You use can to indicate that someone has the ability or opportunity to do something. Don't worry yourself about me, I can take care of myself. I can't give you details because I don't actually have any details.

Understanding the Context

The United States will do whatever it can to help Greece. Scrambled eggs are the perfect, high-protein breakfast to start your day with. One of the best things about them is that they're amenable to unique flavor combos -- even wine can take them to a whole ... If your usual meals have started to feel repetitive, one easy ingredient swap could add fresh flavor and make cooking exciting again.

Key Insights

Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts. Can is usually used in standard spoken English when asking for permission.

Final Thoughts

It is acceptable in most forms of written English, although in very formal writing, such as official instructions, may is often used instead: Persons under 14 unaccompanied by an adult may not enter. CAN definition: to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to. See examples of can used in a sentence. Do you use “can” and “could” correctly in English? Join me and learn how to use these two important modal verbs, in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.