Cool MateCannot vs Impossible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cannot
Top 1,000 (very common)A1
Impossible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
| Cannot | Impossible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkænɒt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkænɑːt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpɒsəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/"]/ |
| Meaning | to be unable to do something | Not able to happen or be done. |
| Example | I cannot believe the price of the tickets! | Climbing that mountain seems impossible without proper training. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Collocations | cannot believe, cannot wait, cannot afford | appear, be, look, absolutely, completely, downright, for, be, become, find somebody, really, absolutely, completely |
| Antonyms | can, able | possible, feasible, achievable |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'can not' — it's always one word in negative form., Using 'cannot' in too formal a context — prefer 'can't' in casual speech., Incorrectly using 'cannot' in past tense situations. | 'Impossible' is sometimes confused with 'unbelievable' but they are not the same., Learners might use 'impossible' to describe very challenging tasks instead of things that cannot be done at all., 'Impossible' is often incorrectly combined with less strong modifiers, like 'very impossible'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'cannot' in any situation where something is impossible. Avoid using it in informal contexts where 'can't' is more common. | Use 'impossible' to describe something that cannot be achieved. It’s suitable for both spoken and written English but may be too strong in polite contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Cannot vs Impossible
What's the difference between Cannot and Impossible?
Cannot: to be unable to do something Impossible: Not able to happen or be done.
Which is more advanced: Cannot and Impossible?
Impossible is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Cannot and Impossible the same CEFR level?
Cannot: A1, Impossible: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Cannot: I cannot believe the price of the tickets! Impossible: Climbing that mountain seems impossible without proper training.
Can I use Cannot and Impossible interchangeably?
Not always. Cannot and Impossible are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.