unable

Everyday

Unable means not able to do something, because you cannot or are not allowed to: «unable to come». tree →

In the lessons

In school letters and notices «unable» is the polite, formal way to say «can't»: «If your child is unable to attend…». In stories «she was unable to move» shows fear or danger. In science, «animals unable to fly» like penguins and kiwis. «Unable» is always followed by «to» and a verb. Opposite: able.

Examples

• I was unable to finish my homework because I was ill. tree →
• Penguins are unable to fly. tree →
• The firefighters were unable to reach the cat. tree →
• She was unable to sleep because of the storm. tree →
• We are unable to come to the party. tree →
• The baby is unable to walk yet. tree →
• He was unable to answer the question. tree →
• She sat dumb and shamefaced, unable to reply. tree →

Note

Always «unable to + verb», never «unable for». Formal; in speech «can't» or «couldn't» is more common. The noun is «inability», not «unability». Prefix un- = not.

In Jewish tradition

Used in the Mishnah quote about counting what the mouth cannot say.

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah counts the ways letters can combine and says to go on counting beyond what the mouth can speak.

Examples

• Go and count further, what the mouth is unable to pronounce, and the ear is unable to hear. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• The Sefer Yetzirah gives the factorials up to that of seven and concludes the Mishnah by saying: "Go and count further, what the mouth is unable to pronounce, and the ear is unable to hear." (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Always «unable to + verb», never «unable for». Formal; in speech «can't» or «couldn't» is more common. The noun is «inability», not «unability». Prefix un- = not.