Can - Meaning, pronunciation, collocation and usage 英漢雙解 | Mr. Ng 線上詞典

Can is usually followed by an infinitive without ‘to': can 通常后接不带to 的不定式: I can speak French. 我会说法语。 Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: 有时不接不定式: Come and help us, if you can. 如果可以，就来帮我们吧。

Can does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s': can没有形式变化，第三人称单数形式不加-s: She can speak Japanese. 她会说日语。

Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do': 疑问句和否定句形式不加do: Can you swim? 你会游泳吗？

The negative form of can is cannot: can的否定形式为cannot: We cannot allow this behaviour to continue. 我们不能让这种行为继续下去。 Cannot is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to can't: cannot 在口语或非正式文体中常缩写为can’t: I can't find my brown jacket. 我找不到我的棕色夹克衫。

Can is often used in question tags: can常用于附加疑问句中: They can't hear us, can they? 他们听不见我们，是吧？

Can has no participles and no infinitive form. Be able to is used as the infinitive to show ability or possibility: can没有分词和不定式形式。be able to 用作can的不定式形式表示能力或可能性: I want to be able to choose my own career. 我想要选择我自己的职业。

Could is used as the past tense of can when it means that someone had the ability to do something, or that something was possible: could可用作can 的过去式，表示某人有能力或某事可能发生: New York was a place where anyone could start a business. 纽约是一个人人都能开始创业的地方。 But was/were able to is used for saying that someone actually succeeded in doing something: was/were able to 则用于表示某人实际做了某事: By climbing on the table he was able to reach the window. 他爬到桌子上就够到了窗户。

There is no future tense of can, but will be able to is used for saying that someone will have the ability to do something or that something will be possible in the future, especially after a long time: can 没有将来时态，但可以用will be able to指某人将来有能力或某事将来可能发生（特别是长时间之后）: She'll be able to walk soon. 她很快就可以走路了。 A hundred years from now people will be able to visit Mars. 从现在算起100年以后，人们将可以登上火星。 Can is usually used when planning or deciding about the near future: can 用于计划或决定将来不久的事情: We can go shopping tomorrow. 我们明天可以去购物。

There is no perfect tense of can, so has/have been able to is used: can没有完成时态，因此用has/have been able to 来表示: I haven't been able to phone my parents yet. 我还没能打电话给我父母。

1
have the ability or means to do something
1. a.
  
  to have the necessary ability, knowledge, money, or equipment to do something （因有必要的能力、知识、资金或设备而）能，能够，会
  
  ‘Can you swim?' ‘No I can't.' “你会游泳吗？”“不，我不会。”
  
  Ingrid could play the violin by the time she was six. 英格里德6岁就会拉小提琴了。
  
  The machine can translate simple messages into 24 different languages. 这种机器可以把简单的信息翻译成24种不同语言。
  
  They couldn't afford to pay for a proper funeral. 他们出不起钱举办一个像样的葬礼。
  
  The UN has promised to help as much as it can. 联合国已经承诺尽力提供帮助。
  
  Synonyms and related words
  
  Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
2. b.
  
  used for saying that you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, or remember something （用于表示各种感官）能够
  
  Paul could hear someone calling his name. 保罗听到有人喊他的名字。
  
  There have been May Day celebrations here for as long as anyone can remember. 在人们的记忆之中，这里一直就有庆祝五一节的活动。
  
  Synonyms and related words
  
  Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
2
used for saying what is possible
1. a.
  
  used for saying whether the situation makes it possible for you to do something at a particular time （用于表示某时的条件使人可以做某事）能
  
  I'm sorry, Dr Brown can't speak to you now – she's got someone with her. 对不起，布朗医生现在不能跟你说话，她有病人在。
  
  If it's fine tomorrow, we can go fishing. 如果明天天气好，我们就可以去钓鱼。
  
  How can I work with all this noise going on? 这么大的噪音，我怎么工作？
  
  Synonyms and related words
  
  Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
2. b.
  
  used for saying that it is possible to do something （用于表示有可能做某事）可以
  
  You can travel from London to New York in under 6 hours these days. 现在从伦敦到纽约只需要不到6个小时。
  
  Tickets can be bought from the Tourist Information Centre. 票可以在旅游信息中心买到。
  
  Synonyms and related words
  
  Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
3
used when only one opinion, meaning, or decision is possible （用于表示只有一种意见、含义或决定可行）可能

How can I possibly refuse such a charming invitation? 我怎么可能拒绝这么诱人的邀请呢？

Can there be any doubt about his intentions? 对他的意图可能有什么怀疑吗？

When he slams the door like that, it can mean only one thing – trouble. 他这么重重地把门关上，只会有一种含义，有麻烦了。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
4
used for saying that something sometimes happens or is sometimes possible or true （用于表示某事有时发生、有时可能发生或有时是真的）会，可能

Temperatures can reach 40 degrees C in the summer. 夏天气温可能达到40摄氏度。

Even minor head injuries can be serious. 头部即使受轻伤也可能很严重。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
5
[always in negatives] used for saying that you feel sure something is not possible or true （用于表示确信某事不可能或不是真的）不可能

The hotel can't be far from here. 旅店不可能离这里很远。

Surely he can't have forgotten about the wedding! 他绝对不可能把婚礼给忘了！

Synonyms and related words

Ways of saying you are sure: surely, undoubtedly, correct me if I'm wrong...
6
to be allowed to do something, or to have the right or power to do it （用于表示被允许做某事或有权做某事）可以，允许

You can borrow my calculator if you want. 如果需要的话，你可以借用我的计算器。

Anyone aged 18 or over can vote in a general election. 18岁及以上者均可在普选中投票。

You can't sit there. Those seats are reserved. 你不能坐在那里。那些位子已经被预订了。

Only the President could order the armed forces into battle. 只有总统可以命令部队投入战斗。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
7
spoken used in requests, or when offering or suggesting something （用于表示请求、给予、建议）可以，能

Can you tell me where Mr Lawson's office is? 你能告诉我劳森先生的办公室在哪里吗？

Can I have another piece of that delicious cake? 我能再吃一块那可口的蛋糕吗？

Can I offer you something to drink? 要我给你拿点什么饮料吗？

Can I make a suggestion? 我可以提个建议吗？

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
8
[always in negatives] used for emphasizing that something should not happen or continue （用于强调某事不该发生或继续）不可以

We can't go on borrowing money when there's no hope of ever paying it back. 如果没有希望还钱，我们就不该再继续借钱。

These men cannot be allowed to profit from their criminal activities. 不能允许这些人从其犯罪活动中牟利。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
9
[usually in negatives or questions] mainly spoken used when you want to emphasize how surprised or shocked you are （用于强调惊奇或震惊）居然，可能…（吗）

He can't be here already! I haven't even started getting dressed. 他不可能已经到了！我都还没开始穿衣服呢。

Of course I'm not deceiving you. How can you say such a thing! 我当然不是在骗你。你怎么能这么说呢！

Synonyms and related words

Ways of saying that you are surprised or shocked: funnily enough, you don't say, heavens above...
10
[usually in negatives or questions] spoken used with verbs such as ‘say', ‘imagine', or ‘believe' when you are telling someone about a situation and you want to emphasize how strongly you feel about it （与say, imagine 或believe 连用，表示强调）能够

I can't tell you how relieved I am to know that everyone is safe. 我简直无法向你描述我得知大家都安全时心情有多轻松。

You can guess how I felt when he said I was too old. 你可以猜到当他说我年纪太大时我感觉如何。

I can't believe she told him that. 我简直不敢相信她把那事告诉他了。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
11
spoken used for saying what someone will have to do, when you are annoyed with them or do not approve of them （用于表示因不得不做某事而生气或不赞同）可以

If he doesn't want to come to work on time, he can go and look for another job. 如果他不想准时来上班，他可以去另找一份工作。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...

phrases

Get It Right!: can

The negative form of the verb can is cannot. It is written almost always as one word, not as ‘can not' (two words):

? The quality of the information can not be guaranteed.

✓ The quality of the information cannot be guaranteed.

? You can not buy true friends or health.

✓ You cannot buy true friends or health.

present tense
I/you/we/they	can
he/she/it	cans
present participle	canning
past tense	canned
past participle	canned

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