ENGLISH
REFERENCE

can't

v.
A1 Beginner US //ˈkænt// UK //kˈɑːnt// cant Archaic Dialect Vulgar

v. to not be able to do something. You use this when you lack the skill, permission, or possibility to perform an action.

v. the contracted form of 'cannot', expressing inability, lack of permission, or impossibility. Functions as a modal auxiliary verb.


SIMPLE

I can't swim very well yet.

CONTEXTUAL

The office is closed today, so we can't finish the paperwork until Monday morning.

COMPLEX

While the technology exists to automate these tasks, we simply can't implement it without a significant increase in our annual infrastructure budget.

Synonyms
Origin

From can + -n't, since 1706 or earlier.

Usage

A modal auxiliary verb followed by the bare infinitive of the main verb. In formal writing, the uncontracted 'cannot' is preferred.

Pitfall

I can't to goI can't goModal verbs like 'can't' are followed by the base form of the verb without 'to'.

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