Cool MateImpossible vs It's not possible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Impossible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
It's not possible
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Impossible
| Impossible | It's not possible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpɒsəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪts nɒt ˈpɒsəbl//🇺🇸 //ɪts nɑt ˈpɑsəbl// |
| Meaning | Not able to happen or be done. | It can't be done. |
| Example | Climbing that mountain seems impossible without proper training. | Trying to finish this project overnight is just not possible. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, absolutely, completely, downright, for, be, become, find somebody, really, absolutely, completely | it's not possible to, consider it not possible, declare it's not possible |
| Antonyms | possible, feasible, achievable | it's possible, definitely, certainly |
| Common mistakes | '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'. | Omitting the contraction 'it's'., Saying 'it is not possible' in very casual situations., Confusing with 'it's possible' when negating. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use when denying the possibility of something happening. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts but avoid in overly optimistic or hopeful discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Impossible vs It's not possible
What's the difference between Impossible and It's not possible?
Impossible: Not able to happen or be done. It's not possible: It can't be done.
Which is more common: Impossible and It's not possible?
Impossible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Impossible: Climbing that mountain seems impossible without proper training. It's not possible: Trying to finish this project overnight is just not possible.
Can I use Impossible and It's not possible interchangeably?
Not always. Impossible and It's not possible 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.