unable to arrive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unable to arrive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something cannot reach a destination or attend an event. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to arrive at the meeting on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The University has postponed the exams for a week amid fears that students would be unable to arrive in time".

Independent

Ms. Jerez and three of her colleagues, unable to arrive at consensus, agreed to appear in four separate projects, each performer playing leader once.

The New York Times - Arts

The political scientists Douglass C. North, John Joseph Wallis and Barry R. Weingast, authors of "Violence and Social Orders," would likely classify Egypt as a "fragile natural state," one in which elite groups are unable to arrive at a consensus other than mutually advantageous self-serving behavior.

The New York Times

The MIS-based approach was unable to arrive at solutions within 40 h for the conmat networks.

Computational Social Networks

Many meta-analyses have been performed to study the efficacy of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF); however, there are few data referring to adjacent segment within these meta-analyses, or investigators are unable to arrive at the same conclusion in the few meta-analyses about adjacent segment.

The Spine Journal

Principal Jack Foote was unable to arrive until the second week last year.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

When he did arrive he was unable to get into his new office as the keys had been "misplaced" by the school management committee chairman.

The Guardian

But once she arrived, she was unable to get into a studio.

The New York Times

Sunday's bill had riches even for those unable to face arriving before lunch for two hours of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

The Guardian - Music

Swissport apologised for delays last weekend but said it was unable to accommodate arriving off-schedule flights, even though it had increased its staff.

BBC

Franklin, 20, who nearly missed the championships after a freak injury left her temporarily unable to walk, arrived at Deep Creek with nine medals.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unable to arrive", consider specifying the reason for the inability to provide context and clarity for the reader. For example, "Due to the storm, they were unable to arrive on time."

Common error

Avoid using "unable to arrive" when "did not arrive" would be more appropriate. "Unable" implies a reason preventing arrival, while "did not" is a simple statement of fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to arrive" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a lack of ability to reach a destination or attend an event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable structure in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis shows that the phrase "unable to arrive" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed construction, especially within news and scientific domains. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, emphasizing its practicality in clarifying situations where reaching a destination is impossible. When writing, it's helpful to state the reason to provide context. While similar phrases exist, such as "could not arrive" or "failed to arrive", the original phrase remains a clear and concise option for expressing an inability to reach a destination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not arrive

Replaces "unable" with a past tense modal verb, indicating a past inability.

was not able to arrive

Expands "unable" into a full phrase with "was not able", adding emphasis.

failed to arrive

Uses "failed" to indicate a lack of success in reaching a destination.

did not make it

A more informal way to express not reaching a destination or event.

could not be present

Focuses on the absence from an event rather than the act of arriving.

was prevented from arriving

Highlights the external factors that stopped someone from arriving.

is not expected to arrive

Indicates a future expectation that someone will not arrive.

cannot be there

Expresses an inability to be at a certain place, emphasizing presence.

will not be coming

A simple and direct way to state that someone will not arrive or attend.

cannot attend

Focuses on the inability to attend, rather than the physical act of arriving.

FAQs

How can I use "unable to arrive" in a sentence?

"Unable to arrive" is used to describe a situation where someone or something is prevented from reaching a destination. For example, "Due to the heavy traffic, I was unable to arrive on time."

What's a formal alternative to "unable to arrive"?

A more formal alternative could be "prevented from arriving" or "incapable of arriving". Both convey the same meaning but with a more elevated tone.

Which is correct, "unable to arrive" or "not able to arrive"?

Both "unable to arrive" and "not able to arrive" are grammatically correct. "Unable to arrive" is slightly more concise and common, but "not able to arrive" is also perfectly acceptable.

What's the difference between "unable to arrive" and "did not arrive"?

"Unable to arrive" implies that there was a reason or circumstance that prevented someone from arriving. "Did not arrive" simply states the fact that someone was not present, without specifying the reason.