unable to comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

"unable to comprehend" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would typically use it to describe someone's inability to understand something, either due to lack of knowledge or because the thing itself is complex or difficult to understand. For example: "The student was unable to comprehend the professor's explanation of chemical reactions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr Chambers said the police seemed unable to comprehend the intended humour in his online comment.

Independent

I spent the weekend numb, unable to comprehend him tearing our family apart.

The New York Times - Sports

He was unable to comprehend that by relaying his friends' conversations he caused offence.

The Economist

He seemed unable to comprehend why anyone should want to be other than a communist.

The Economist

Individual stories only leave us lost, unable to comprehend the choices that have led to this.

The Guardian

Unable to comprehend others' emotions, he can at least be exact.

The Guardian - Books

The Argentinian crowd were stunned, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.

The Guardian - Sport

The former are unable to comprehend, much less celebrate, the latter's triumph.

The New Yorker

Still unable to comprehend that most people don't have a swimming pool of liquid gold in their living rooms.

The Guardian - Film

In "Paper Losses", a woman, unable to comprehend her husband's cruelty, decides that he is a "space alien".

Independent

Callers getting more inebriated: more unable to comprehend that we don't know where they are; less able to follow instructions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unable to comprehend" when you want to emphasize a lack of understanding, particularly due to complexity or abstractness of the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "unable to comprehend" when a simpler phrase like "doesn't understand" would suffice. Overusing sophisticated language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to comprehend" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to describe someone's state of not understanding something. It suggests a lack of mental capacity or ability to grasp an idea or concept, as Ludwig exemplifies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

27%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unable to comprehend" is a commonly used phrase to express a lack of understanding, especially in situations involving complex or abstract concepts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. Its use is prevalent in news, media, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "incapable of understanding" or "cannot grasp" exist, "unable to comprehend" provides a specific nuance, emphasizing a more profound difficulty in understanding. When writing, it's best to reserve this phrase for situations where the subject matter is genuinely difficult to grasp, avoiding its overuse in simple contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incapable of understanding

Focuses on a general lack of capacity to understand, similar to the original phrase.

cannot grasp

Implies a failure to fully seize or understand something.

fail to understand

A straightforward and direct way of expressing a lack of understanding.

struggle to understand

Suggests effort is being made, but understanding is difficult.

lack the ability to understand

Highlights the absence of a specific skill or capability.

beyond one's comprehension

Emphasizes that something is too complex or difficult for someone to understand.

unable to fathom

Implies a deep or complex lack of understanding.

find it incomprehensible

Expresses that something is inherently difficult or impossible to understand.

at a loss to understand

Suggests confusion and an inability to find a clear understanding.

cannot make sense of

Focuses on the inability to find logic or meaning in something.

FAQs

How to use "unable to comprehend" in a sentence?

You can use "unable to comprehend" to describe someone's difficulty in understanding complex or abstract concepts. For example: "The student was "unable to comprehend" the professor's lecture."

What can I say instead of "unable to comprehend"?

Alternatives include "incapable of understanding", "cannot grasp", or "fail to understand", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "unable to comprehend" or "cannot understand"?

"Unable to comprehend" implies a deeper or more fundamental lack of understanding, often due to complexity. "Cannot understand" is a more general term. The choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "unable to comprehend" and "unable to understand"?

"Unable to comprehend" often suggests a failure to grasp complex or abstract ideas, whereas "unable to understand" is a broader term that can apply to simpler concepts as well.