Breakdown of Не может быть, чтобы они выдумали этот абсурд!
не
not
они
they
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
быть
to be
мочь
to be able to
чтобы
in order to
абсурд
absurdity
выдумать
to make up (perf)
Questions & Answers about Не может быть, чтобы они выдумали этот абсурд!
Why do we use чтобы here instead of что, since it translates as 'that' and not 'in order to'?
In Russian, when a main clause expresses strong doubt, impossibility, or denial (like Не может быть), the subordinate clause often uses чтобы instead of что. This creates the subjunctive mood, emphasizing that the action is hypothetical or completely untrue.
Is выдумали in the past tense simply because the English translation says 'made up'?
It happens to match here, but grammatically, the conjunction чтобы always forces the following verb into the past tense (or an infinitive), regardless of when the action actually happens. This past-tense form acts as the subjunctive mood marker in Russian.
Could I use что after Не может быть in a different situation?
Yes! If you use что, you are expressing extreme surprise at a fact that is actually true (like saying 'I can't believe that they actually did this!'). By using чтобы in this sentence, the speaker is actively denying that it happened ('It is logically impossible that they did this!').
Why doesn't этот абсурд change its ending if it is the direct object of the verb?
It is actually in the accusative case! Because абсурд is a masculine inanimate noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative form, and the same rule applies to its modifier этот.
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