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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Can Modal Verb: Meaning, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：be able to (can)

can 🔊

/kæn/

v. aux.

Used to say that someone or something is able to do something, has the skill or permission.

be able to 🔊

➕

/biː ˈeɪbl tuː/

v. aux.

Expresses that someone has the physical, mental, or learned skill to do something, or has permission to do it.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'cunnan' meaning 'to know (how to)', related to 'know' and 'ken'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a can opener: 'I can open this can' – ability is key!

📖 Example

Can you speak a little louder? I can't hear you clearly over the video call. 🔊 Are you able to speak a little louder? I cannot hear you clearly during the video call.

🔗 Collocations

can do something – to be able to perform an action

can't help doing – to be unable to stop oneself from doing something

can afford – to have enough money or time to do something

🔄 Synonyms

be able to (v. phr.) – to have the necessary skills or means to do something

be capable of (adj. phr.) – having the ability or quality needed to do something

have the power to (v. phr.) – to possess the authority or ability to do something

🚫 Antonyms

cannot (v. aux.) – the negative form of 'can', indicating inability

be unable to (v. phr.) – to lack the skill or means to do something

be forbidden from (v. phr.) – to be prohibited from doing something

🌱 Derivatives

cannot (v. aux.) – the negative form of 'can'

can't (v. aux.) – contraction of 'cannot'

canny (adj.) – shrewd and careful, from the same root

📖 Cultural Story

Old English 'cunnan' originally meant 'to know mentally'. Over centuries, it evolved into a modal verb expressing ability, permission, and possibility, becoming one of the most common English auxiliaries.

Meaning 2：be possible (can)

can 🔊

/kæn/

v. aux.

Used to say that something is possible or likely to happen.

be possible 🔊

➕

/biː ˈpɒsəbl/

v. aux.

Used to indicate that something is possible or likely to happen based on circumstances or general truth.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Don't forget your umbrella; it can rain heavily in the afternoon according to the weather forecast. 🔊 Do not forget your umbrella; it is possible that it will rain heavily in the afternoon according to the weather forecast.

🔗 Collocations

can happen – to be an event that may occur

can be – to have the potential to exist or occur

can't be true – used to express disbelief that something is possible

🔄 Synonyms

may (v. aux.) – used to express possibility or likelihood

could (v. aux.) – used to indicate a weaker possibility

might (v. aux.) – used to express a less certain possibility

🚫 Antonyms

cannot (v. aux.) – the negative form indicating impossibility

will not (v. aux.) – used to assert that something definitely will not happen

must not (v. aux.) – used to express prohibition or strong denial of possibility

🌱 Derivatives

cannot (v. aux.) – the negative form of 'can' for impossibility

can't (v. aux.) – contraction of 'cannot'

possible (adj.) – that can exist or happen, from Latin 'posse'