meaning - "You are not going to be able to ... " versus "you can't ..."



Are there any differences between these two expressions?



Answer



When talking about physical or other external (im)possibility in the future, they are synonymous:


   "You can't get in to the building tomorrow"
   "You are not going to be able to get into the building tomorrow"

But if the issue is of permission, you would not normally say


"You are not going to be able to go tomorrow"

unless perhaps you mean that somebody who has authority to give you permission has not yet made a decision but you think that tomorrow they will forbid you to go.


Since "you are not going to be able to" has a future feel to it, it also cannot be used for a an impossibility or prohibition right now:


"You can't do that!"

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