It’s very simple to understand can and cannot. Have you ever thought about whether you are using them correctly? In fact, the simpler the words, grammar, and structures in English, the more we can grasp the fundamental differences between English and Chinese grammar. So today, let’s review and update your understanding and mastery of can!
Can? Can! 🙅
“Is it okay?” or “Can I?” is a very common usage in Chinese.
For example, in the culturally blended Singapore, you will hear locals asking every day:
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Can?
The response is also one of: Can or Cannot.
However, for native speakers, this usage is quite strange, although they can understand the meaning.
So, what is the standard usage?
Correct Usage of ‘Can’ or ‘Cannot’
Next, I will teach you four high-frequency, authentic usages. Both interrogative and declarative sentences are included!
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Can you do it?
Key point: Can cannot be used alone as a sentence; it must be embedded in a sentence with a subject, verb, and object.
The response follows the same principle:
Yes, I can.
No, I can’t.
*Many friends often ask us, “In American spoken language, can and can’t sound very similar. How can we distinguish them?”
Apart from relying on context, from a phonetic and listening perspective, can sounds more like “ken,” and it is usually not particularly emphasized in pronunciation within a sentence.
On the other hand, can’t has a very clear “an” sound.
Try this little trick and see if it helps you distinguish more clearly!
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Is that doable?
In fact, besides can, native speakers also often use different words to express the same meaning, such as doable.
Its composition is quite interesting: do + able = to do + able to indicate “can do”
This sentence can be used to inquire whether the other party can accept your proposal or suggestion, or whether it can be done.
For example, when scheduling a time, if you provide a time, you can ask the other party, Is that doable?
Or in a work context, when giving a deadline, you can also ask, Is that doable?
Of course, you can also replace it with a specific thing, such as:
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Is tomorrow 4 pm doable?
If you want to be more polite, you can replace Is with Would:
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The new deadline is tomorrow. Would it be doable?
Of course, you can also use: Would you be able? or Would you be able to do…?
When responding, you cannot just use able; you must complete the sentence, or the simplest response can just be yes or no.
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Does it work?
Work not only means work but also has the meaning of whether something is feasible. It is a very high-frequency way to ask if something can be done or is okay.
The usage in different scenarios is very similar to the above. For example, after making a suggestion, you can ask the other party whether it can be accepted or adopted by asking:
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Does it work?
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Does that work?
We have an appointment slot for next Wednesday. Does that work?
When responding, you can say:
It does. or It works.
In the negative:
It doesn’t. or It doesn’t work.
You can also replace it or that with a specific thing:
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Does ____ work?
For example, Does next Wednesday 10 am work?
You can also add a personal pronoun at the end:
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Does it work for you?
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Does it work for everyone?
The last usage I want to share today is using “sound”
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How does that sound?
This is also a common way for native speakers to ask if something is okay, and the usage and scenarios are the same as all those listed above.
If you want to encourage or suggest that the other party accept the proposal, you can also ask:
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Does that sound good?
When responding, you can say: Sounds good.
In the negative, it is less common to say It doesn’t sound good; more often, people will use more indirect phrases like Not really. I’m afraid I can’t.
That’s all for today’s program.
I wonder if this has updated or expanded your understanding of can, cannot, “Is it okay?”, and “Can or cannot”.
If you have any questions about this usage, feel free to leave a comment and share with us!