canmodal verb
ukstrong /kæn/weak /kən/usstrong /kæn/weak /kən/can modal verb (ABILITY)
A1 to be able to:
Can you drive?
She can speak four languages.
Can you read that sign from this distance?
The doctors are doing all that they can, but she's still not breathing properly.
Do the best you can - I realize the circumstances are not ideal.
If the party is awful, we can always leave (= that would be one possible solution to our problem).
"She's really furious about it." "Can you blame her (= I'm not surprised)?"
can do US informal
used to say that you can and will do something:
"Will you mail this letter for me, please?" "Can do."
"I need you to pick up the kids today." "Sorry, no can do (= no I can't)."
More examples
- I don't know how he can afford a new car on his salary.
- Cats can see in the dark.
- The water's not deep here - look, I can touch the bottom.
- I doubt whether I can finish the work on time.
- Computers can perform millions of calculations every second.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Possible and probable
- always
- anything's possible idiom
- arguably
- as never before idiom
- avenue
- lean
- lean towards sth
- liable
- likelihood
- likely
- maybe
- realm
- sporting chance
- stand
- strange
- stranger things have happened idiom
- strong
- ten
- ten to one idiom
- vista
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Ready and willing
can modal verb (PERMISSION)
A1 to be allowed to:
Can I use your bike, John?
You can park over there.
You can have a piece of cake after you've eaten your vegetables!
informal sometimes used to tell someone angrily to do something:
If you carry on being horrible to your sister, Sophie, you can just go to bed!
More examples
- If you finish early you can go home.
- She can come whenever she likes, as far as I'm concerned.
- Finish up your dinner and you can have dessert.
- How early can you get off this afternoon?
- Anyone can go - you don't have to be invited.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Allowing and permitting
- admit of sth
- allow
- allow of sth
- allowable
- authorization
- authorize
- concession
- green
- head
- leave
- let sb/sth in
- let sb/sth out
- licence
- license
- mandate
- OK
- open the floodgates idiom
- sanction
- submit
- unlicensed
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Giving orders & commands
can modal verb (REQUEST)
A1 used to request something:
If you see Brett, can you tell him I'm in town next weekend?
Can you make a little less noise, please? I'm trying to work.
More examples
- I can't get the cork out of the bottle - can you try?
- Excuse me, can I just get past?
- It's freezing in here - can I close the window?
- Please can I have a go on your bike?
- Andrew, can you help me install this software?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making appeals & requests
- a cry for help idiom
- appellate
- application
- apply
- ask for sb
- beseech
- besiege
- besought
- bum
- cri de coeur
- crowdsource
- freeloader
- gateway
- hit sb up
- I'll thank you to do sth idiom
- pester
- petition
- request
- scrounge
- sponge
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can modal verb (POSSIBILITY)
A2 used to express possibility:
You can get stamps from the local newsagents.
You can get very nasty skin diseases from bathing in dirty water.
Smoking can cause cancer.
Noise can be quite a problem when you're living in a flat.
He can be really annoying at times (= he is sometimes very annoying).
More examples
- Couples who are childless can feel excluded from the rest of society.
- Children can choke on peanuts.
- Clearance of a cheque can take up to a week.
- You can get travel concessions if you are under 26.
- Not making a will can have serious consequences for the people you might wish to benefit.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Possible and probable
- always
- anything's possible idiom
- arguably
- as never before idiom
- avenue
- lean
- lean towards sth
- liable
- likelihood
- likely
- maybe
- realm
- sporting chance
- stand
- strange
- stranger things have happened idiom
- strong
- ten
- ten to one idiom
- vista
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can modal verb (OFFER)
A1 used in polite offers of help:
Can I help you with those bags?
I'm afraid Ms Ferguson has already left the office. Can I be of any help?
More examples
- Is there anything I can do to help?
- You can go instead of me, if you want.
- You look lost - can I help you?
- What a lot of bags! Can I carry something for you?
- "If you like I can do some shopping for you." "That's a very kind offer."
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Polite expressions
- actually
- after
- allow
- by all means idiom
- chance
- could
- disrespect
- don't mention it! idiom
- excuse
- forgive
- honour
- might I ask/inquire/know idiom
- no problem idiom
- obliged
- pardon
- perhaps
- place
- pleasure
- problem
- welcome
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