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. KSL: Protein made easy: How dairy can help you meet your daily needs Protein made easy: How dairy can help you meet your daily needs MSN: 6 drinks that will help you reach your daily protein goal 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.

Key Insights

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. 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.

Final Thoughts

Do you use β€œcan” and β€œcould” correctly in English? Join me and learn how to use these two important modal verbs, in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Define can. can synonyms, can pronunciation, can translation, English dictionary definition of can. to be able to, have the power or skill to: I can take a bus to the airport.