was impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that could not be accomplished or achieved in the past. Example: "Despite our best efforts, completing the project on time was impossible due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Conversation was impossible.

Independent

"I was impossible.

Independent

"Four hours was impossible.

The New York Times - Arts

Sleep was impossible.

The New Yorker

"It was impossible".

The New York Times

Now this was impossible.

The New Yorker

But that was impossible.

The New Yorker

The situation was impossible.

The New Yorker

But this was impossible.

The New York Times

Passage backstage was impossible!

The New York Times

But it was impossible.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was impossible", ensure the context clearly explains why the action or event was not feasible. Provide specific reasons or circumstances to strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "was impossible" as a standalone statement without explaining the reason. Always provide context to clarify why something couldn't be done, preventing ambiguity and strengthening your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was impossible" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a state or condition that could not be realized. Ludwig examples show its use in describing situations, tasks, or events deemed unachievable. Ludwig AI considers this expression grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Wiki

3%

Huffington Post

8%

Less common in

Forbes

2%

Los Angeles Times

1%

TechCrunch

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was impossible" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the infeasibility of an action or event. As shown by Ludwig's examples, it's commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Huffington Post. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and provides diverse examples demonstrating its versatility. When writing, provide sufficient context to clarify why something "was impossible", and use alternatives like "proved unachievable" or "became unattainable" for variety. The phrase serves as a strong and direct way to indicate that something could not be done.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proved unachievable

Highlights the failure to achieve something after an attempt.

turned out to be infeasible

Emphasizes that something was not practical or workable in reality.

could not be accomplished

States directly that something could not be successfully completed.

became unattainable

Focuses on the state of something being out of reach or impossible to obtain.

defied possibility

Highlights how something was outside the realm of what was possible.

was beyond reach

Suggests that something was too difficult or distant to attain.

presented insurmountable obstacles

Emphasizes the presence of barriers that could not be overcome.

exceeded capabilities

Implies the task or goal surpassed the ability to achieve it.

was simply not an option

Indicates a complete lack of viability or feasibility.

met with failure

Focuses on the unsuccessful outcome of an attempt to achieve something.

FAQs

How can I use "was impossible" in a sentence?

Use "was impossible" to describe a situation or action that could not be achieved or completed. For example, "Completing the project on time "was impossible" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to saying "was impossible"?

You can use alternatives such as "proved unachievable", "turned out to be infeasible", or "became unattainable" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was impossible"?

Yes, "was impossible" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with the adjective "impossible".

What's the difference between "was impossible" and "was difficult"?

"Was impossible" means that something could not be done at all, whereas "was difficult" means that something could be done but required significant effort or faced challenges.