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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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that able to

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that able to" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "that is able to." You can use it when describing someone's or something's capability or ability to perform a specific action. Example: "She is the one that is able to solve complex problems quickly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

By definition, substrates of AcrB are compounds that are able (1) to bind to the access state and (2) to induce subsequent transitions.

"It's 2 bad that Prince was not able 2 per4m on the show this season," the note read in part.

We generated siRNA construct for Drp1 that was able to reduce Drp1 expression levels (Supplementary Figure S2a).

To further confirm that Hes1 is able to repress miR-9, we overexpressed Hes1 and examined miR-9 levels.

We can thus conclude that Dmknδ5 is able to modulate Rab5 activity by promoting its GTP loading.

Science

Plosone

These results confirm that T9W is able to convert β39-thalassemic ErPCs (unable to produce HbA) to HbA-producing cells.

We show that Rg1 is able to increase the rate of HIF-1α protein synthesis.

Leukemic cells express different antigens that are able to activate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Finally, we show that AmphiVent1 is able to directly repress promoters of AmphiGoosecoid and AmphiChordin genes.

Science

Plosone

Finding that PRORP1 is able to functionally replace yeast nuclear RNase P was indeed most surprising.

We observe that Rnd3 is able to induce stress fibres independent of membrane localisation.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include a verb (such as "is", "are", "was", or "were") before "able to" to form a grammatically correct phrase. For example, use "that is able to" instead of "that able to".

Common error

Avoid omitting the necessary auxiliary verb before "able to". This omission leads to ungrammatical sentences. Remember to use "is able to", "are able to", "was able to", or "were able to" depending on the context.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that able to" is intended to function as a relative clause modifying a noun, but it fails to do so grammatically. As Ludwig AI clarifies, auxiliary verb "is" is missing.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that able to" is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of a necessary auxiliary verb. As Ludwig AI indicates, the proper form should include a verb such as "is", "are", "was", or "were" before "able to". Effective communication requires adherence to grammatical rules, and using correct alternatives like "that is able to", "that can", or "that is capable of" ensures clarity and precision. Given the lack of valid usage examples, it is crucial to avoid "that able to" in both formal and informal writing.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the phrase to express ability?

The correct way is to use "that is able to", "that are able to", "that was able to", or "that were able to", depending on the subject and tense. The phrase "that able to" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "that able to"?

Use alternatives like "that is able to", "that can", or "that is capable of" to express the same meaning with correct grammar.

Which is correct, "that able to" or "that is able to"?

"That is able to" is the correct phrase. "That able to" omits the necessary auxiliary verb and is grammatically incorrect.

How can I use "that is able to" in a sentence?

You can use "that is able to" to describe someone or something's capability. For example: "She is the one "that is able to" solve complex problems quickly."

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Most frequent sentences: