15 Comments
I put "it's definitely impossible." for definitely, would I have to use another word, or is my answer just not accepted?
I use "quite" rather than totally, which in this context means exactly the same thing. It does not mean it is fairly impossible. It should therefore be accepted
950
Sure, added that. You know you're supposed to report alternative answers like that via the Report a problem button, right?
- 1284
I don't recall hearing: 'It is completely/entirely impossible.' Where would one use this. Tack.
I would say it's more used for emphasis than designating different "levels" of impossibility, considering I'm not certain different levels of impossibility even exists. It would be for a context like for example "He can't have committed the crime! It's completely impossible!" (Swedish: "Han kan inte ha begått brottet! Det är helt omöjligt!")
"Completely impossible" is a tautology. It is very poor English because you are qualifying "impossible" which is an absolute already.
It’s not poor English, it’s a common idiom. Unless we are giving a lesson in formal logic, then sure, it’s tautologous.
- 45
It may be an idiom but NatalieBoa3 is correct. Either something is not possible or it is. It is like saying: 'this solution is more correct'. Either something is correct or it is not. However, in the spirit of learning Swedish, I now know what 'helt' means. ;-)
I can agree with entirely, but not with unlikely.
unlikely = otrolig, osannolik
impossible = omöjlig
If it's unlikely it means that it can happen even though the probability is low.
