Can是什麼意思

"Can" is a modal verb in English that has several uses:

  1. Ability: It expresses the ability to do something. For example, "I can speak English."

  2. Permission: It can be used to ask for or give permission. For example, "Can I use your phone?" or "You can go now."

  3. Request: It can be used to make a request. For example, "Can you please help me?"

  4. Possibility: It can express possibility, often in the present or future. For example, "It can be rainy in London in the summer."

  5. Offer: It can be used to make an offer. For example, "Can I get you something to drink?"

  6. Conditional: In conditional sentences, "can" is used to describe hypothetical abilities or actions. For example, "If I can help you, please let me know."

  7. Used to: In questions about past ability, especially in informal speech, "can" is used instead of "could." For example, "Can you ride a bike?" (informal) vs. "Could you ride a bike?" (formal).

  8. To ask for information: In some cases, especially in casual speech, "can" is used to ask for information or to say that you want to know something. For example, "Can you tell me the time?"

When using "can" to express ability, it is important to note that it is used with the infinitive form of the verb without "to." For example, "I can speak," not "I can to speak."

In questions about ability, "can" is used with the pronoun "you" to address one person, and "can" is used with "you" to address more than one person. For example, "Can you speak English?" (one person) vs. "Can you speak English?" (more than one person).

In conditional sentences, "can" is used in the same way as other modal verbs, such as "could," "may," and "might." For example, "If I can come, I will."

In questions about past ability, especially in informal speech, "can" is used instead of "could." For example, "Can you ride a bike?" (informal) vs. "Could you ride a bike?" (formal).