Why might someone say, "We cannot know whether Hannah can be promoted or not"?

The statement "We cannot know whether Hannah can be promoted or not" implies uncertainty about her current status regarding promotion. The most logical reason for this uncertainty is that her performance has not been evaluated. Promotions typically depend on an individual's performance reviews, which assess their skills, contributions, and overall effectiveness in their role. Without an evaluation, there would be no basis to determine if she meets the criteria for promotion.

In contrast, if someone has already been promoted, it implies a decision has been made regarding her standing, thus eliminating uncertainty. Lacking sufficient experience or having worked in unrelated fields may provide context but does not solely account for the unknown status concerning her promotion, as performance evaluations are pivotal for promotion decisions regardless of experience or field.