was impossible to maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was impossible to maintain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or condition that could not be sustained or continued over time. Example: "The project faced numerous challenges, and ultimately, the budget constraints made it clear that the original plan was impossible to maintain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Goodwin's award for services to banking was impossible to maintain after the bank collapsed.

The Guardian - Business

But accidents will happen, and it was impossible to maintain the pretence at all times.

The Guardian - Film

"It was impossible to maintain a job and train the way I have to for the Olympics," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

Recently, I cared for two patients who touched me so deeply it was impossible to maintain a professional distance.

The New York Times

A lesbian scriptwriter on a successful British soap opera once explained to me why it was impossible to maintain long-term gay characters in it.

The Guardian - Opinion

There were more victories, including the Battle of Verneuil, but it was impossible to maintain campaigning at this level.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"It is going to be impossible to maintain deposit pricing," he added.

The Guardian - Business

A tented protest is going to be impossible to maintain," Mr Varnham said.

Independent

But it's time to realize that this kind of structure is impossible to maintain".

The New York Times

Political centralism is not only undesirable, it may also be impossible to maintain.

Independent

Without its records, it would be impossible to maintain transactions grounded in legality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was impossible to maintain" when you want to express that a situation, practice, or system could not be sustained or continued due to inherent limitations or external pressures. Be specific about what made it impossible to maintain and the consequences of its failure.

Common error

Avoid using "was impossible to maintained". The correct form is "was impossible to maintain". The word "maintain" should be in its base form after the infinitive "to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was impossible to maintain" functions as a predicate adjective phrase describing a subject's inability to be sustained or continued. Ludwig shows this phrase frequently used to describe systems, conditions, or efforts that have reached their limit.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was impossible to maintain" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate the inability to sustain a condition, action, or system. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and usable in written English. Appearing most frequently in news and media contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse audiences. While several alternatives exist, such as "could not be sustained" and "became unsustainable", the choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey. When employing this phrase, ensure correct tense usage and be explicit about what made maintenance impossible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not be sustained

Replaces "impossible to maintain" with a more passive construction, emphasizing the lack of sustainability.

could not be continued

A straightforward alternative that simply states the inability to continue something.

could not be upheld

Focuses on the inability to keep something in place or enforced.

became unsustainable

Highlights the process of something becoming unable to be maintained over time.

became unmanageable

Focuses on the difficulty in controlling or handling something, making maintenance impossible.

proved unviable

Emphasizes the lack of feasibility or practicality in continuing something.

was no longer tenable

Indicates that the situation or condition had become so difficult that it could no longer be maintained or defended.

was not viable long-term

Adds a time element, stressing that the impossibility of maintenance extends into the future.

reached its limit

Implies that the maximum capacity or tolerance for something has been reached, making further maintenance impossible.

surpassed its breaking point

Suggests that something failed due to excessive stress or pressure, rendering it impossible to maintain.

FAQs

What does "was impossible to maintain" mean?

The phrase "was impossible to maintain" means that a certain situation, condition, or activity could not be continued or sustained any longer. It indicates that the resources, conditions, or circumstances necessary for its continuation were no longer available or sufficient.

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

You can use "was impossible to maintain" to describe anything that could not be continued. For example: "The level of spending "was impossible to maintain" after the budget cuts" or "The siege "was impossible to maintain" due to lack of supplies".

What are some alternatives to "was impossible to maintain"?

Alternatives to "was impossible to maintain" include "could not be sustained", "became unsustainable", or "was no longer tenable". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "was impossible to maintain" formal or informal?

"Was impossible to maintain" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing rather than the phrase itself.