Can_cant

© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007© Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007

Can / Can’tCan / Can’tCanCan is used to talk about is used to talk about

ability and possibility, to ask ability and possibility, to ask for and give permission, and for and give permission, and to make requests and offers.to make requests and offers.


Can Can is a modal auxiliary verb. It is followed by an is a modal auxiliary verb. It is followed by an infinitive without to. infinitive without to.

There is noThere is no –s –s in the third person singular. in the third person singular. I can swim. (=know I can swim. (=know

how to)how to) She can sing. (NOT She can sing. (NOT

She cans …) She cans …) He He can run can run a mile in a mile in

four minutes. (four minutes. (NOT NOT He He can to run…)can to run…)

She She can play can play tennis tennis very well. (very well. (NOT NOT She She can to play tennis…)can to play tennis…)

Questions and negatives Questions and negatives are made without are made without do:do:

Can Can you speak you speak French? (French? (NOT NOT Do you Do you can speak French?) can speak French?)

I I can't can't swim. (swim. (NOT NOT I I don't can swim.) don't can swim.)

You You cannot cannot fool him. fool him. ((NOT NOT You don't can You don't can fool him.) fool him.)


Pronunciation notesPronunciation notes

There are two main pronunciation problems There are two main pronunciation problems related to related to can/can’tcan/can’t

CanCan is usually unstressed /k is usually unstressed /kn/ in + sentences like n/ in + sentences like I can singI can sing. .

The negative The negative can’t can’t is always stressed. Not is always stressed. Not stressing it can cause a communication problem stressing it can cause a communication problem (the listener may understand (the listener may understand cancan NOT NOT can’tcan’t). The ). The pronunciation of this word varies among different pronunciation of this word varies among different groups of native English speakers, from /kgroups of native English speakers, from /knt/ nt/ to /kto /knt/, The important thing is that we stress it nt/, The important thing is that we stress it quite strongly.quite strongly.

Examples: Examples: You can tell them. / You can’t tell You can tell them. / You can’t tell them.them.

We only stress We only stress cancan in short answers: in short answers: YesYes, I , I cancan..


To talk about theoretical To talk about theoretical possibilitypossibility

We can use We can use cancan to talk about to talk about ‘theoretical’ possibility – to ‘theoretical’ possibility – to say that situations and events say that situations and events are possible theoretically.are possible theoretically.

Glass Glass can be can be blown. (It is blown. (It is theoretically possible to blow theoretically possible to blow glass.) glass.)

Wars Wars can break out can break out any any time. (It is theoretically time. (It is theoretically possible for wars to break out possible for wars to break out any time.) any time.)

Smoking Smoking can cause can cause cancer. cancer. Noise Noise can be can be quite a problem quite a problem

when you are living in a city. when you are living in a city.

Note that we do not use Note that we do not use can can to talk to talk about future probability – to say about future probability – to say that something will happen in that something will happen in future. We express this idea with future. We express this idea with may may or or might.might.

It may rain this evening. It may rain this evening. (NOT It (NOT It can rain …) can rain …)

There may be a strike next week. There may be a strike next week. (NOT There can be a strike …) (NOT There can be a strike …)

I may get a job soon.I may get a job soon.

Note that Note that might might expresses a less expresses a less definite possibility than definite possibility than maymay. . Could Could is also used in the same is also used in the same sense.sense.

It could rain this evening. (= It It could rain this evening. (= It might rain this evening.) might rain this evening.)


To talk about logical possibilityTo talk about logical possibility

Can Can is often used in questions and is often used in questions and negatives to talk about the logical negatives to talk about the logical possibility that something is true.possibility that something is true.

Example: Example: There is the doorbell. Who can it There is the doorbell. Who can it be? be?

With this meaning With this meaning can can is not possible in is not possible in affirmative clauses. Instead, we use affirmative clauses. Instead, we use could, could, may may or or might.might.

Example: Example: Where is John? He Where is John? He could/may/might be in the garden.could/may/might be in the garden. (NOT (NOT He can be in the garden.) He can be in the garden.)


To talk about abilityTo talk about abilityWe can use We can use can can to talk about to talk about

present or general ability – to present or general ability – to say that we are capable of say that we are capable of doing something.doing something.

I I can speak can speak 10 languages. 10 languages. She She can cook can cook well. well. Can you knit? Can you knit? I can drive a bus.I can drive a bus.

Note that Note that be able to be able to can often can often be used with similar be used with similar meanings.meanings.

He is able to support her. He is able to support her. (= He can support her.) (= He can support her.)

They were able to catch the They were able to catch the thief. (= They could catch the thief. (= They could catch the thief.) thief.)

Cannot Cannot (also can’t) shows (also can’t) shows inability.inability.

I I can speak can speak French, but I French, but I cannot write cannot write it. it.

Most people Most people cannot read cannot read traffic signals. traffic signals.

I I can't can't drive. drive.

We do not use We do not use cancan to talk to talk about future ability. Instead, about future ability. Instead, we use we use will be able to will be able to or or other words.other words.

Someday scientists Someday scientists will be will be able to able to find a cure for cancer. find a cure for cancer. ((NOT NOT Someday scientists will Someday scientists will can find a cure for cancer.)can find a cure for cancer.)


To ask for or give permissionTo ask for or give permission

Can Can is sometimes used to is sometimes used to ask for and give ask for and give permission. Some people, permission. Some people, however, think that however, think that maymay is is more correct than more correct than can.can.

Can Can I use your car, John? I use your car, John? Can Can we park over there? we park over there? You can You can go out and play go out and play

after you have finished after you have finished your homework. your homework.

You You can can park on either park on either side of the road here. side of the road here.

Can Can I go to the movies, I go to the movies, mom? mom?

Note that we can also use Note that we can also use could could to ask for permission. It is a to ask for permission. It is a more polite form of more polite form of can.can.

Could Could I speak to Mr. John, I speak to Mr. John,

please? please? Could Could I have look at your I have look at your

newspaper? newspaper? CannotCannot is used to refuse is used to refuse

permission.permission. Can I go to the movies, mom? Can I go to the movies, mom?

No, you can’t. No, you can’t.


To make requests and offersTo make requests and offers

CanCan is used in polite requests and offers of is used in polite requests and offers of help.help.

Can Can you turn that music down? I am trying you turn that music down? I am trying to work. to work.

Can Can you get me a cup of coffee? you get me a cup of coffee? Can Can I help you with those bags?I help you with those bags? Note that Note that Could Could is a more polite way of is a more polite way of

making requests and offers.making requests and offers. Could Could you help me with my homework? you help me with my homework? Could Could you lend me some money? you lend me some money?


ExercisesExercisesComplete with a suitable Complete with a suitable

word:word:

1 1 I ______ go out tonight. I'm I ______ go out tonight. I'm busy. busy.

2 2 Can you ______ to the Can you ______ to the cinema tonight? cinema tonight?

3 3 You ______ park here. It's You ______ park here. It's no parking. no parking.

4 4 ______ you tell me the time, ______ you tell me the time, please? please?

5 5 She can ______ English She can ______ English well. well.

6 6 I ______ play football, but I ______ play football, but not basketballnot basketball

Complete the sentences Complete the sentences with with cancan or or can'tcan't..

1 1 ______ I park my car ______ I park my car here? here?

2 2 Where? I ______ see him. Where? I ______ see him. 3 3 ______ you help me with ______ you help me with

my homework? my homework? 4 4 You ______ smoke there, You ______ smoke there,

but not here. but not here. 5 5 Sorry. I ______ remember Sorry. I ______ remember

the answer. the answer. 6 6 I ______ speak Spanish I ______ speak Spanish

and Italian.and Italian.

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