English Easy Learning GrammarCan and couldBoth these verbs indicate ability in some respect. The use of could is usual in clausesthat contain a reference to past time. Morag can speak French quite ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarWord order in negative statementsIn negative statements, the basic word order for subject and object is the same asin positive statements. John has gone to school. John has not gone to ... Read more
cannot in British English
(ˈkænɒt, kæˈnɒt)
verb
an auxiliary verb expressing incapacity, inability, withholding permission, etc; can not
cannot in American English
(ˈkænˌɑt; kəˈnɑt)
auxiliary verb
can not
Idioms:
cannot but
More idioms containing
cannot
someone cannot make head or tail of something
someone cannot look someone in the face
someone cannot cut it
someone cannot see the wood for the trees
Examples of 'cannot' in a sentence
cannot
These are strong warnings and the government cannot afford to ignore them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In the referendum people who usually cannot be bothered decided that they could be bothered.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You will see that one cannot have chosen better.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She still cannot mention where she lives or who she is with.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Prices are fixed by the government and cannot be raised above a certain limit.
The Sun (2016)
But what would be the downside if people with asthma cannot compete?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is here on our own streets and it is one we cannot afford to lose.
The Sun (2016)
Our source said: 'We cannot afford to drop our guard.
The Sun (2016)
He wrote: 'I cannot wait to lay in it when the time comes.
The Sun (2016)
He said: 'We cannot get ahead of ourselves.
The Sun (2016)
The obsessive person usually despises these thoughts and rejects them intellectually but still cannot escape them.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)
It gets no government funding and cannot employ locals.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You cannot afford one or two days when you are not totally focused.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Who wants to work for people you cannot trust?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He cannot stay still for a minute.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Governments cannot really change very much in most civilian lives.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Please note that one chairman cannot win more than two weekly prizes.
The Sun (2010)
We cannot make other people do right.
Christianity Today (2000)
One cannot hide a paunch under a polo neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Other people cannot be expected to read your mind.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
The government cannot afford any more scandals from any of its business partners if it is to pursue this agenda.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Surely the fact that one cannot give that assurance in respect of any finite description constitutes a limit to language?
Wood, David Philosophy at the Limit (1990)
The government cannot afford more embarrassment.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But government cannot do it alone.
Eccleshall, Robert English Conservatism since the Restoration: An introduction and anthology (1990)
If you are having trouble taking the plunge, remember that relationships cannot stand still.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She has previously said: 'I cannot ride a bicycle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He said: 'I cannot talk about that.
The Sun (2009)
But we still cannot fancy them to get anything from their trip to the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.
The Sun (2014)
All related terms of 'cannot'
cannot but
You use cannot but , could not but , and cannot help but when you want to emphasize that you believe something must be true and that there is no possibility of anything else being the case.
cannot seem
If you say that you cannot seem or could not seem to do something, you mean that you have tried to do it and were unable to.
cannot choose but
to be obliged to
cannot help but
to be unable to do anything else except
cannot help oneself
to be the victim of circumstances , a habit , etc.
cannot very well do
If you say that you cannot very well do something, you mean that it would not be right or possible to do it.
someone cannot cut it
said to mean that someone is not good enough at doing something
a leopard cannot change its spots
If you say that a leopard cannot change its spots , you mean that people or things are not able to change their basic characteristics, especially when you are critical of those characteristics.
someone cannot look someone in the face
said to mean that someone is too ashamed or embarrassed by something that they have done to look at someone else directly
someone cannot make head or tail of something
said to mean that someone cannot understand something at all
someone cannot see the wood for the trees
said to mean that someone is so involved in the details of something that they forget or do not realize the real purpose or importance of the thing as a whole
make head (n)or tail cannot make head or tail of something
If you say that you cannot make head nor tail of something or you cannot make head or tail of it, you are emphasizing that you cannot understand it at all.
cannot make head nor tail of something cannot make head or tail of something
If you say that you cannot make head nor tail of something or you cannot make heads or tails of it, you are emphasizing that you cannot understand it at all.
Chinese translation of 'cannot'
cannot
(ˈkænɔt)
(= can not)
Seecan
Nearby words of
cannot
cannabis
canned
cannon
cannot
canoe
canoeing
canon
All related terms of 'cannot'
can 1
( for food, drinks ) 罐头(頭) guàntou [ 个(個) gè ] ( with lid ) 容器 róngqì ( for petrol, oil ) 罐 guàn [ 个(個) gè ] ⇒ I had to take a can to the garage to get some petrol. → 我不得不带个罐去加油站买汽油。 Wǒ bùdebù dài gè guàn qù jiāyóuzhàn mǎi qìyóu.