unable

adj.

1. 没有所需技能（或力量、时间、知识等）；未能；无法
   not having the skill, strength, time, knowledge, etc. to do sth
   1. He lay there, unable to move.
      他躺在那里动弹不得。
   2. I tried to contact him but was unable to.
      我试着跟他联系，却没联系上。

1. ADJ 不能…的；无法…的
   If you are unable to do something, it is impossible for you to do it, for example because you do not have the necessary skill or knowledge, or because you do not have enough time or money.
   1. The military may feel unable to hand over power to a civilian President next year...
      军方可能会觉得明年难以将政权移交给一位民选总统。
   2. Unable any longer to keep from breaking in she said, 'I simply cannot believe you're serious.'
      她再也忍不住了，便插话道：“我真不敢相信你是认真的。”

1. Experts are unable to explain why the whales beached themselves.
   专家们无法解释为什么这些鲸会搁浅在海滩上。
2. The two countries have been unable to agree which step should come next
   接下来该走哪一步，这两个国家还未能就此达成一致意见。
3. They've entered this new confederacy because the central government's been unable to control the collapsing economy.
   由于中央政府无力控制逐渐崩溃的经济，所以他们加入了这个新联盟。
4. The speed of economic change has been so great that the tax-collecting system has been unable to cope.
   经济变化得如此之快，以致税收系统都应付不过来了。
5. He had been unable to escape the cruelties of war.
   他没能逃脱战争的残酷。
6. They were unable to prove that she died as a direct result of his injection
   他们无法证明她的死是由于他的注射直接引起的。
7. She was unable to find employment
   她没能找到工作。
8. He had angina and was unable to walk for more than 200 yards on the flat.
   他患有心绞痛，在平地上最多能走200码。
9. The clay court was slippery and he was unable to move freely
   红土网球场很滑，他不能自如地移动。
10. My father was unable to talk about the war, it was so frightful.
    我父亲没法谈论那场战争，那太可怕了。
11. Unable to resist the impulse, he glanced at the sea again
    他抑制不住冲动，又向海面瞥了一眼。
12. Many areas in the country's interior are unable to report Aids cases immediately.
    该国内地的很多地区无法即时报告艾滋病病例。
13. He had been unable to keep to his schedule.
    他没能遵循自己的计划。
14. We've simply been unable to locate him.
    我们就是没办法找到他。
15. She was unable, for once, to control and manipulate events
    她仅有一次没能控制和处理好局势。
16. He was unable to take nourishment for several days.
    他有几天不能吃东西了。
17. I was so overpowered by my guilt and my shame that I was unable to speak.
    内疚和羞愧令我无地自容，难以启齿。
18. He is unable to relate to other people
    他无法理解他人的想法。
19. He advanced funds of his own to his company, which was unable to repay him.
    他把自己的资金预付给他的公司，而公司却不能把钱偿还给他。
20. They were unwilling, or unable, to guarantee safe passage from the city to the aircraft
    他们不愿意或者不能够保证从市内到飞机场的安全通行。
21. I was unable to shake off my self-pity
    我无法摆脱自怜自哀的情绪。
22. She stared at him again, unable to believe the evidence of her senses.
    她再度盯着他看，无法相信自己的眼睛和耳朵。
23. He was unable to control his sensibility
    他不能控制自己的过分敏感。
24. The military may feel unable to hand over power to a civilian President next year
    军方可能会觉得明年难以将政权移交给一位民选总统。
25. Unable any longer to keep from breaking in she said, 'I simply cannot believe you're serious.'
    她再也忍不住了，便插话道：“我真不敢相信你是认真的。”
26. For months I had been either unwilling or unable to go through with it.
    数月来，我一直不是不愿意就是没办法做这件事。
27. If you are unable to obtain the information you require, consult your telephone directory.
    如果你无法获得所需信息，请查询电话号码簿。
28. I am simply unable to call to mind his name.
    我实在想不起来他的名字了。
29. His poor method of learning by rote made him unable to deal with the problems in his work flexibly.
    他死记硬背的学习方法使他在工作中不能灵活处理问题。
30. We are willing to help but unable to do so about this.
    这件事我们是爱莫能助了。

adj

1. (usually followed by `to') not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
   1. unable to get to town without a car
   2. unable to obtain funds

2. lacking in power or forcefulness
   1. an ineffectual ruler
   2. like an unable phoenix in hot ashes

   Synonym:    ineffectiveineffectual