we would not be able vs we will not be able

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'We would not be able' is used to talk about a hypothetical situation or a condition that is unlikely to happen. 'We will not be able' is used to state a future inability or impossibility.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 3070 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about hypothetical situations or conditions that are unlikely to happen.

"we would not be able"

This phrase is used to express a hypothetical situation or a condition that is unlikely to occur. It implies a sense of uncertainty or doubt about the ability to do something.

Examples:

If we had more time, we would not be able to finish the project.
If I were taller, I would not be able to fit in this small car.
If it rained, we would not be able to have the picnic.
She said she would not be able to attend the meeting if it was scheduled for Friday.
If he had studied harder, he would not be able to pass the exam.

Show examples from the web [+]

Without them we would not be able to function.
Without paying due attention to taxation policy we would not be able to achieve the Lisbon objectives.
In the long term we would not be able to convey it to our citizens in political terms.
Without enlargement we would not be able to boast today that we, as the European Parliament, are the point of contact for 450 million citizens.
The first is that, even if the Council were to approve Parliament's proposals tomorrow morning, we would not be able to resolve the fundamental democratic imbalance and we would not be able to stop the intergovernmental drift.
I would like finally to thank all the workers in this institution without whose work we would not be able to carry out our own.
Thirdly, we would not be able to accept any limitation on Canada's ability to use the TRIPS flexibilities to export cheap generic medicines to developing countries.
If there was no sun, we would not be able to live.
That would be the real cost, to which in the longer term we would not be able to respond.
Most citizens have also understood that we would not be able to deal with the financial crisis that we are currently experiencing nearly as well as we are now doing without the European Central Bank and a single currency.
We would not be able to process information, metabolize, walk and talk, if we lived in thermal equilibrium.
I wish to thank all our staff, without whom we would not be able to make such a good job of serving the people, and without whom we would be unable to cope with so many parties of visitors and so much legislative work.
I do not think it would be possible to carry it over to the following morning, because we would not be able to prepare properly for the vote.
Without their input we would not be able to take the historic decisions which are before us today.
In other words, we would not be able to keep expenditure within the 20 % limit.
As a result, under those circumstances we would not be able to observe elections rigged by a government that had seized power in a coup.
Even if we resorted to all the measures listed in the resolution, we would not be able to resolve the problem of climate change entirely.
Mr President, we would not be able to have this debate if Commissioner Papoutsis had not presented us with his White Paper and we thank him very much for it.
It will not completely harden like regular paint or we would not be able to reclaim it.
This would not be because we would not be able to produce it efficiently; it would be so that other European producers could export their sugar to us, thus solving the problem of WTO restrictions at our expense.

Alternatives:

we might not be able
we could not be able
we should not be able
we may not be able
we must not be able

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to state a future inability or impossibility.

"we will not be able"

This phrase is used to express a future inability or impossibility. It indicates a definitive statement about not being able to do something in the future.

Examples:

We will not be able to attend the party next week.
I will not be able to finish the report by tomorrow.
They will not be able to come to the meeting on time.
She will not be able to travel next month.
He will not be able to lift that heavy box.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jul 29, 2022 ... “Despite this strong growth, we will not be able to fully meet consumer demand due to capacity constraints.” Trick-or-treaters can partially ...

Alternatives:

we cannot
we won't be capable
we won't have the ability
we won't manage
we won't be up to it

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we would not be able vs we will not be able