What `be` can add to following statement?











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Context: I asked reason for a statement in Question and answer forum. I got two possibilities in this scenario.





  1. How can it be possible?



        OR 


  2. How can it possible?


My question is how be changed context and meaning of my scenario?



PS: Any source of reading required please comment.










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migrated from english.stackexchange.com Dec 16 at 8:36


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  • 2




    'be' is what makes it grammatical.
    – Jim
    Dec 16 at 6:41










  • Without be, the sentence has no meaning. (Of course, other words could be used. For instance, How can it appear possible? Although a bit strange, it's still grammatical and has meaning in the right context. But you need to having something between it and possible.)
    – Jason Bassford
    Dec 16 at 6:58










  • The verb be is often called a "linking verb". In this instance, it's quite apt: you have nothing linking together it and possible. I think people in our sister site may be best able to explain and answer.
    – Andrew Leach
    Dec 16 at 8:36















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












Context: I asked reason for a statement in Question and answer forum. I got two possibilities in this scenario.





  1. How can it be possible?



        OR 


  2. How can it possible?


My question is how be changed context and meaning of my scenario?



PS: Any source of reading required please comment.










share|improve this question













migrated from english.stackexchange.com Dec 16 at 8:36


This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.











  • 2




    'be' is what makes it grammatical.
    – Jim
    Dec 16 at 6:41










  • Without be, the sentence has no meaning. (Of course, other words could be used. For instance, How can it appear possible? Although a bit strange, it's still grammatical and has meaning in the right context. But you need to having something between it and possible.)
    – Jason Bassford
    Dec 16 at 6:58










  • The verb be is often called a "linking verb". In this instance, it's quite apt: you have nothing linking together it and possible. I think people in our sister site may be best able to explain and answer.
    – Andrew Leach
    Dec 16 at 8:36













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











Context: I asked reason for a statement in Question and answer forum. I got two possibilities in this scenario.





  1. How can it be possible?



        OR 


  2. How can it possible?


My question is how be changed context and meaning of my scenario?



PS: Any source of reading required please comment.










share|improve this question













Context: I asked reason for a statement in Question and answer forum. I got two possibilities in this scenario.





  1. How can it be possible?



        OR 


  2. How can it possible?


My question is how be changed context and meaning of my scenario?



PS: Any source of reading required please comment.







grammar






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asked Dec 16 at 6:35









kvk30

1012




1012




migrated from english.stackexchange.com Dec 16 at 8:36


This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.






migrated from english.stackexchange.com Dec 16 at 8:36


This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.










  • 2




    'be' is what makes it grammatical.
    – Jim
    Dec 16 at 6:41










  • Without be, the sentence has no meaning. (Of course, other words could be used. For instance, How can it appear possible? Although a bit strange, it's still grammatical and has meaning in the right context. But you need to having something between it and possible.)
    – Jason Bassford
    Dec 16 at 6:58










  • The verb be is often called a "linking verb". In this instance, it's quite apt: you have nothing linking together it and possible. I think people in our sister site may be best able to explain and answer.
    – Andrew Leach
    Dec 16 at 8:36














  • 2




    'be' is what makes it grammatical.
    – Jim
    Dec 16 at 6:41










  • Without be, the sentence has no meaning. (Of course, other words could be used. For instance, How can it appear possible? Although a bit strange, it's still grammatical and has meaning in the right context. But you need to having something between it and possible.)
    – Jason Bassford
    Dec 16 at 6:58










  • The verb be is often called a "linking verb". In this instance, it's quite apt: you have nothing linking together it and possible. I think people in our sister site may be best able to explain and answer.
    – Andrew Leach
    Dec 16 at 8:36








2




2




'be' is what makes it grammatical.
– Jim
Dec 16 at 6:41




'be' is what makes it grammatical.
– Jim
Dec 16 at 6:41












Without be, the sentence has no meaning. (Of course, other words could be used. For instance, How can it appear possible? Although a bit strange, it's still grammatical and has meaning in the right context. But you need to having something between it and possible.)
– Jason Bassford
Dec 16 at 6:58




Without be, the sentence has no meaning. (Of course, other words could be used. For instance, How can it appear possible? Although a bit strange, it's still grammatical and has meaning in the right context. But you need to having something between it and possible.)
– Jason Bassford
Dec 16 at 6:58












The verb be is often called a "linking verb". In this instance, it's quite apt: you have nothing linking together it and possible. I think people in our sister site may be best able to explain and answer.
– Andrew Leach
Dec 16 at 8:36




The verb be is often called a "linking verb". In this instance, it's quite apt: you have nothing linking together it and possible. I think people in our sister site may be best able to explain and answer.
– Andrew Leach
Dec 16 at 8:36










1 Answer
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*How can it possible




is not grammatical.



Modals like "can" must be followed by a verb (except in elliptical answers like "Can you do it? Yes, I can", where the verb is understood).






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    1 Answer
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    1 Answer
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    active

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    up vote
    1
    down vote














    *How can it possible




    is not grammatical.



    Modals like "can" must be followed by a verb (except in elliptical answers like "Can you do it? Yes, I can", where the verb is understood).






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      1
      down vote














      *How can it possible




      is not grammatical.



      Modals like "can" must be followed by a verb (except in elliptical answers like "Can you do it? Yes, I can", where the verb is understood).






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote










        *How can it possible




        is not grammatical.



        Modals like "can" must be followed by a verb (except in elliptical answers like "Can you do it? Yes, I can", where the verb is understood).






        share|improve this answer













        *How can it possible




        is not grammatical.



        Modals like "can" must be followed by a verb (except in elliptical answers like "Can you do it? Yes, I can", where the verb is understood).







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Dec 16 at 12:05









        Colin Fine

        27.7k24054




        27.7k24054






























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