may not be able vs will not be able

Both "may not be able" and "will not be able" are correct, but they convey different levels of certainty. "May not be able" suggests a possibility of not being able to do something, while "will not be able" indicates a stronger certainty that the action cannot be accomplished.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 1288 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a possibility of not being able to do something.

"may not be able"

This phrase is used to indicate a potential inability to perform a certain action. It implies uncertainty or lack of guarantee.

Examples:

I may not be able to attend the meeting tomorrow.
She may not be able to finish the project on time.
They may not be able to provide the necessary resources.
He may not be able to lift that heavy box.
The team may not be able to complete the task within the deadline.

Show examples from the web [+]

I may not be able to come back the same way.
But I may not be able to handle things exactly as he wishes.
As a society, we may not be able to survive much longer.
Captain, we may not be able to get control of this situation.
Even an undertaking with a high market share may not be able to act to an appreciable extent independently of customers with sufficient bargaining strength.
But brother may not be able to copy me
I mean, I may not be able to break out any of my special moves.
I may not be able to dance, but there's one thing I can do really well, and that's stand perfectly still.
We may not be able to forget the past, but we can let it become memories.
We may not be able to defend against a hostile species.
However, in some cases, an entity may not be able to identify its share of the underlying financial position and performance of the plan with sufficient reliability for accounting purposes.
Similarly, it is possible that the tour operator may not be able, logistically, to meet the obligations laid down by this article.
A European-wide transport system is required to connect Member States that may not be able to create national storage facilities themselves.
Some Member States may not be able to create national storage facilities themselves.
And the adrenalin may not be able to restart it.
I may not be able to kill you.
I may not be able to protect you this time.
We may not be able to go home after all.
We may not be able to make orbit.
We may not be able to remove her, Mulder.

Alternatives:

might not be able
could not be able
possibly not be able
potentially not be able
might not have the ability to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a strong certainty that an action cannot be accomplished.

"will not be able"

This phrase is used to indicate a definitive inability to perform a certain action. It implies a high level of certainty.

Examples:

She will not be able to make it to the party tonight.
I will not be able to finish the report by the end of the day.
They will not be able to fix the issue without additional help.
He will not be able to attend the event due to prior commitments.
The team will not be able to meet the deadline.

Show examples from the web [+]

America will not be able to stomach the loss of 10,000 soldiers.
He will not be able to rebuild his operation.
Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider.
But all the others will not be able to.
The average household will not be able to afford the Autonit.
The boss will not be able to take care of her with respectability.
Consequently, citizens will not be able to watch these events alongside other programmes.
Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider.
These figures indicate that production will not be able to keep pace with consumption growth.
Other Structural Funds will not be able to contribute to EGF funding.
Household will not be able to repay debt
However, unfortunately, the children will not be able to attend.
Without reducing their emissions, Europe alone will not be able to solve this problem.
Otherwise, the European funds will not be able to achieve the relevant objectives.
The region will not be able to withstand another war.
Certainly, this tribunal will not be able to continue its work indefinitely.
This part of Africa will not be able to develop without a real improvement in the health of its population.
Otherwise, the Socialist Group in the European Parliament will not be able to support you.
Ownership unbundling means that our traditional energy operators will not be able to realise these investments in the energy networks.
Businesses will not be able to afford to pay these extra costs.

Alternatives:

cannot
won't be able to
unable to
not capable of
lack the ability to

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may not be able vs will not be able

"may not be able"

"will not be able"

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