Can't possibly?

[Regina]

Test No. incompl/elem-21 "Remove the Spoon", question 7

I can't ......... give up drinking tea, doctor.

(a) probably
(b) possibly
(c) likely
(d) impossibly

Test No. incompl/elem-21 "Remove the Spoon", answer 7

I can't possibly give up drinking tea, doctor.

Correct answer: (b) possibly

Your answer was: incorrect
I can't probably give up drinking tea, doctor.
_________________________

Whu here probably?

[Torsten]

It means that it is impossible for the speaker to give up drinking tea.

TOEIC listening, talks: Owner of jewelry store advertises his diamond products

[Polska]

could you set forth the diffference between them?

[Mister Micawber]

Possibly here is a minimizer, not a disjunct, and can take the position after the modal:

I can't possibly give up drinking tea.

Probably as a disjunct cannot hold that position:

I probably can't give up drinking tea.
Probably, I can't give up drinking tea.
I can't give up drinking tea, probably.

Can't possibly does not mean it is impossible; it just minimizes the effect of the main verb.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Feridestg]

Great thanks for explanation. The grammar of disjunct is new for me. Where can I read about disjuncts and see more examples for dicjunct words?
thanks in advance :)

[Mister Micawber]

.
Oh dear, my last post was two years ago. Well, you could start HERE, and you could google 'disjuncts' for more information.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Bui Manh Truong]

oh great! thanks a lot for your direction! it's very helpful for me!

[Dieu Chau]

It is very helpful. So great. Many thanks.

[Zule]

And... why not "likely"?

I was trying to understand the meaning of "disjuncts" but it is impossible for me!!
I've never heard from such thing before...

[Mouhannad]

Hi moderators, Mr.Torsten and Mr.Micawber.
Actually I am confused about what both of you have replied, Mr .Torsten said can't possibly "It means that it is impossible for the speaker to give up drinking tea"
and Mr.Micawber said "Can't possibly does not mean it is impossible".
yours sincerely.

[Mister Micawber]

As it is used here, as I said, it is a 'minimizer'. It does not literally mean 'impossible', since of course the fellow could give up drinking tea if he tried very hard to do so. The word 'impossibly' does mean 'not possibly', but here the fellow is saying that he really is unwilling to give up tea.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Mkostya]

Thanks you very much!

[Manukyan]

thank Y FOR explanation,but can Y give me much imformation about "disjuncts"......................thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Mister Micawber]

You can start HERE.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's