impossible

Definitions

im- (not) + poss (from posse, 'to be able') + -ible (able to be) = 'not able to be done.' This is the poss branch of the family: where potent shows the 'power' face, poss shows the 'able' face. Impossible is the flat denial — it simply cannot be.

Why It Means This

Impossible and possible are a matched pair from posse ('to be able'): possible = able to be, impossible = not able to be. The informal sense ('an impossible child') stretches the literal meaning — the person isn't literally unachievable, but dealing with them feels hopeless, as if no solution is possible.

Common Collocations

• 1.nearly impossible几乎不可能
• 2.virtually impossible实际上不可能
• 3.next to impossible几乎做不到
• 4.impossible task不可能的任务
• 5.make it impossible使其不可能

Example Sentences

• 1.

  It's impossible to finish all this work in one day.

• 2.

  She found it impossible to stay angry at him.

• 3.

  Stop being so impossible and just listen for a minute.

Easily Confused

impossible vs improbable — impossible means it absolutely cannot happen; improbable means it's unlikely but still possible. Winning the lottery is improbable, not impossible. Don't say something is 'impossible' when you really mean 'very unlikely.'