become able to vs been able to

Both "become able to" and "been able to" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Become able to" is used when referring to the process of acquiring a new ability or skill, while "been able to" is used to indicate that someone has already acquired the ability or skill in the past.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 2308 views

become able to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to the process of acquiring a new ability or skill.

Use "become able to" when describing the process of gaining a new ability or skill. It indicates a transition from not having the ability to acquiring it.

Examples:

After months of practice, she finally became able to play the piano.
With hard work and dedication, he became able to speak fluent French.
Through training, the team became able to work together effectively.

Show examples from the web [+]

One day she'll become able to think and behave like humans.
Consequently, we may consider immigration policy a regulatory means by which we can become able to control our labour needs.
It is also in our interest that North Korea should emerge from its isolation and thus become able to receive from the EU the humanitarian aid that it needs.
Helped by such a learning process, citizens will be in a position to formulate messages and select the media best suited to impart them and thus become able to exercise their right to freedom of information and expression to the full.
Helped by a learning process of this kind, citizens will be in a position to formulate messages and select the media best suited to impart them and thus become able to exercise their right to freedom of information and expression to the full.
Once an entity becomes able to measure reliably the fair value of an investment property under construction that has previously been measured at cost, it shall measure that property at its fair value.
A mathematician named John von Neumann coined the term in the 1950s to describe the inevitable point in the future when technology surpasses us, when it becomes able to improve and reproduce itself without our help.
The latter is likely to distort competition more significantly as the aid beneficiary's competitors become less able to compete.
Finally, we note with satisfaction that Croatia has become better able to implement the acquis.
The latter is likely to distort competition more significantly as the aid beneficiary's competitors become less able to compete [11].
Europe must become better able to retain its researchers and to attract talent from third countries.
Thus universities become entrepreneurs, able to interact between research and industry.
Only in this way can the European Union, without at the same time eroding the rights of the Member States, become more able to act and efficiently limit its work to specified policy areas.
When the laser light is shone into the eye, verteporfin is activated and becomes cytotoxic (able to kill cells).
In addition, this grave illness is the biggest cause of dependence, as sufferers become progressively less able to look after themselves.
Nor are they able to become really involved in a case through a completely independent prosecutor.
Women must be able to become the protagonists of this renewal.
The European Union must remain able to act, or to be more precise, become more able to act.
I feel a responsibility to help you become whatever you're able to be.
Only if you follow the rules, we'll be able to become a family.

Alternatives:

learned to
acquired the ability to
developed the skill to
gained the capacity to
mastered the art of

been able to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone has already acquired the ability or skill in the past.

Use "been able to" to describe a past ability or skill that someone has acquired. It implies that the person had the capability at a specific point in the past.