needs to be able" is correct and can be used in written English in many contexts.
For example, you might say "The new machine needs to be able to print in color."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

-- Needs to be able to have fun!

Cornell University

It also needs to be able to track viewing trends.

The Guardian

It needs to be able to develop new business models".

The Guardian

He needs to be able to own his victory.

The Guardian - Opinion

*The successful candidate needs to be able to create consensus.

The New York Times

Everyone needs to be able to make a contribution".

The New York Times - Health

It needs to be able to take the looking.

Independent

He needs to be able to do both".

The Guardian - Sport

And it needs to be able to switch between them.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Quite simply, everyone needs to be able to afford a diet of adequate quantity and variety.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The bank needs to be able to borrow to significantly enlarge the scale of its work".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to be able", ensure that the sentence clearly specifies who or what requires the ability and what that ability entails. Avoid vague or ambiguous phrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "needs to be able" in excessively passive constructions. Instead of "The report needs to be able to be read by anyone", prefer "Anyone needs to be able to read the report" for clarity and directness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be able" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating necessity combined with ability. It expresses that someone or something requires a certain capacity or skill. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs to be able" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express a requirement or necessity for a specific capacity or skill. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, it is more commonly found in news and media, scientific, and academic sources. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who or what requires the ability and what that ability entails. Alternatives like "must be capable of" or "is required to" can be used to vary phrasing while maintaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is essential to be able to

Highlights the crucial nature of the ability, emphasizing its importance.

must be capable of

Replaces "needs to" with "must", indicating a stronger requirement, and "be able" with "be capable of", a more formal alternative.

demands the ability to

Shifts the focus to what is demanded or required, emphasizing a specific skill or capability.

should be equipped to

Suggests preparedness and resources, implying that the subject has the necessary tools or training.

is expected to be capable of

Highlights an expectation or anticipated capability, suggesting a standard or performance goal.

is required to

Indicates an obligation or mandatory action, shifting from necessity to a formal requirement.

it is necessary to have the capacity to

A more formal and verbose way of expressing the necessity of having a particular ability.

has to be in a position to

Emphasizes the necessary circumstances or state for performing an action, adding a layer of conditionality.

it's important that they can

Simplifies the expression, focusing on the importance of possessing the ability.

they are supposed to know how to

Indicates an assumed or expected knowledge or skill, often based on training or prior experience.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "needs to be able" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "is required to", "must be capable of", or "it is essential to be able to". For example, instead of saying "The candidate needs to be able to present well", you could say "The candidate is required to present well".

What are some alternatives to "needs to be able" in informal contexts?

In informal settings, you can use simpler alternatives such as "should be able to", "has to", or "can". For instance, instead of "The app needs to be able to run on any device", you might say "The app should be able to run on any device".

Is there a difference between "needs to be able" and "should be able"?

Yes, "needs to be able" implies a necessity or requirement, whereas "should be able" suggests an expectation or recommendation. "Needs to be able" indicates something is essential, while "should be able" indicates something is desirable or likely.

How to use "needs to be able" in a sentence?

Use "needs to be able" to express that someone or something requires a particular capability or skill. For example: "The software "needs to be able" to process large datasets quickly."