was not able to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was not able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone didn't have the ability, opportunity, or permission to do something. Example sentence: She was not able to finish the project on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"She was not able to breathe.

The New Yorker

She was not able to speak.

The New Yorker

It similarly was not able to hover.

Independent

I was not able to.

The Guardian

A car was not able to move.

The Washington Post

Brown was not able to help.

The Guardian

She was not able to nurse it.

The Guardian - Books

"He was not able to identify anything.

The New York Times

I was not able to be sexualized.

The New Yorker

Springer was not able to land safely.

The Guardian

So, I was not able to escape it.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the active voice and the subject's intent. For instance, if the inability resulted from external constraints, specify who or what prevented the action.

Common error

Don't use "was not able to" when a simpler phrasing like "could not" or "failed to" is more appropriate and conveys the same meaning without adding unnecessary words. For example, instead of 'The team was not able to win the game', say 'The team could not win the game'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not able to" functions as a negative modal construction, indicating the absence of ability or capacity to perform a particular action. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, confirming its role in expressing inability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was not able to" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to express a lack of ability, opportunity, or permission. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a negative modal construction across various registers, although often, more concise alternatives like "could not" are preferred for brevity. When using this phrase, ensure that the context necessitates its level of formality, and consider simpler alternatives where appropriate. It is frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Academia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not

A more concise and direct way of expressing inability.

unable to

A shorter, adjective-based alternative to express the same meaning.

did not have the ability to

Emphasizes a lack of inherent capacity or skill.

lacked the capacity to

Highlights the absence of necessary resources or skills.

was incapable of

Stresses a fundamental inability to perform an action.

failed to

Focuses on the unsuccessful outcome of an attempt.

was prevented from

Indicates that external factors hindered the action.

was not equipped to

Focuses on the absence of necessary tools or knowledge.

was not in a position to

Highlights a lack of suitable circumstances or authority.

was not permitted to

Implies that the action was disallowed or forbidden.

FAQs

How can I use "was not able to" in a sentence?

You can use "was not able to" to indicate a lack of ability or opportunity. For example, "She was not able to attend the meeting due to illness."

What are some alternatives to "was not able to"?

Alternatives include "could not", "unable to", or "failed to", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "was not able to" or "could not"?

Both "was not able to" and "could not" are grammatically correct, but "could not" is often more concise and preferred in many contexts. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

What's the difference between "was not able to" and "was not allowed to"?

"Was not able to" indicates a lack of capability, while "was not allowed to" implies a prohibition or lack of permission. For example, "She was not able to finish the race" (lacked the ability), versus "She was not allowed to enter the building" (prohibited).