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

Question

"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

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.

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 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.

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

Answer 1

You want but you cant

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

Answer 2

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.

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

You want but you cant

You want to but you cant

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