cannot be given back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be given back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is lost, taken, or cannot be returned to its original state or owner. Example: "Once the trust is broken, it cannot be given back, and relationships may never be the same."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Private Manning cannot be given his underwear back before then, he said, because that would require waking him up ahead of time.

The New York Times

"The animals cannot be given their lives back, and we've been flooded with donations from people who no longer want to be associated with the suffering of animals".

The New York Times

In the end, however, about eighty-five per cent of patients who suffer from lower-back pain cannot be given a precise diagnosis.

The New Yorker

Evidence must be located, not created, and opinions not backed by evidence cannot be given much weight".

The New York Times

Evidence must be located, not created, and opinions not backed by evidence cannot be given much weight," which he attributes to the historian James Loewen.

The New York Times

Unmarried people's benefits cannot be given to the most important people in their lives -- they go back into the system.

Huffington Post

NSCLBP is not a diagnosis but rather a description of back pain for which a cause cannot be definitively identified and a precise patho-anatomical diagnosis cannot be given.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

A+ cannot be given at Yale.

Yale University

Peasants cannot be given power anymore.

Yale University

Give: This book cannot be given to someone else.

The New Yorker

Yet such a principle cannot be given.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be given back" to emphasize the finality of a loss or the impossibility of reversing a situation. It's particularly effective when discussing abstract concepts like trust, opportunities, or time.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be given back" when referring to tangible objects that can be physically returned, even if with difficulty. Opt for phrases like "cannot be returned" or "is difficult to return" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be given back" functions as a passive construction expressing impossibility. It asserts that something is irretrievable or irreversible, highlighting the lack of agency in the return or restoration of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be given back" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to express the impossibility of returning or restoring something to its original state. Ludwig AI confirms this. While versatile, it is most effective when conveying the finality of a loss or situation. Though classified as "rare" in terms of frequency, it appears across diverse domains, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. Alternatives like "cannot be returned" or "cannot be restored" may be more suitable depending on the context. When writing, avoid overusing it for tangible objects, where simpler phrases might be clearer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be returned

Focuses specifically on the action of returning something, implying it's impossible to do so.

cannot be restored

Highlights the inability to bring something back to its original condition.

cannot be recovered

Emphasizes the impossibility of regaining something that has been lost.

cannot be retrieved

Focuses on the inability to access or obtain something again.

cannot be undone

Stresses the irreversible nature of an action or event.

cannot be reversed

Similar to 'cannot be undone', highlighting the impossibility of changing the direction of an event.

is irretrievable

Uses a single word to express the inability to retrieve something.

is lost forever

Emphasizes the permanent nature of the loss.

is gone for good

Informal way of stating that something is permanently lost.

cannot be reclaimed

Highlights the inability to regain possession of something.

FAQs

What does "cannot be given back" mean?

The phrase "cannot be given back" means something that has been lost or taken away is impossible to return or restore to its original state or owner.

How can I use "cannot be given back" in a sentence?

You might say, "Once trust is broken, it "cannot be given back" easily" or "The opportunity, once missed, "cannot be given back"".

What are some alternatives to "cannot be given back"?

Alternatives include "cannot be returned", "cannot be restored", or "cannot be recovered", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "can't be given back"?

Yes, "can't be given back" is a contraction of "cannot be given back" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. The meaning remains the same.