What it means
とても〜ない expresses strong impossibility: something cannot possibly happen or be achieved. It usually combines with a verb in its negative form, such as 終わらない, and is not restricted to potential-form verbs. The pattern often reflects the speaker’s judgment that the situation is beyond practical possibility, rather than simply stating an ordinary negative fact.
Usage note
とても〜ない is stronger than a simple negative and should not be understood as a literal equivalent of “very not.” In polite speech, the corresponding negative ます-form is used, such as とても終わりません.
How to use it
この仕事はとても終わりません。
This work cannot possibly be finished.
この仕事はとても終わらない。
This work cannot possibly be finished.
