Can vs Cannot
There is an obvious difference between can and cannot, which is that they carry the opposite meaning. But there is a strange confusion between “Can I” and “Can’t I” . Let us see what they mean as we go down. Before that, can and cannot are two words that are used as auxiliary verbs in English. They are indeed different when it comes to their meanings and connotations. The auxiliary verb can indicates ‘ability’. On the other hand, the verb cannot indicates ‘lack of ability’. This is the main difference between the two verbs. Cannot is the negative form of the verb can. As a result, it should be said that the auxiliary verb cannot is used exactly in the opposite sense of the meaning of the word can. This is an important difference between the two words. Now, can I is the interrogative form of can when used with I. Can’t I is the interrogative form of cannot when used with I. This article will present to you the difference between can and cannot with examples.
What does Can mean?
The auxiliary verb can indicates ability. Take a look at the two sentences given below.
Francis can speak French very fluently.
Angela can cook very well.
In both the sentences, you can see that the word can is used in the sense of ‘ability’. In fact, it indicates the meaning of ‘ability.’ Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘Francis has the ability to speak French very fluently’, and the second sentence would mean ‘Angela has the ability to cook very well’. It is interesting to note that the verb can has its past tense form in the word ‘could’.
What does Cannot mean?
On the other hand, the word cannot means lack of ability or inability. Observe the two sentences given below.
Lucy cannot speak German properly.
Francis cannot solve this mathematical problem.
In both the sentences, you can see that the word cannot is used in the sense of ‘inability’ or ‘unable.’ Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘Lucy is unable to speak German properly’, and the second sentence can be rewritten as ‘Francis is unable to solve this mathematical problem.’ It is interesting to know that the verb cannot has its past tense form in the word ‘could not’.
Since cannot is the negative form of can there is something important to remember. Cannot can be written as cannot or can not. However, that depends on the context. Cannot is what is used generally. Though both are accepted, you will see cannot or its shorted form can’t used more often than can not. According to the Oxford English dictionary, can not is better only in a construction in which not is part of a set phrase, such as ‘not only … but (also). For example,
She can not only dance, she also acts very well.
What is the difference between Can and Cannot?
• The auxiliary verb can indicates ‘ability’.
• On the other hand, the verb cannot indicates ‘lack of ability’.
• Cannot is the negative form of the verb can.
• It is interesting to note that the verb can has its past tense form in the word ‘could’.
• On the other hand, the verb cannot has its past tense form in the word ‘could not’.
• Cannot can be used as a single word or two words as can not.
These are the important differences between the two commonly used verbs in the English language, namely, can and cannot.