can

Shows that someone has the ability to do something.

• I can cook.
• Can your sister drive?
• He cannot read without his glasses.

How to use it: can + base verb (I can swim.)

Similar words: be able to

Opposites: be unable to

Common phrases: can swim, can speak, can read

Shows that someone is allowed to do something.

• You can sit here.
• Can I borrow your pen?
• Children cannot enter without an adult.

How to use it: can + base verb (You can use my phone.); can I/we + base verb? (Can we sit here?)

Similar words: may, be allowed to

Common phrases: can i leave, can use something, can come in

Used in a question to ask someone to do something.

• Can you help me?
• Can you close the window, please?
• Can someone bring me a chair?

How to use it: can you + base verb? (Can you pass the salt?)

Common phrases: can you help, can you please, can someone open

Shows that something is possible.

• Mistakes can happen.
• This medicine can cause headaches.
• The stars cannot be seen through these clouds.

How to use it: can + base verb (A loose wire can cause a fire.); can be + past participle (The tickets can be bought online.)

Similar words: be possible

Common phrases: can happen, can cause something, can be dangerous

Shows that something sometimes happens or is sometimes true.

• He can be noisy.
• This road can get icy in winter.
• Even good friends can disagree sometimes.

How to use it: can + be/get + adjective (The roads can get busy on Fridays.)

Common phrases: can be difficult, can get busy, can feel lonely

Used with “not” to say an action is unreasonable or unacceptable.

• You cannot treat people like that.
• We cannot just ignore the problem.
• You cannot keep spending money we do not have.

How to use it: cannot/can’t + base verb (You cannot leave all the work to me.)

Common phrases: can not ignore, can not expect, can not continue

Added to a question to ask whether someone agrees or accepts a suggestion.

• We meet here, can?
• I call you tomorrow, can?
• We leave after lunch, can?

Common phrases: meet here can, start now can, tomorrow morning can

A metal container for food, drink, or other substances.

• Open this can, please.
• He bought two cans of beans.
• Is there any paint left in that can?

How to use it: a can of + substance (She opened a can of soup.)

Similar words: tin

Common phrases: a can of beans, an empty can, open a can