unfathomable

Stimulus sentence

Dependence is not unfathomable in this cruel world we live in.

Observations

In the NMC, unfathomable occurs 128 times.

Fathomable 4 times.

The frequency list on the right shows that it occurs 16+ 14 times at the end of a unit, suggesting that it is a common predicative adjective, i.e., something is unfathomable. The nouns that follow, reason, riches mystery etc, indicate that it is also used attributively.

not unfathomable as in the stimulus sentence does not occur in the NMC at all. There are, however, many adjectives starting un which are preceded by not.

Fathom 263 times

• • as a verb 215

• singular 6

  • -s:plural noun 26

Most frequently to the left of fathom the verb:

• • cannot and can't

  • could not and couldn't

  • difficult to

  • hard to

  • unable to

The things which people try to fathom include:

• • mysteries

  • depths

  • why ...

  • how ...

  • what ...

See fathom also at 20 Words that Once Meant Something Different