can never be

USAGE SUMMARY

"can never be" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something or someone will never be able to do or become something. For example, "His ambition to become a doctor can never be fulfilled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Means can never be.

The New York Times

Mistakes can never be rectified.

The Economist

You can never be wrong".

The Economist

It can never be lost.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sampling error can never be wholly eliminated.

The New Yorker

But we can never be sure.

The New Yorker

You can never be too rich.

Independent

This can never be replaced or automated.

The New York Times

But prostitution can never be made safe.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their love, obviously, can never be.

The New York Times

Pig-leather shoes can never be worn.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can never be" to express a strong assertion about something that is impossible or will not happen under any circumstances. It adds emphasis and finality to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "can never be" in situations where there is a slight possibility of something happening. Instead, opt for phrases like "unlikely to be" or "not likely to be" to maintain accuracy and avoid overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can never be" functions as a modal construction expressing impossibility or absolute certainty of something not happening. It combines the modal verb 'can' with 'never' to negate the possibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can never be" is a versatile phrase used to express strong impossibility or denial. As validated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and very common across various domains, especially in news, scientific writing, and general knowledge contexts. When using "can never be", ensure it aligns with the intended strength of your statement, avoiding overuse in scenarios where a degree of possibility exists. Opt for related alternatives if a more nuanced expression is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could never be

Offers a slight variation, emphasizing a hypothetical impossibility.

cannot ever be

Places emphasis on the inability for something to happen, ever.

is simply not possible to be

Underlines the lack of possibility in a straightforward manner.

will not ever be

Stresses the temporal aspect of never occurring.

will absolutely not be

Emphasizes a strong future denial or impossibility.

is not going to be

Presents a more informal and conversational denial.

is utterly impossible to be

Highlights the impossibility with an intensifier.

remains impossible to be

Stresses the continuing impossibility of a state or action.

is out of the question to be

Indicates that something is not worth considering.

is beyond the realm of possibility to be

Highlights the implausibility by suggesting it exceeds feasible limits.

FAQs

How can I use "can never be" in a sentence?

Use "can never be" to state that something is absolutely impossible or will not happen under any circumstances. For example, "The damage "can never be repaired"" or "That secret "can never be revealed"".

What are some alternatives to "can never be"?

Alternatives include phrases like "will absolutely not be", "is simply not possible to be", or "could never be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "can never be" or "cannot ever be"?

Both "can never be" and "cannot ever be" are grammatically correct, but "can never be" is generally more common and concise. "Cannot ever be" emphasizes the 'ever' aspect, suggesting a stronger denial.

What's the difference between "can never be" and "should never be"?

"Can never be" indicates an impossibility, while "should never be" expresses a recommendation or moral imperative. For example, "Violence "can never be justified"" implies it's morally wrong, whereas "Violence "can never be tolerated"" implies its unfeasible to tolerate it.