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 • 896 views

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

"You want but you cant"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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

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.

"You want to but you cant"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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