- pronunciation:
- kaen
- features:
- Language Note
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
can, could |
| definition 1: |
When you can do something, it means that you are able to do it. If you can ice skate, you move well on the ice and don't fall down all the time. If you can't ice skate, you probably stay on the side and fall down a lot.
I can swim, but my little brother can't. He stays in the little pool with my mom.- similar words:
- know
|
| definition 2: |
Sometimes when you say that you can do something, it means that it is OK for you to do it. Somebody gave you permission.
My mom says I can stay overnight at Al's house tonight, but I can't stay there for too long in the morning. |
| definition 3: |
We often use can when we tell what is possible or what happens sometimes.
I can get bored inside on rainy days.It can be really cold in our basement in the winter.Where we live, it can snow even in April or May. |
|
|
Nowadays, it is very common to use
can with the meaning of "to have permission to do something," but some people feel that only
may should be used for that meaning. They feel that
can should only be used to describe ability to do something. When people accept the use of both
can and
may for the meaning of permission, they agree that
may sounds more formal than
can.