Cannot example sentences
Related (6): can, unable, incapable, powerless, helpless, impossible
"Cannot" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- cannot help but
- cannot afford to
- cannot stand
- cannot believe
- cannot wait
- cannot deny
- cannot ignore
- cannot resist
- cannot fail to
- cannot be denied
Examples by Level
A1
- I cannot swim very well.
- You cannot go outside — it is raining.
A2
- She cannot eat bread because she is allergic to gluten.
- They cannot afford a new car right now, so they are saving money.
B1
- I cannot understand why he would lie to me about something so simple.
- You cannot expect people to work that hard without getting paid more.
B2
- She cannot shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen, no matter how hard she tries.
- The government cannot ignore the growing demands for reform, though they've certainly tried.
C1
- What we cannot acknowledge about ourselves often emerges in the way we judge others.
- The paradox is that those who cannot admit vulnerability are often the most fragile.
C2
- There exists a peculiar kind of suffering in knowing what one cannot change and yet remaining unable to stop trying.
- The things we cannot say aloud sometimes speak louder than anything we ever could.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- I cannot find my keys anywhere — I've looked in every pocket and drawer.
- The dog cannot stay in the backyard unsupervised or he'll dig holes everywhere.
💼 Workplace
- My colleague cannot attend the meeting tomorrow because she's sick.
- We cannot submit the report without the final approval from the director.
📊 Business
- The startup cannot compete with established brands unless they find a unique angle.
- Our suppliers cannot guarantee delivery before the holiday season.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- I cannot decide which size to buy — the small fits weird but the medium might be too big.
- They cannot offer a refund on this item because it's been worn.
✈️ Travel
- You cannot bring liquids over 100ml through airport security.
- We cannot book the hotel until we know our exact travel dates.
📚 Education
- Students cannot use their phones during the exam — they have to turn them in.
- The teacher cannot grade all these essays by tomorrow, so she's extending the deadline.
❤️ Relationships
- I cannot forgive him for breaking his promise to me again.
- She cannot stop thinking about what he said, and it's eating her alive.
📰 News / Politics
- The administration cannot ignore the public outcry over the new policy.
- Experts say the economy cannot sustain this level of inflation much longer.
💻 Technology
- The app cannot sync properly because your internet connection is too slow.
- You cannot install this software on older operating systems.
📝 Formal Writing
- The research demonstrates that traditional methods cannot adequately address the underlying problem.
- The organization cannot proceed with the merger without regulatory approval from federal authorities.