unable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unable' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express that someone or something does not have the power or ability to do something. For example: "I'm sorry, I'm unable to help you with this task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are able to change the name on the ticket if you are unable to attend and choose to have another party attend in your place.

The Guardian

Paris is aware that if it is unable to tackle the issue of its pension shortfall, France's triple-A credit rating may be cut.

The New York Times

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The Guardian

The prime minister will be unable to table his demands for the repatriation of powers before the next election because Clegg has dismissed this strategy as "a false promise wrapped in a union jack".

The Guardian

However, they were unable to close a comprehensive deal because of differences between the DUP and pro-Good Friday agreement parties over changes to the political institution.

The Guardian

The guards started to pull us out of the plane.... Stop!" I couldn't walk, for my feet were unable to carry me.

The Guardian

Almost all of the sightseers said they had pre-booked flights which they were unable to change; many had resigned themselves to a trip to Washington consisting of shopping and viewing buildings from the outside.

The Guardian

I wouldn't dismiss the psychological and political impact of Ian Paisley being, in his terms, kicked around for 40 years by the establishment and then seeing an opportunity to be the establishment and being unable to resist it".

The Guardian

Saunders, who has previously managed Wrexham, Doncaster and Wolves, finished the season in interim charge of Crawley but was unable to prevent them from being relegated to League Two.

The Guardian - Sport

At about the age of six, our daughter had an arrangement imposed on her that was difficult enough in practical terms: her father was often out of the country and unable to support her weekend sports commitments simply because they were always somewhere else.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nothing was making sense and she was unable to navigate the new timetables designed by the court that stipulated where she should be, at what time, on which day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unable", clarify the reason for the inability. For example, instead of "I am unable to attend", specify "I am unable to attend due to a prior commitment."

Common error

Avoid using "unable" in overly passive constructions that obscure responsibility. Instead of saying, "The problem was unable to be solved", a better phrasing is "We were unable to solve the problem."

Linguistic Context

The word "unable" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns or pronouns to describe a state of lacking ability or capacity to perform a specific action. Ludwig confirms this grammatical correctness, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academic

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unable" is a versatile adjective used to express a lack of capacity or ability. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. For best practices, specify the reason for the inability. Avoid passive constructions that obscure responsibility. Consider alternatives like "incapable of" or "not able to" depending on the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not capable

Replaces "unable" with a more formal and direct expression of lacking capability.

incapable of

Similar to "unable", but often implies a fundamental lack of ability or qualification.

not equipped

Suggests a lack of necessary resources or preparation.

unfit to

Implies a lack of suitability or qualification for a particular task or role.

powerless to

Highlights a lack of power or authority to effect change or action.

helpless to

Emphasizes a lack of agency and an inability to intervene.

in no position to

Indicates a lack of appropriate circumstances or authority to act.

restricted from

Suggests an external limitation preventing action.

prevented from

Indicates that something is actively stopping the action.

without the capacity to

A more elaborate way of saying lacking skill or ability to do something

FAQs

How to use "unable" in a sentence?

Use "unable" to describe a lack of capacity or ability to perform an action. For example, "Due to the rain, we were "unable to play" football".

What can I say instead of "unable"?

You can use alternatives like "incapable of", "not able to", or "powerless to" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "unable to" or "not able to"?

"Unable to" is generally considered more formal than "not able to", but both are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably in many situations. The best choice depends on the desired tone and audience.

What's the difference between "unable" and "unwilling"?

"Unable" means lacking the capacity or ability to do something, while "unwilling" means not wanting to do something, even if one has the ability. One refers to capability, the other to volition.