Tra từ can - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

▪ I. can 1 BrE [kən] NAmE [kən] BrE strong form [kæn] AmE strong form [kæn] modal verb
see also ↑can ²(negative can·notBrE [ˈkænɒt] ; NAmE [ˈkænɑːt] , short form can'tBrE [kɑːnt] ; NAmE [kænt] , pt couldBrE [kəd] ; NAmE [kəd] strong form BrE [kʊd] ; NAmE [kʊd] , negative could not, short form couldn'tBrE [ˈkʊdnt] ; NAmE [ˈkʊdnt] )
1. used to say that it is possible for sb/sth to do sth, or for sth to happen
• I can run fast.
• Can you call back tomorrow?
•He couldn't answer the question.
•The stadium can be emptied in four minutes.
•I can't promise anything, but I'll do what I can.
•Please let us know if you cannot attend the meeting.
2. used to say that sb knows how to do sth
• She can speak Spanish.
• Can he cook?
•I could drive a car before I left school.
3. used with the verbs ‘feel’, ‘hear’, ‘see’, ‘smell’, ‘taste’
• She could feel a lump in her breast.
• I can hear music.
4. used to show that sb is allowed to do sth
• You can take the car, if you want.
• We can't wear jeans at work.
5. (informal)used to ask permission to do sth
• Can I read your newspaper?
• Can I take you home?
6. (informal)used to ask sb to help you
• Can you help me with this box?
• Can you feed the cat, please?
7. used in the negative for saying that you are sure sth is not true
• That can't be Mary— she's in New York.
• He can't have slept through all that noise.
8. used to express doubt or surprise
• What can they be doing?
• Can he be serious?
•Where can she have put it?
9. used to say what sb/sth is often like
• He can be very tactless sometimes.
• It can be quite cold here in winter.
10. used to make suggestions
• We can eat in a restaurant, if you like.
• I can take the car if necessary.
11. (informal)used to say that sb must do sth, usually when you are angry
•You can shut up or get out!
Idioms: ↑can't be doing with somebody doing something ▪ ↑no can do

Word Origin:
[can] Old English cunnan ‘know’ Middle English ‘know how to’ Dutch kunnen German können Indo-European Latin gnoscere ‘know’ Greek gignōskein ‘know’

Grammar Point:
modal verbs
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.
Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form: ▪ He can speak three languages. ◇ ▪ She will try and visit tomorrow.
Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to and used to: ▪ You must find a job. ◇ ▪ You ought to stop smoking. ◇ ▪ I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.
Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past: ▪ Can I invite Mary? ◇ ▪ Should I have invited Mary?
Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.
You will find more help with how to use modal verbs at the dictionary entries for each verb.

Grammar Point:
can / could / be able to / manage
Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something: ▪ Can you play the piano? It is also used with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc: ▪ I can hear someone calling, and with passive infinitives: ▪ The DVD can be rented from your local store.
Can or be able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something: ▪ Can you/are you able to come on Saturday?
You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive: ▪ You’ll be able to get a taxi outside the station. ◇ ▪ I haven’t been able to get much work done today. ◇ ▪ She’d love to be able to play the piano.
Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past: ▪ Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old.
You use was/were able to or manage (but not could) when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past: ▪ I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library. ◇ I could find some useful books in the library. In negative sentences, could not can also be used: ▪ We weren’t able to/didn’t manage to/couldn’t get there in time. Could is also used with this meaning with verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc: ▪ I could see there was something wrong.
Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try: ▪ I could have won the game but decided to let her win.

Which Word?:
can / may
Can and cannot (or can’t) are the most common words used for asking for, giving or refusing permission: ▪ Can I borrow your calculator? ◇ ▪ You can come with us if you want to. ◇ ▪ You can’t park your car there.
May (negative may not) is used as a polite and fairly formal way to ask for or give permission: ▪ May I borrow your newspaper? ◇ ▪ You may come if you wish. It is often used in official signs and rules: ▪ Visitors may use the swimming pool between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. ◇ ▪ Students may not use the college car park. The form mayn’t is hardly ever used in modern English.

▪ II. can 2 [can cans canned canning] noun, verb BrE [kæn] NAmE [kæn]
see also ↑can ¹
noun

1. (BrE also tin)countable a metal container in which food and drink is sold
•a can of beans
•a beer/paint can In NAmE can is the usual word used for both food and drink. In BrE can is always used for drink, but tin or can can be used for food, paint, etc.
2. countable the amount contained in a can
• We drank a can of Coke each.
3. countable a metal or plastic container for holding or carrying liquids
•an oil can
•a watering can
4. countable a metal container in which liquids are kept under pressure and let out in a fine spray when you press a button on the lid
•a can of hairspray
5. the cansingular (NAmE, slang)prison
6. the cansingular (NAmE, slang)the toilet
more at carry the can at ↑carry

Word Origin:
Old English canne Dutch kan German Kanne Germanic late Latin canna

Thesaurus:
can noun C
•a can of beans/beer/paint
jar • • pot • |BrE tin •
a can/tin of beans/paint
a jar/pot of honey/jam/marmalade
Can or tin? In American English use can. In British English you can also use tin for food, paint, etc. but not for drinks:
•a can of Coke
✗ a tin of Coke

Example Bank:
•He filled a can with water from the pump.
•He was filling a jerry can with petrol from the pump.
•She drained her can of beer and threw it away.
•She sipped from a can of Coke.
•The floor was littered with empty food cans.
•This special type of milk comes in a can.
•We keep the hoses and watering cans in the shed at the end of the garden.
•We opened a can of sardines for lunch.
•a 200 g can of tuna
•cans of oil
•a can of beans/beer/paint
Idioms: ↑can of worms ▪ ↑in the can

verb (-nn-)
1. ~ sth (especially NAmE)to preserve food by putting it in a can
2. ~ sb (NAmE, informal)to dismiss sb from their job
Syn: ↑fire, Syn: ↑sack
Verb forms: