Definitions
01ability
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.
“She can speak three languages fluently because she grew up in a bilingual home.”
“While many candidates can perform the basic tasks, we need someone who can manage complex data sets without supervision.”
Usage
a modal auxiliary verb followed by the bare infinitive without 'to'
Pitfall
I 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.
Synonyms
02permission
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.
Español:poder
“Can I open the window? It is getting a bit warm in here.”
“You can leave your luggage at the reception desk if your room is not ready yet.”
Teaching tip
In formal writing, 'may' is often preferred for permission, but 'can' is the standard choice in modern spoken English.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03possibility
A2 · Elementary
modal v. used to say that something is possible.
modal v. expresses theoretical or logical possibility.
“It can get very cold in the mountains, even during the summer.”
“The local weather can be quite unpredictable, so it is wise to carry an umbrella regardless of the forecast.”
Antonyms
04metal container
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
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.
“He opened a can of soup for lunch because he was in a hurry.”
“The recycling centre accepts aluminium drink cans but requires all glass bottles to be sorted separately.”
Teaching tip
In British English, 'tin' is more common for food (a tin of beans), while 'can' is used for drinks (a can of soda).
05to preserve food
B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking
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.
Español:enlatar
“Every autumn, they can tomatoes from their garden to use during the winter.”
“The family spent the weekend canning peaches and making jam to stock their pantry for the coming year.”
Usage
transitive verb
06to fire someone
C1 · Advanced Informal · American English
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.
“He got canned after he was caught sleeping at his desk for the third time.”
“The manager decided to can the entire marketing team after the disastrous launch of the new product line.”
Usage
transitive verb
Teaching tip
This is a very direct and informal way to describe losing a job; avoid using it in professional HR documents.
07prison
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Slang
n. a slang word for jail or prison.
n. a slang term for a place of confinement or incarceration.
“He spent two nights in the can before his lawyer got him out.”
“After the robbery went wrong, the getaway driver ended up spending five years in the can.”
Usage
usually used with 'the'
Word family
NOUN
MODAL VERB
Related words
Grammar
For Mandarin speakers
Pronunciation 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/.
False friend 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.
Grammar 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.
Collocations 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
Pronunciation 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/.
False friend 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'.
Grammar 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.
Collocations 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.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/can
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0