can

Universal Words 1 used to say that it is possible for sb/sth to do sth, or for sth to happen: I can run fast. * Can you call back tomorrow? * He couldn't answer the question. * The stadium can be emptied in four minutes. * I can't promise anything, but I'll do what I can. 2 used to say that sb knows how to do sth: She can speak Spanish. * Can he cook? * I could drive a car before I left school. 3 used with the verbs 'feel', 'hear', 'see', 'smell', 'taste': She could feel a lump in her breast. * I can hear music. 4 used to show that sb is allowed to do sth: You can take the car, if you want. * We can't wear jeans at work. 5 (spoken) used to ask permission to do sth: Can I read your newspaper? * Can I take you home? 6 (spoken) used to ask sb to help you: Can you help me with this box? * Can you feed the cat, please? 7 used in the negative for saying that you are sure sth is not true: That can't be Mary-she's in New York. * He can't have slept through all that noise. 8 used to express doubt or surprise: What can they be doing? * Can he be serious? * Where can she have put it? 9 used to say what sb/sth is often like: He can be very tactless sometimes. * It can be quite cold here in winter. 10 used to make suggestions: We can eat in a restaurant, if you like. * I can take the car if necessary. 11 (spoken) used to say that sb must do sth, usually when you are angry: You can shut up or get out! -< MODAL IDIOMS can't be doing with sth (informal) used to say that you do not like sth and are unwilling to accept it: I can't be doing with people who complain all the time. ______________________________ WHICHWORD? can / may Can and cannot (or can't) are the most common words used for asking for, giving or refusing permission: Can I borrow your calculator? * You can come with us if you want to. * You can't park your car there. May (negative may not) is used as a polite and fairly formal way to ask for or give permission: May I borrow your newspaper? * You may come if you wish. It is often used in official signs and rules: Visitors may use the swimming pool between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. * Students may not use the college car park. The form mayn't is almost never used in modern English. ______________________________ ______________________________ GRAMMARPOINT can / could / be able to / manage Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something: Can you play the piano? It is also used with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc.: I can hear someone calling, and with passive infinitives: The video can be rented from your local store. Can or be able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something: Can you/are you able to come on Saturday? You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive: You'll be able to get a taxi outside the station. * I haven't been able to get much work done today. * She'd love to be able to play the piano. Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past: Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old. You use was/were able to or manage (but not could) when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past: I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library. * _I_ _c_o_u_l_d_ _f_i_n_d_ _s_o_m_e_ _u_s_e_f_u_l_ _b_o_o_k_s_ _i_n_ _t_h_e_ _l_i_b_r_a_r_y. In negative sentences, could not can also be used: We weren't able to / didn't manage to / couldn't get there in time. Could is also used with this meaning with verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc.: I could see there was something wrong. Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try: I could have won the game but decided to let her win. ->noteatMAY ______________________________ noun, verb-see also CAN noun 1 (BrE also tin) [C] a metal container in which food and drink is sold: a can of beans * a beer / paint can HELPNOTE In AmE can is the usual word used for both food and drink. In BrE can is always used for drink, but tin or can can be used for food, paint, etc. 2 [C] the amount contained in a can: We drank a can of Coke each. 3 [C] a metal or plastic container for holding or carrying liquids: an oil can * a watering can 4 [C] a metal container in which liquids are kept under pressure and let out in a fine spray when you press a button on the lid: a can of hairspray 5 (the can) [sing.] (AmE, slang) prison 6 (the can) [sing.] (AmE, slang) the toilet IDIOMS a can of worms (informal) if you open up a can of worms, you start doing sth that will cause a lot of problems and be very difficult be in the can (informal) (especially of filmed or recorded material) to be completed and ready for use moreatCARRY verb (-nn-) [VN] 1 (especially AmE) to preserve food by putting it in a can 2 (AmE, informal) to dismiss sb from their job