| 释义 |
can
modal verb strongUK /kæn/ weakUK /kən/ Can is usually followed by an infinitive without ‘to’: I can speak French. Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: Come and help us, if you can. Can does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s’: She can speak Japanese. Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do’: Can you swim? The negative form of can is cannot: We cannot allow this behaviour to continue. Cannot is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to can’t: I can’t find my brown jacket. Can is often used in question tags: They can’t hear us, can they? Can has no participles and no infinitive form. Be able to is used as the infinitive to show ability or possibility: I want to be able to choose my own career. 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: New York was a place where anyone could start a business. But was/were able to is used for saying that someone actually succeeded in doing something: By climbing on the table he was able to reach the window. 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: She’ll be able to walk soon.A hundred years from now people will be able to visit Mars. Can is usually used when planning or deciding about the near future: We can go shopping tomorrow. There is no perfect tense of can, so has/have been able to is used: I haven’t been able to phone my parents yet. 1 have the ability or means to do something 1a to have the necessary ability, knowledge, money, or equipment to do something‘Can you swim?’ ‘No I can’t.’ Ingrid could play the violin by the time she was six. The machine can translate simple messages into 24 different languages. They couldn’t afford to pay for a proper funeral. The UN has promised to help as much as it can. Synonyms and related words 1b used for saying that you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, or remember somethingPaul could hear someone calling his name. There have been May Day celebrations here for as long as anyone can remember. Synonyms and related words
2 used for saying what is possible 2a used for saying whether the situation makes it possible for you to do something at a particular timeI’m sorry, Dr Brown can’t speak to you now – she’s got someone with her. If it’s fine tomorrow, we can go fishing. How can I work with all this noise going on? Synonyms and related words 2b used for saying that it is possible to do somethingYou can travel from London to New York in under 6 hours these days. Tickets can be bought from the Tourist Information Centre. Synonyms and related words
3 used when only one opinion, meaning, or decision is possibleHow can I possibly refuse such a charming invitation? Can there be any doubt about his intentions? When he slams the door like that, it can mean only one thing – trouble. Synonyms and related words 4 used for saying that something sometimes happens or is sometimes possible or trueTemperatures can reach 40 degrees C in the summer. Even minor head injuries can be serious. Synonyms and related words 5 always in negativesused for saying that you feel sure something is not possible or trueThe hotel can’t be far from here. Surely he can’t have forgotten about the wedding! 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 itYou can borrow my calculator if you want. Anyone aged 18 or over can vote in a general election. You can’t sit there. Those seats are reserved. Only the President could order the armed forces into battle. Synonyms and related words 7 spokenused in requests, or when offering or suggesting somethingCan you tell me where Mr Lawson’s office is? Can I have another piece of that delicious cake? Can I offer you something to drink? Synonyms and related words 8 always in negativesused for emphasizing that something should not happen or continueWe can’t go on borrowing money when there’s no hope of ever paying it back. These men cannot be allowed to profit from their criminal activities. Synonyms and related words 9 usually in negatives or questionsmainly spokenused when you want to emphasize how surprised or shocked you areHe can’t be here already! I haven’t even started getting dressed. Of course I’m not deceiving you. How can you say such a thing! 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 questionsspokenused 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 itI can’t tell you how relieved I am to know that everyone is safe. You can guess how I felt when he said I was too old. I can’t believe she told him that. Synonyms and related words 11 spokenused for saying what someone will have to do, when you are annoyed with them or do not approve of themIf he doesn’t want to come to work on time, he can go and look for another job. Synonyms and related words
no can do what/who/where can...?
can
modal verb strongUS /kæn/ weakUS /kən/ Can is usually followed by an infinitive without “to”: I can speak French. Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: Come and help us, if you can. Can does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in “-s”: She can speak Japanese. Questions and negatives are formed without “do”: Can you swim? The negative form of can is cannot: We cannot allow this behavior to continue. Cannot is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to can’t: I can’t find my brown jacket. Can is often used in tag questions: They can’t hear us, can they? Can has no participles and no infinitive form. Be able to is used as the infinitive to show ability or possibility: I want to be able to choose my own career. 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: New York was a place where anyone could start a business. But was/were able to is used for saying that someone actually succeeded in doing something: By climbing on the table he was able to reach the window. 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: She’ll be able to walk soon.A hundred years from now people will be able to visit Mars. Can is usually used when planning or deciding about the near future: We can go shopping tomorrow. There is no perfect tense of can, so has/have been able to is used: I haven’t been able to call my parents yet. 1 have the ability or means to do something 1a to have the necessary ability, knowledge, money, or equipment to do something“Can you swim?” “No I can’t.” Ingrid could play the violin by the time she was six. The machine can translate simple messages into 24 different languages. They couldn’t afford to pay for a nice funeral. The U.N. has promised to help as much as it can. Synonyms and related words 1b used for saying that you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, or remember somethingPaul could hear someone calling his name. There have been May Day celebrations here for as long as anyone can remember. Synonyms and related words
2 used for saying what is possible 2a used for saying whether the situation makes it possible for you to do something at a particular timeI’m sorry, Dr. Brown can’t speak to you now – she’s got someone with her. If the weather’s good tomorrow, we can go fishing. How can I work with all this noise going on? Synonyms and related words 2b used for saying that it is possible to do somethingYou can travel from London to New York in under 6 hours these days. Tickets can be bought from the Tourist Information Center. Synonyms and related words
3 to be allowed to do something, or to have the right or power to do itYou can borrow my calculator if you want. Anyone aged 18 or over can vote in a general election. You can’t sit there. Those seats are reserved. Only the President could order the armed forces into battle. Synonyms and related words 4 spokenused in requests, or when offering or suggesting somethingCan you tell me where Mr. Lawson’s office is? Can I have another piece of that delicious cake? Can I offer you something to drink? Synonyms and related words 5 always in negativesused for emphasizing that something should not happen or continueWe can’t go on borrowing money when there’s no hope of ever paying it back. These men cannot be allowed to profit from their criminal activities. Synonyms and related words 6 usually in negatives or questionsmainly spokenused when you want to emphasize how surprised or shocked you areHe can’t be here already! I haven’t even started getting dressed. Of course I’m not lying to you. How can you say such a thing! Synonyms and related words
Ways of saying that you are surprised or shocked funnily enough you don’t say actually 7 usually in negatives or questionsspokenused 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 itI can’t tell you how relieved I am to know that everyone is safe. You can guess how I felt when he said I was too old. I can’t believe she told him that. Synonyms and related words 8 used for saying that something sometimes happens or is sometimes possible or trueTemperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Even minor head injuries can be serious. Synonyms and related words 9 spokenused for saying what someone will have to do, when you are annoyed with them or do not approve of themIf he doesn’t want to come to work on time, he can look for another job. Synonyms and related words 10 always in negativesused for saying that you feel sure something is not possible or trueThe hotel can’t be far from here. I’m sure he can’t have forgotten about the wedding! Synonyms and related words
Ways of saying you are sure surely undoubtedly I bet/I’ll bet 11 used when only one opinion, meaning, or decision is possibleHow can I possibly refuse such a charming invitation? Can there be any doubt about his intentions? When he slams the door like that, it can mean only one thing – trouble. Synonyms and related words
no can do what/who/where can...?
can
1 a closed metal container with round sides, for food or drinks. It is opened with a can opener. In British English the word tin is usually used if a can contains food, but not if it contains a drink Synonyms and related words
Containers for carrying or storing food 1a a metal container with round sides and a lid, used especially for holding liquidsThere’s a little paint left in the can. Synonyms and related words
Containers for carrying or storing liquid 1b spray cana can of insect repellent Synonyms and related words
Containers for carrying or storing liquid 1c the amount of food, drink, paint etc that a metal container holdscan of: Add two cans of tomatoes to the sauce and stir. Synonyms and related words
Amounts and pieces of food a stick of butter/margarine batch bed
2 the canAmericaninformala prisonSynonyms and related words
Informal words for prison 3 the canAmericaninformala toiletSynonyms and related words
a can of worms in the can kick the can down the road can
1 a closed metal container with round sides, for food or drinks. It is opened with a can opener. In British English the word tin is usually used if a can contains food, but not if it contains a drink Synonyms and related words
Containers for carrying or storing food 1a a metal container with round sides and a lid, used especially for holding liquidsThere’s a little paint left in the can. Synonyms and related words
Containers for carrying or storing liquid 1b spray cana can of insect repellent Synonyms and related words
Containers for carrying or storing liquid 1c the amount of food, drink, paint, etc. that a metal container holdscan of: Add two cans of tomatoes to the sauce and stir. Synonyms and related words
Amounts and pieces of food a stick of butter/margarine batch bed
2 the canAmericaninformala toiletSynonyms and related words 3 the canAmericaninformala prisonSynonyms and related words
Informal words for prison 4 Americanimpoliteyour bottom Synonyms and related words
The part of the body you sit on
a can of worms in the can kick the can down the road canverb transitive UK /kæn/ 1 to preserve food in metal containers by storing it without air Synonyms and related words 2 Americaninformalto sack someone Synonyms and related words
Forcing someone and being forced to leave a job 3 used in Malaysian English to say that something is possible or acceptable“Can I have one fried noodles please?” “Can.” Submitted by:
Anthony from Malaysia on 28/02/2012
can
verb transitive US /kæn/ 1 to preserve food in metal containers by storing it without air Synonyms and related words 2 Americaninformalto make someone leave their job, for example because their work is not good enough. The usual word for this is to fire someoneHe got canned for showing up late once too often. Synonyms and related words
Forcing someone and being forced to leave a job 3 used in Malaysian English to say that something is possible or acceptable“Can I have one fried noodles please?” “Can.” Submitted by:
Anthony from Malaysia on 28/02/2012
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