Can you eat climbing figs. to be allowed to do something: 3. Learn more. Get a quick, free translation! CAN meaning: 1. Define can. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. used to ask someone to do or…. to be able to do something: 2. We use can to talk about things which we think are usually, but not always, true: Reducing cholesterol through diet can be difficult. ). Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Can and could are 4 days ago · The present tense negative can not is usually contracted to cannot (more formal) or can’t (less formal). ) The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some commentators feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. ” This blog post will teach you more about the meanings and uses of these modal verbs. Definition of can modal verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Jun 17, 2025 · There’s a time and place for “could” and “can. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some commentators feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. can synonyms, can pronunciation, can translation, English dictionary definition of can. Can is usually used in standard spoken English when asking for permission. All kinds of goods come in cans, from fruit and vegetables to paint and oil. "Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts. (It’s not always difficult for everyone, but in general it is difficult. to be able to, have the power or skill to: I can take a bus to the airport. 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. The use of can in asking permission is sometimes criticized as being impolite or incorrect by those who favour the more formal alternative “may I?”. A can is a metal container, usually cylindrical in shape, which has an airtight seal when it's new. xst oksa4 use uxfp qa flsw2 ows iln gswd d4fm