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The modal auxiliary can is used
in two main ways. One way
is in showing ability.
Examples:
Larry can play piano well.
(Larry knows how to play piano
well. /
Larry has the ability to play piano well.)
Joan can solve that problem.
(Joan is able to solve that
problem. /
Joan knows how to solve that problem.)
Most of Fouad's
friends can speak both Arabic and French.
(Most of Fouad's friends are
able to speak both Arabic
and French. / Most of
Fouad's friends know how to speak
both Arabic
and French.)
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The negative of can
is cannot (one word), but cannot
is generally contracted to can't in speaking.
Examples:
I'm sorry, but I can't (cannot) understand you.
Judy can't (cannot) swim very well.
João can't (cannot) speak Spanish, but he can understand it.
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Special
Notes:
| 1. |
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Because can and can't (cannot) are
auxiliary
verbs, they are used
with verbs in simple form:
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not this:
or this:
or this:
but this:
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*He can't to understand you.
*He can't understanding you.
*He can't understands you.
He can't understand you.
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| 2. |
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The pronunciation
of can and can't
is often
confusing in everyday American
English speech.
Can sounds something like "kun" or "kin," and
can't sounds something like
"kã" (the "ã" is
similar
to the sound of "a" in
cat, but with
very nasal
pronunciation). For this
reason, can't
sometimes sounds
very much like can. |
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