If we were not able to vs If we were not able to create

Both phrases are correct, but "If we were not able to" is a more general statement that can be followed by any action or outcome, and "if we were not able to create" is more specific and implies that the action is related to creation or production.

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: January 23, 2025 • 7476 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"If we were not able to"

This phrase is a conditional statement that expresses a hypothetical situation where the ability to do something is lacking.

Examples:

If we were not able to finish the project on time, we would have to ask for an extension.
If we were not able to attend the meeting, we could join via video conference.
If we were not able to find a solution, we might have to seek help from an expert.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 26, 2024

Jan 14, 2023 ... I wanted this to happen so bad and see it habitable in a way or restored. But then I came to realize that if we were not able to reverse ...
Sep 20, 2021 ... So putting this all together, if we were not able to see her iPhone at all on her iPad's Find My app (and thus not able to activate Lost ...
Nov 4, 2016 ... If we were not able to add them to Non-ADP aggregate, i am planning to create a new aggregate with those unused drives. Is this best ...
May 12, 2018 ... We are simply not eligible. We explained that this is WHY we purchased the Club Wyndham Discovery program, and that if we were not able to stay ...
Jul 30, 2018 ... Should we solve the same coding question twice if we were not able to solve the first time but know how it is solved? I sometimes forget how ...
Aug 18, 2014 ... But it would be sad if we were not able to distinguish one from the other. Again, consider murderers and martyrs. When they are tortured ...
We must look after our most vulnerable through structured giving and partnership. If we were not able to start with the same opportunities as others,...
You should have already received an email from us if we were not able to enroll you automatically. Before proceeding, if you have not yet tried to log in to ...
But even if we were not able to go higher it was still a beautiful and memorable drive for me. This road is very popular in summer season, but in late fall ...
Judaism as a religion and as a people would fail if we were not able to make personal connections to our tradition and to find meaning in living a Jewish life.

Alternatives:

if we could not
if we were unable to
if we did not have the ability to
if we lacked the capacity to
if we were incapable of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"If we were not able to create"

This phrase is a conditional statement that specifically refers to the inability to create or produce something.

Examples:

If we were not able to create a new design, we would have to use the existing one.
If we were not able to create a backup, we might lose all our data.
If we were not able to create a plan, the project would be at risk.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 26, 2024

Aug 21, 2024 ... And so, if we were not able to create a disability studies department or house it within a currently existing department, then we thought ...
Mar 1, 2022 ... It returns NULL if we were not able to create a valid OpenGLES/EGL context. It might happen when the system is very resource constrained. It ...
Nov 8, 2021 ... “Even if we were not able to create an experience on match day, we were still trying to add value in other areas,” Armold said. In 2021, FC ...
Feb 22, 2023 ... If we were not able to create two subsets using the given constraints with size x, it is sure we would not be able to create two subsets ...

Alternatives:

if we could not create
if we were unable to produce
if we did not have the ability to make
if we lacked the capacity to generate
if we were incapable of forming

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If we were not able to vs If we were not able to create

"If we were not able to"

"If we were not able to create"

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