impossible to drive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impossible to drive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where driving is not feasible or practical, often due to external conditions. Example: "The heavy snowfall made it impossible to drive safely on the roads."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

As with many places in Siberia, it is nearly impossible to drive here.

The New York Times

It's impossible to drive fast, not least because sections are often closed for patching up.

Independent

Like many places in Siberia, it is nearly impossible to drive here.

The New York Times

Suddenly there were butterflies everywhere and it was impossible to drive without hitting dozens of them.

The New Yorker

He also finds it impossible to drive the car without attracting a crowd.

The New York Times

It's impossible to drive through Great Kills and not see a pizza parlor or Italian restaurant.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

"When we started looking at what Pat and the team at Impossible was doing we saw a perfect fit with the values and mission that Impossible has to drive a stronger mindset around what it is to be conscientious about what is going on," says Umami Burger chief executive Daniel del Olmo.

TechCrunch

She likes the location because it's not one of the big hotels like the Four Seasons or Chateau Marmont, "where it's just impossible to even drive up and get dropped off," she said.

The New York Times

If you can't crack the top few results, it's almost impossible to consistently drive organic traffic to your site.

TechCrunch

"It was impossible for me to drive faster in the fourth run," Reich said.

The New York Times - Sports

A few years later, the state tried to fire him again when his driver's license was suspended — making it impossible for him to drive the residents to their daytime programs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impossible to drive" to describe situations where external factors such as weather, road conditions, or vehicle malfunctions make driving unfeasible. For example, "After the storm, it was impossible to drive on the flooded streets."

Common error

Avoid using "impossible to drive" to describe merely inconvenient or slightly difficult situations. Reserve it for scenarios where driving is genuinely not an option, not just uncomfortable or slow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impossible to drive" functions as an adjectival phrase describing a state or condition that prevents or severely hinders the operation of a vehicle. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

10%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "impossible to drive" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe situations where driving is not feasible. According to Ludwig, it functions as an adjectival phrase with a neutral register, suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media. When writing, it's best to use it for genuinely undrivable situations and consider alternatives like "undrivable" or "impractical to drive" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undrivable

A single-word adjective directly conveying the inability to drive something.

not drivable

A more direct negation of drivability.

unfeasible to drive

Replaces "impossible" with a synonym emphasizing practicality.

impractical to drive

Similar to "unfeasible", focusing on the lack of practicality.

too difficult to drive

Highlights the high level of difficulty involved.

cannot be driven

A passive construction emphasizing the inability to operate a vehicle.

beyond the ability to drive

Focuses on the driver's capability rather than the vehicle or conditions.

prohibitive to drive

Suggests that something is actively preventing driving, like conditions or regulations.

out of the question to drive

Emphasizes that driving is not a viable option.

unsuited for driving

Highlights that conditions make driving unsuitable.

FAQs

How can I use "impossible to drive" in a sentence?

Use "impossible to drive" to describe a situation where driving is completely unfeasible due to conditions or vehicle state. For example, "The icy roads made it impossible to drive safely." or "With a flat tire, it was impossible to drive any further".

What are some alternatives to saying "impossible to drive"?

You can use alternatives like "undrivable", "not drivable", or "unfeasible to drive" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "impossible to drive" or "impossible to be driven"?

"Impossible to drive" is generally preferred when describing a condition or situation making driving unfeasible. "Impossible to be driven" is grammatically correct, but less common. For example, "The car was impossible to drive after the accident" is more common than "The car was impossible to be driven after the accident".

When is it appropriate to use "impractical to drive" instead of "impossible to drive"?

Use "impractical to drive" when driving is technically possible, but highly inconvenient or unwise due to factors like traffic, cost, or time. "Impossible to drive" indicates that driving is literally not an option. Compare "impractical to drive" during rush hour versus "impossible to drive" on a flooded road.