can
- 01 A1 Beginner
modal v.to be able to do something or know how to do it.
modal v.expresses physical or mental ability or the knowledge required to perform an action.
Simple“She can speak three languages fluently because she grew up in a bilingual home.”
In context“While many candidates can perform the basic tasks, we need someone who can manage complex data sets without supervision.”
Usagea modal auxiliary verb followed by the bare infinitive without 'to'
PitfallI can to swim very well. I can swim very well.Do not use 'to' after 'can'. It is followed by the base form of the verb.
- 02 A1 Beginner
modal v.to have permission to do something.
modal v.used to request or grant permission; often interchangeable with 'may' in informal contexts.
Simple“Can I open the window? It is getting a bit warm in here.”
In context“You can leave your luggage at the reception desk if your room is not ready yet.”
Teacher's tipIn formal writing, 'may' is often preferred for permission, but 'can' is the standard choice in modern spoken English.
Synonymsmayallowed toAntonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
modal v.used to say that something is possible.
modal v.expresses theoretical or logical possibility.
Simple“It can get very cold in the mountains, even during the summer.”
In context“The local weather can be quite unpredictable, so it is wise to carry an umbrella regardless of the forecast.”
Antonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
n.a metal container for food or drink.
n.a cylindrical metal container, typically made of aluminium or tin-plated steel, used for preserving food or holding liquids.
Simple“He opened a can of soup for lunch because he was in a hurry.”
In context“The recycling centre accepts aluminium drink cans but requires all glass bottles to be sorted separately.”
Teacher's tipIn British English, 'tin' is more common for food (a tin of beans), while 'can' is used for drinks (a can of soda).
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to put food into metal or glass containers to keep it fresh for a long time.
v.to preserve food by sealing it in airtight cans or jars.
Simple“Every autumn, they can tomatoes from their garden to use during the winter.”
In context“The family spent the weekend canning peaches and making jam to stock their pantry for the coming year.”
Usagetransitive verb
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to tell someone they no longer have a job.
v.to dismiss an employee from their position, usually due to poor performance or misconduct.
Simple“He got canned after he was caught sleeping at his desk for the third time.”
In context“The manager decided to can the entire marketing team after the disastrous launch of the new product line.”
Usagetransitive verb
Teacher's tipThis is a very direct and informal way to describe losing a job; avoid using it in professional HR documents.
- 07 C2 Proficiency
n.a slang word for jail or prison.
n.a slang term for a place of confinement or incarceration.
Simple“He spent two nights in the can before his lawyer got him out.”
In context“After the robbery went wrong, the getaway driver ended up spending five years in the can.”
Usageusually used with 'the'
For Mandarin speakers Mandarin lacks the final /n/ found in 'can', leading speakers to substitute it with the velar /ŋ/. This results in 'can' /kæn/ being pronounced as /kæŋ/.
会 (huì) means “indicates knowledge or a skill learned through study.” — While both mean 'can', '会 (huì)' is specifically for learned skills like languages or driving. Learners often use it when referring to physical possibility or permission where 'can' is required.
Mandarin verbs do not change for person or tense, leading learners to mistakenly add an '-s' to the modal verb (e.g., 'he cans') by overcorrecting for the third-person singular rule.
In Mandarin, the word for 'can' as a container is often paired with the verb 'open' via '开 (kāi)', which also means 'to turn on'. This can lead to learners saying 'open a can' when they mean 'open a tin' or confusing it with electronic actions.
For Japanese speakers Japanese phonology lacks the /æ/ phoneme; speakers typically substitute the open-mid front vowel /a/ from the Japanese five-vowel system, resulting in a pronunciation closer to /kan/.
カンニング (kanningu) means “cheating on an exam” — Derived from 'cunning', this Wasei-eigo term refers specifically to academic dishonesty and bears no relation to the modal verb or the container 'can'.
Japanese marks ability using the potential form of the verb (e.g., 飲める nomeru) or the construction '~ koto ga dekiru'; because Japanese does not use a separate modal auxiliary system like English, learners may omit 'can' and use base verb forms instead.
Japanese uses the verb 'open' (開ける akeru) for both containers and electrical appliances; while 'open a can' is correct, the lack of distinction in L1 often leads to 'open the TV' or 'open the light' by analogy.