could not be done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not be done" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express the impossibility of achieving something. For example, "The assignment was too difficult and it could not be done within the allocated time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That could not be done.

The New York Times

It could not be done.

The New York Times - Magazine

But it could not be done.

The New York Times - Magazine

It could not be done better.

The Guardian - Music

More for less could not be done.

The Guardian

The locals said it could not be done.

The New York Times

Many analysts said it could not be done.

The New York Times

It could not be done through the mail or online.

MIT Technology Review

Heavyweight cardinals proclaimed that this could not be done.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, due to the limited budget of $50, this could not be done.

Cornell University

This could not be done without first taking the sandy forts on the islands near Sumter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could not be done" to clearly and directly state that an action or task was impossible to complete under the given circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses, such as "could not been done", as this grammatically incorrect and changes the intended meaning of "could not be done".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not be done" functions as a predicate expressing impossibility. It's used to state that a certain action or task was unachievable under specific circumstances. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its consistent grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

33%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not be done" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate impossibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread application across various domains, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives like "was impossible to achieve" or "was not feasible" exist, "could not be done" provides a direct and clear way to convey that something was unachievable. When writing, ensure you use the correct tense and avoid common errors such as "could not been done".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was impossible to achieve

Emphasizes the impossibility of reaching a specific goal.

was not feasible

Highlights the impracticality of carrying out an action.

was unachievable

Stresses the inability to attain a desired outcome.

was out of the question

Indicates that something was not an option or possibility.

couldn't be accomplished

Uses a synonym for 'done' to express the failure to complete something.

was beyond reach

Conveys that something was unattainable or inaccessible.

was not viable

Focuses on the lack of sustainability or workability.

was simply not possible

Adds emphasis to the impossibility through direct negation.

proved to be unworkable

Highlights that the impossibility was discovered through attempted implementation.

was not within the realm of possibility

Emphasizes that something was so improbable as to be considered outside of what could happen.

FAQs

How can I use "could not be done" in a sentence?

You can use "could not be done" to indicate that something was impossible to achieve. For example, "The project "could not be done" due to lack of resources".

What's the difference between "could not be done" and "could not have been done"?

"Could not be done" refers to something that is currently or generally impossible, while "could not have been done" refers to something that was impossible in the past. For example, "The surgery "could not be done" with current technology" vs. "The surgery "could not have been done" 50 years ago".

What can I say instead of "could not be done"?

Alternatives include "was not feasible", "was impossible to achieve", or "was unachievable" depending on the context.

Is "could not be done" formal or informal?

"Could not be done" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.