Can and cannot
Ability, requests and permission with can: I can swim, she can't drive, can I sit here?
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We use can to say that someone is able to do something, to ask someone to do something, and to ask or give permission. Can is a special verb: it is the same for every person, and the verb after it has no to and no ending.
Positive: can + verb
Can is the same for I, you, he, she, it, we, they. The next verb is in its basic form.
Subject | can | Verb |
|---|---|---|
I, you, he, she, it, we, they | can | help. |
- I can speak three languages.
- My son can ride a bike.
- We can meet at six.
- Incorrect: She cans swim.
- Correct: She can swim.Can never takes -s.
- Incorrect: I can to swim.
- Correct: I can swim.After can, the verb has no to.
- Incorrect: He can swims very well.
- Correct: He can swim very well.The verb after can has no -s.
Negative: can't, cannot
The negative is can't in speech and in most writing. The full form is cannot, usually written as one word.
- I can't cook.
- The museum cannot take large bags.
- They can't come to the party.
- Incorrect: I don't can drive.
- Correct: I can't drive.Can makes its own negative. Don't use don't with it.
In British English, can't has a long vowel, like the a in car: /kɑːnt/. In a positive sentence, can is usually short and weak: I can /kən/ help.
Questions and short answers
Put can before the subject. Don't use do.
Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
Can you drive? | Yes, I can. | No, I can't. |
Can she speak Italian? | Yes, she can. | No, she can't. |
- Can you play the piano?
- What languages can you speak?
- Incorrect: Do you can help me?
- Correct: Can you help me?In a question, can goes before the subject, with no do.
Ability: what you are able to do
Use can for skills and for things that are possible for you.
- Can you ski? Yes, but not very well.
- I can't see the screen from here.
- She can work from home on Fridays.
Asking someone to do something
Use Can you ...? to ask another person to do something. Add please to be polite.
- Can you call me back, please?
- Can you help me with this bag?
- Can you send me the address?
Permission: can I ...?
Use Can I ...? to ask if it is OK to do something. Use you can and you can't to give or refuse permission.
- Can I sit here? Yes, of course.
- Can I pay by card?
- You can park here after six.
- You can't smoke in the building.
- Incorrect: Can I to open the window?
- Correct: Can I open the window?
Be careful: Can I ...? is about something that you want to do. Can you ...? asks the other person to do it.
- Can I open the window?
(I want to open it.)
- Can you open the window?
(I want you to open it.)
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