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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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cannot be existed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be existed" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "cannot exist." You can use the corrected phrase when discussing the impossibility of something being present or occurring. Example: "In this context, a solution cannot exist without proper resources."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The multi-partner hub proteins are analyzed and interactions that can and cannot co-exist are identified.

But if 'ought' implies 'can', then a constitution that cannot exist is not one that ought to exist.

Science

SEP

An impossible future that cannot exist is our only hope.

News & Media

Huffington Post

In this view, speculation about a vast range of possible conditions in which life cannot exist is used to explore the probability of conditions in which life can and does exist.

If pains are experiences, they cannot exist without being the state of someone's mind.

Science

SEP

However, "Anselm's point is that what exists and cannot not exist is greater than that which exists and can not exist".

The dual of such a graph cannot exist, but is the graph required to represent a generalised mesh elimination.

If they are, then the end product which is the stress itself, cannot exist because you are taking away the time that it needs to grow.

News & Media

HuffPost

A living being cannot simply exist but must sustain and reproduce itself through its own activity.

"How can I know God if all my powers of reasoning tell me he cannot exist?" "God is apprehended not by reason but by life".

Though 49 states have extended this privilege to journalists as well, for without such protection a free press cannot exist, there is no comparable federal law.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "cannot be existed". Use "cannot exist" instead for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Do not use the passive construction "be existed" with modal verbs like "cannot". The verb "exist" is intransitive and does not take a passive form. Always use the active form: "cannot exist".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be existed" is an incorrect construction attempting to express impossibility. The verb "exist" is intransitive and doesn't take a passive form. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct phrase is "cannot exist".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be existed" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The correct and widely accepted alternative is "cannot exist". As Ludwig AI confirms, the verb "exist" is intransitive and does not take a passive form. Therefore, using "cannot be existed" constitutes a grammatical error, making it unsuitable for any formal or informal context. Always opt for "cannot exist" or other synonymous phrases like "does not exist" or "is impossible" to convey the intended meaning accurately.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something cannot exist?

The correct way is to say "cannot exist". The phrase "cannot be existed" is grammatically incorrect.

Is it ever correct to use "be existed"?

No, the verb "exist" does not take a passive form, so "be existed" is never correct. Use "cannot exist" instead.

What alternatives can I use instead of "cannot be existed"?

Use the phrase "cannot exist". Other alternatives include "does not exist" or "is impossible".

Why is "cannot be existed" considered incorrect?

The verb "exist" is intransitive; it doesn't take a direct object and therefore isn't used in the passive voice. The correct form is active: "cannot exist".

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: