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You want but you cant vs You want to but you cant

Both phrases are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes. 'You want but you can't' is a fragment that can be used to express a desire or intention followed by an obstacle, while 'You want to but you can't' is a more complete structure indicating a desire or intention to do something but being unable to do so.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 815 views

You want but you cant

This phrase is correct and can be used to express a desire or intention followed by an obstacle.

This phrase is used to convey a situation where someone desires or intends to do something but faces a limitation or obstacle preventing them from doing so.

Examples:

  • You want but you can't have it all.
  • I want to help but I can't right now.
  • She wants to go out but she can't find her keys.
  • He wants to travel but he can't afford it.
  • They want to succeed but they can't seem to find the right path.
  • If you want but you'll catch cold out here.
  • Sometimes its wrong, but you cant help it anyway.
  • You can spit it out as much as you want but you still have to eat it.
  • But you cant do this again, can you?
  • You cant describe it, you cant explain it, but you feel it!
  • You can shake the sawdust off your feet, but you cant shake it out of your heart.
  • "You can get to my cubs if you want but you'll have to kill me first."
  • you may want to prove him dead as a king, but you want but I should be one to send you all to your graves
  • You can call it whatever you want but it stopped being night hours ago.
  • Look, you can investigateall you want but the operational detailsof my case are extremely sensitive.
  • Laugh all you want but I'm still getting that job.
  • OK, you can make yourself some food if you want but be sure to clean up afterwards.
  • All right, laugh all you want but this is my lucky St. Patty's day suit.
  • You can pull out of the scheme if you want but your money is already invested.
  • Look, you can co-plan as much as you want but we'll just have to see who's ideas he likes more.
  • You can do whatever you want but leave the kids out of it.
  • Hate me all you want but right now, this has to be contained.
  • You can have any car you want but that ugly horror is an eyesore and an embarrassment.
  • You can say what you want but your father has a thing for Ottavio.
  • But you want to clean yourself up immediately.

Alternatives:

  • you desire but you cannot
  • you wish but you are unable
  • you aim but you are restricted
  • you long for but you are incapable
  • you crave but you are hindered

You want to but you cant

This phrase is correct and provides a more complete structure to indicate a desire or intention to do something but being unable to do so.

This phrase is used to express a desire or intention to do something, followed by an obstacle or limitation that prevents the action from being carried out.

Examples:

  • You want to but you can't make it to the party.
  • She wants to but she can't leave her responsibilities.
  • He wants to but he can't find the time.
  • They want to but they can't afford the trip.
  • I want to but I can't seem to find the motivation.
  • You know you want to but you're scared.
  • It's instructions on how to video-chat with me while I'm in college, because I know that you want to but you're too proud to ask Marie how to do it.
  • But you want to clean yourself up immediately.
  • Yes, but you want to be.
  • But you want to be great.
  • You want to leave Sean but you're too chicken.
  • But you want to be very careful about how much pressure you apply.
  • I know you want to say something, But you're probably saving your strength.
  • But you want to stop progress to save the Earth.
  • But you can choose what you want to believe.
  • But you all can believe whatever you want to.
  • But you want to talk about a trombone.
  • But you want to be a clerk.
  • But you want to try and live like a man.
  • No need to nod in unison, but you want to fulfil your dream.
  • But you want to be completely beautiful with no flaw.
  • But you have stressed that you want to observe the principle of subsidiarity.
  • But you must stay here in Boston, work hard, earn the respect of the community that you want to lead.
  • But you want to know where, you got to put something on the table for me.
  • You want to walk in silence, cool, But you're going the wrong way.

Alternatives:

  • you desire to but you cannot
  • you wish to but you are unable
  • you aim to but you are restricted
  • you long for to but you are incapable
  • you crave to but you are hindered

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