Can-Cannot (Use and Rules) for SLC/ High School

Can - Cannot - Can't

English Grammar Notes for Class 10(SLC)

Can = modal verb.

In English Language Can is used to say that something is possible.

Can is the same for all First Second and Third Person/ Subjects

The verb that follows Can is in infinitive without to:

• I can speak Nepali. (= it is possible for me to speak Nepali = I have the ability to speak Nepali)
• He can drive well.

Negative

Adding "not" after can to form one word: cannot will result in forming negative sentences

We can also shrink Cannot to form can't. (can't = cannot)

• I cannot climb the mountain. We can't go to the cinema today.
• He cannot speak Japanese very well. He can't ride a horse.

Questions

To form a question we change the position of the subject and the auxiliary verb.

The main verb is still in the infinitive without to.

• Where can I buy a laptop?
• Can I go to the toilet, please?
• Can you speak Nepali?
• What can we do on Teachers Day?

• You can use short answers like below:

• Can I look at it? Yes, you can.
• Can you play flute? No, I can't.

Impersonal Can

In some conditions, You can and Can you…? are impersonal and refer to people in general.

• You can see many birds in this forest. (= people in general can see many birds in that forest)

It doesn't necessarily refer to you but people in general.

• You can't destroy public property .