Cool MateImpossible vs Not possible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Impossible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
Not possible
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Impossible
| Impossible | Not possible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpɒsəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈpɒsəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈpɑsəbl// |
| Meaning | Not able to happen or be done. | Something that cannot happen or be done. |
| Example | Climbing that mountain seems impossible without proper training. | It is not possible to finish the project without more time. |
| 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 | not possible to achieve, not possible due to circumstances, not possible at this time, not possible without effort |
| Antonyms | possible, feasible, achievable | - |
| 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'. | Confusing with 'impossible' as it is less formal., Using 'not possible' when something could be possible with effort., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence leading to awkward construction. |
| 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 'not possible' in everyday contexts to indicate something is impractical or unachievable. Avoid overusing in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Impossible vs Not possible
What's the difference between Impossible and Not possible?
Impossible: Not able to happen or be done. Not possible: Something that cannot happen or be done.
Which is more common: Impossible and 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. Not possible: It is not possible to finish the project without more time.
Can I use Impossible and Not possible interchangeably?
Not always. Impossible and 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.