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modal verb · A1 · very often · UK/US

can

can

Meaning of can

able to do something

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How important is this word
A1very often

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Pronunciation
British English/kæn/
American English/kæn/
Russian transcription[moɕː]
can
can - мочь
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How many words you can add to active review
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Intensive15 words≈ 5,500 wordsstrong motivation

can with Russian translation

can usage examples

🇷🇺Russian🇬🇧English

Ты можешь помочь мне с этой коробкой?

Can you help me with this box?

🇷🇺Russian🇬🇧English

Я могу хорошо плавать.

I can swim well.

Learn by topic

can belongs to the topic "Top 300". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.

canмочь
willбыть
couldмочь
wouldбы
shouldдолжен
mustдолжен
mayмочь

can synonyms

Related word breakdowns

What's the difference between can / have the ability to / may / could / manage to / be capable of

🇬🇧English
can

the basic modal verb for ability or possibility

A1Very Often

I can swim.

Я умею плавать.

H
🇬🇧English
have the ability to

a longer, neutral way to say someone can do something

A1Often

Students should have the ability to read quickly.

У студентов должна быть способность быстро читать.

🇬🇧English

often means permission or a formal, uncertain possibility rather than ability

A1Very Often

You may leave now.

Вы можете идти сейчас.

🇬🇧English

used for past ability, polite requests, or weaker possibility

A1Very Often

When I was young, I could run fast.

Когда я был молод, я мог быстро бегать.

🇬🇧English

to succeed in doing something difficult

A1Often

I managed to finish the work on time.

Я сумел закончить работу вовремя.

B
🇬🇧English
be capable of

used to say someone has the capacity or ability to do something, often more formal

A1Rarely

He is capable of great concentration.

Он способен на большую концентрацию.

What's the difference

Related words and lists for can

How to pronounce can and what this word means

can translation: мочь. This page includes translation, pronunciation, transcription, audio, usage examples and related words.

how to pronounce can

/kæn/

can translation

мочь

can examples

Can you help me with this box?

can transcription

/kæn/, /kæn/

How this dictionary entry is reviewed

ZapomniEnglish prepares dictionary data automatically, then the editorial workflow checks high-frequency words, top lists, and pages that already receive search impressions first.

Translation and meaningPronunciation and transcriptionExamples, synonyms, and topics

Questions about this word

can meaning: what does it mean?

able to do something

can pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?

can is pronounced as /kæn/. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.

can definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?

Can you help me with this box? Translation: Ты можешь помочь мне с этой коробкой?

Audio practiceExamplesSmart repeats

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