can
to be able to, have the power or skill to: I can take a bus to the airport. She can paint very well.
Not to be confused with:
may – to have permission to: you may go in now; to express possibility: The storm may turn into a hurricane.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
can 1
(kăn; kən when unstressed)aux.v. past tense could (ko͝od)
1.
a. Used to indicate physical or mental ability: I can carry both suitcases. Can you remember the war?
b. Used to indicate possession of a specified power, right, or privilege: The president can veto congressional bills.
c. Used to indicate possession of a specified capability or skill: I can tune the harpsichord as well as play it.
2.
a. Used to indicate possibility or probability: I wonder if my long lost neighbor can still be alive. Such things can and do happen.
b. Used to indicate that which is permitted, as by conscience or feelings: One can hardly blame you for being upset.
c. Used to indicate probability or possibility under the specified circumstances: They can hardly have intended to do that.
3. Usage Problem Used to request or grant permission: Can I be excused?
[Middle English, first and third person sing. present tense of connen, to know how, from Old English cunnan; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Generations of grammarians and teachers have insisted that can should be used only to express the capacity to do something, and that may must be used to express permission. But children do not use can to ask permission out of a desire to be stubbornly perverse. They have learned it as an idiomatic expression from adults: After you clean your room, you can go outside and play. As part of the spoken language, this use of can is perfectly acceptable. This is especially true for negative questions, such as Can't I have the car tonight? probably because using mayn't instead of can't sounds unnatural. While the distinction between can and may still has its adherents in formal usage, the number appears to be falling. In our 2009 survey, 37 percent of the Usage Panel rejected can instead of may in the sentence Can I take another week to submit the application? But more than half of these said can was only "somewhat (rather than completely) unacceptable" in this use, and the overall percentage of disapproval fell from more than 50 percent in an earlier survey. · The heightened formality of may sometimes highlights the speaker's role in giving permission. You may leave the room when you are finished implies that permission is given by the speaker. You can leave the room when you are finished implies that permission is part of a rule or policy rather than a decision on the speaker's part. For this reason, may sees considerable use in official announcements: Students may pick up the application forms tomorrow. · Like may, can is also used to indicate what is possible: It may rain this afternoon. Bone spurs can be very painful. In this use, both can and may often have personal subjects: You may see him at the concert. Even an experienced driver can get lost in this town.
can 2
(kăn)n.
1. A usually cylindrical metal container.
2.
a. An airtight container, usually made of tin-coated iron, in which foods or beverages are preserved.
b. The contents of such a container: ate a can of beans.
3. Slang A jail or prison.
4. Slang A toilet or restroom.
5. Slang The buttocks.
6. Slang A naval destroyer.
v. canned, can·ning, cans
v.tr.
1. To seal in an airtight container for future use; preserve: canning peaches.
2. Slang To make a recording of: can the audience's applause for a TV comedy show.
3. Slang
a. To end the employment of; fire. See Synonyms at dismiss.
b. To put an end or stop to: canned the TV show after one season; told the students to can the chatter.
v.intr.
Idioms: To solicit cash donations for a charity or other organization such as a club or amateur sports team by holding out a can or other container in a public place.
can of corn Sports
Something that is easily accomplished, especially a routine catch of a fly ball in baseball.
can of worms
A complex or difficult problem.
in the can
Completed and ready for release, as a film or scene of a film.
[Middle English canne, a water container, from Old English.]
can′ner n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
can
(kæn; unstressed kən)vb (intr) , past could
1. used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task: I can run a mile in under four minutes.
2. used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to something: can I have a drink?.
3. used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do something: he can speak three languages fluently.
4. used as an auxiliary to indicate possibility, opportunity, or likelihood: my trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard.
[Old English cunnan; related to Old Norse kunna, Old High German kunnan, Latin cognōscere to know, Sanskrit jānāti he knows; see ken, uncouth]
Usage: See at may1
can
(kæn)n
1. a container, esp for liquids, usually of thin sheet metal: a petrol can; a beer can.
2. another name (esp US) for tin2
3. Also called: canful the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold
4. a slang word for prison
5. US and Canadian a slang word for toilet or buttocks. See toilet
6. (Military) navy US a slang word for destroyer
7. (Military) navy slang a depth charge
8. (Film) a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film
9. can of worms informal a complicated problem
10. carry the can See carry37
11. (Film) (of a film, piece of music, etc) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc
12. informal arranged or agreed: the contract is almost in the can.
vb, cans, canning or canned
13. to put (food, etc) into a can or cans; preserve in a can
14. (tr) slang US to dismiss from a job
15. (tr) informal US to stop (doing something annoying or making an annoying noise) (esp in the phrase can it!)
16. (tr) informal to reject or discard
[Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
can1
(kæn; unstressed kən)auxiliary verb.
1. to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily.
2. to know how to: I can play chess, but not very well.
3. to have the power or means to: a dictator who can impose his will on the people.
4. to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wishes in the script.
5. may; have permission to: Can I speak to you for a moment?
6. to have the possibility: A coin can land on either side.
v.t., v.i. 7. Obs. to know.
Idioms: can but, to be able to do nothing else except; can only: We can but try.
[before 900; Middle English, Old English, present indic. singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how]
usage: can and may are often interchangeable in the sense of possibility: A power failure can (or may) occur at any time. Despite the traditional insistence that only may conveys permission, both words are regularly used in this sense: Can (or May) I borrow your tape recorder? can occurs this way chiefly in spoken English; may occurs more frequently in formal speech and writing. In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not; the contraction mayn't is rare: You can't park in the driveway. can but and cannot but are somewhat formal expressions suggesting that there is no alternative to doing something. See also cannot, help.
can2
(kæn)n., v. canned, can•ning. n.
1. a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal.
2. a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc.
3. a bucket or other container for holding or carrying liquids.
4. a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.
5. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. toilet; bathroom.
6. Slang. jail.
7. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. buttocks.
8. Mil. Slang.
v.t. a. a depth charge.
b. a destroyer.
9. to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.
10. Slang. to dismiss; fire.
11. Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise!
12. to record, as on film or tape.
Idioms: in the can, (of a commercial film, scene, etc.) completed.
[before 1000; Middle English, Old English canne, c. Old High German channa, Old Norse kanna]
Can.
1. Canada.
2. Canadian.
can.
1. canceled.
2. canon.
3. canto.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
can
– could – be able toThese words are used to talk about ability, awareness, and possibility. They are also used to say that someone has permission to do something. These uses are dealt with separately in this entry. Can and could are called modals.
Both can and could are followed by an infinitive without to.
I envy people who can sing.
I could work for twelve hours a day.
1. negative forms
The negative form of can is cannot or can't. Cannot is never written 'can not'. The negative form of could is could not or couldn't. To form the negative of be able to, you either put not or another negative word in front of able, or you use the expression be unable to.
Many elderly people cannot afford telephones.
I can't swim very well.
It was so dark you could not see anything.
They couldn't sleep.
We were not able to give any answers.
We were unable to afford the entrance fee.
2. ability: the present
Can, could, and be able to are all used to talk about a person's ability to do something. You use can or be able to to talk about ability in the present. Be able to is more formal than can.
You can all read and write.
The animals are able to move around, and they can all lie down.
Lisa nodded, unable to speak.
Could is also used to talk about ability in the present, but it has a special meaning. If you say that someone could do something, you mean that they have the ability to do it, but they don't in fact do it.
We could do much more in this country to educate people.
3. ability: the past
You use could or a past form of be able to to talk about ability in the past.
He could run faster than anyone else.
A lot of them couldn't read or write.
I wasn't able to answer their questions.
If you say that someone was able to do something, you usually mean that they had the ability to do it and they did it. Could does not have this meaning.
After two weeks in bed, he was able to return to work.
The farmers were able to pay their employees' wages.
If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something but did not in fact do it, you say that they could have done it.
You could have given it all to me.
You could have been a little bit more careful.
If you want to say that someone did not do something because they did not have the ability to do it, you say that they could not have done it.
I couldn't have gone with you, because I was in London at the time.
If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past, although they don't now have this ability, you say that they used to be able to do it.
I used to be able to sleep anywhere.
You used to be able to see the house from here.
4. ability: the future
You use a future form of be able to to talk about ability in the future.
I shall be able to answer that question tomorrow.
5. ability: reporting structures
Could is often used in reporting structures. For example, if a woman says 'I can speak Arabic', you usually report this as 'She said she could speak Arabic'.
She said I could bring it back later.
6. ability: 'be able to' after other verbs
Be able to is sometimes used after modals such as might or should, and after verbs such as want, hope, or expect.
I might be able to help you.
You may be able to get extra money.
You should be able to see that from here.
She would not be able to go out alone.
Do you really expect to be able to do that?
Don't use can or could after any other verbs.
7. 'being able to'
You can use an -ing form of be able to.
He liked being able to discuss politics with Veronica.
There is no -ing form of can or could.
8. awareness
Can and could are used with verbs such as see, hear, and smell to say that someone is or was aware of something through one of their senses.
I can smell gas.
I can't see her.
I could see a few stars in the sky.
9. possibility: the present and the future
Could and can are used to talk about possibility in the present or future.
You use could to say that there is a possibility that something is or will be true.
Don't eat it. It could be a toadstool.
He was jailed in February, and could be released next year.
Might and may can be used in a similar way.
It might be a trap.
Kathy's career may be ruined.
See might - may
Be Careful!
Don't use 'could not' to say that there is a possibility that something is not true. Instead you use might not or may not.
It might not be possible.
It may not be easy.
If you want to say that it is impossible that something is true, you use cannot or could not.
You cannot possibly know what damage you caused.
It couldn't possibly be true.
You use can to say that something is sometimes possible.
Sudden changes can sometimes have a negative effect.
10. possibility: the past
You use could have to say that there is a possibility that something was true in the past.
He could have been in the house on his own.
Might have and may have can be used in a similar way.
She might have found the information online.
It may have been a dead bird.
You also use could have to say that there was a possibility of something being true in the past, although it was not in fact true.
It could have been worse.
He could have made a fortune as a lawyer.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'could not have' to say that there is a possibility that something was not true. Instead you use might not have or may not have.
She might not have known the password.
If you want to say that it is impossible that something was true, you use could not have.
The decision couldn't have been easy.
The man couldn't have seen us at all.
11. permission
Can and could are used to say that someone is allowed to do something.
You can take out money at any branch of your own bank.
He could come and use my computer.
Cannot and could not are used to say that someone is or was forbidden to do something.
You can't bring strangers in here.
Her dad said she couldn't go out during the week.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
can
Past participle: canned
Gerund: canning
| Imperative |
|---|
| can |
| can |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  can - airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.beer can - a can that holds beer cannikin - a small can coffee can - a can for storing ground coffee container - any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another) milk can - large can for transporting milk oilcan - a can with a long nozzle to apply oil to machinery soda can - a can for holding soft drinks |
| 2. | can - the quantity contained in a can containerful - the quantity that a container will hold | |
| 3. |  can - a buoy with a round bottom and conical topbuoy - bright-colored; a float attached by rope to the seabed to mark channels in a harbor or underwater hazards | |
| 4. |  can - the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on; "he deserves a good kick in the butt"; "are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?"arse, ass, behind, buttocks, derriere, fanny, hind end, hindquarters, keister, nates, posterior, prat, buns, rear end, tooshie, tush, seat, fundament, backside, bottom, rump, stern, tail end, tail, butt, rear, bum body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity | |
| 5. |  can - a plumbing fixture for defecation and urinationbathroom, bath - a room (as in a residence) containing a bathtub or shower and usually a washbasin and toilet flushless toilet - a toilet that relies on bacteria to break down waste matter (instead of using water) flush toilet, lavatory - a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it plumbing fixture - a fixture for the distribution and use of water in a building potty chair, potty seat - toilet consisting of a small seat used by young children john, lav, lavatory, privy, toilet, bathroom, can - a room or building equipped with one or more toilets toilet bowl - the bowl of a toilet that can be flushed with water toilet seat - the hinged seat on a toilet | |
| 6. |  can - a room or building equipped with one or more toiletshead - (nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship public convenience, public lavatory, public toilet, restroom, toilet facility, wash room, comfort station, convenience - a toilet that is available to the public room - an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling; "the rooms were very small but they had a nice view" commode, crapper, potty, pot, throne, toilet, stool, can - a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination washroom - a lavatory (particularly a lavatory in a public place) | |
| Verb | 1. | can - preserve in a can or tin; "tinned foods are not very tasty" cookery, cooking, preparation - the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat; "cooking can be a great art"; "people are needed who have experience in cookery"; "he left the preparation of meals to his wife" |
| 2. | can - terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position; "The boss fired his secretary today"; "The company terminated 25% of its workers" give notice, give the axe, give the sack, sack, send away, force out, displace, fire, dismiss, terminate retire - make (someone) retire; "The director was retired after the scandal" pension off - let go from employment with an attractive pension; "The director was pensioned off when he got senile" clean out - force out; "The new boss cleaned out the lazy workers" furlough, lay off - dismiss, usually for economic reasons; "She was laid off together with hundreds of other workers when the company downsized" squeeze out - force out; "Some employees were squeezed out by the recent budget cuts" remove - remove from a position or an office send away, send packing, dismiss, drop - stop associating with; "They dropped her after she had a child out of wedlock" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
can
nounverb
2. Slang. To end the employment or service of:
Idioms: give someone his or her walking papers, give someone the ax, give someone the gate, give someone the pink slip, let go, show someone the door.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
عُلْبَةعُلْبَهمَسْموح، مُمْكِنيَسْتَطِيعُيَسْتَطيعُ
plechovkamocismětumětkonev
dåsekunnemåtoiletfå lov
enladigiladskatolomaldunginecesejopispoto
osata
osatapurkittaapurkkipystyäsaada
moćismjetilimenka
tud
kaleng
dósgetakunnamega, getaniîursjóîa
･･･できるできるられるれる缶
...할 수 있다깡통
posse
drīkstētkannakonservētkonservu kārbaprast
putea
dať do plechovicemôcť
močipločevinkasmetiznati
burkkunnalägga insparkastänga igen
กระป๋องสามารถ
…-e bilmek…-ebilirconserve yapmakkutukutulamak
có thểđượcbình đựng
can
1 [kæn] MODAL AUX VB (cannot (can't (neg)) (could (condit, pt)))1. (= be able to) → poder
he can do it if he tries hard → puede hacerlo si se esfuerza
I can't or cannot go any further → no puedo seguir
I'll tell you all I can → te diré todo lo que pueda
he will do all he can to help you → hará lo posible por ayudarte
you can but ask → con preguntar no se pierde nada
they couldn't help it → ellos no tienen la culpa
"have another helping" - "I really couldn't" → -¿otra ración? -no puedo
he can do it if he tries hard → puede hacerlo si se esfuerza
I can't or cannot go any further → no puedo seguir
I'll tell you all I can → te diré todo lo que pueda
he will do all he can to help you → hará lo posible por ayudarte
you can but ask → con preguntar no se pierde nada
they couldn't help it → ellos no tienen la culpa
"have another helping" - "I really couldn't" → -¿otra ración? -no puedo
2. (= know how to) → saber
he can't swim → no sabe nadar
can you speak Italian? → ¿sabes (hablar) italiano?
he can't swim → no sabe nadar
can you speak Italian? → ¿sabes (hablar) italiano?
3. (= may) → poder
can I use your telephone? → ¿puedo usar su teléfono?
can I have your name? → ¿me dice su nombre?
could I have a word with you? → ¿podría hablar contigo un momento?
can't I come too? → ¿puedo ir también?
can I use your telephone? → ¿puedo usar su teléfono?
can I have your name? → ¿me dice su nombre?
could I have a word with you? → ¿podría hablar contigo un momento?
can't I come too? → ¿puedo ir también?
4. (with verbs of perception: not translated) I can hear it → lo oigo
I couldn't see it anywhere → no lo veía en ninguna parte
I can't understand why → no comprendo por qué
I couldn't see it anywhere → no lo veía en ninguna parte
I can't understand why → no comprendo por qué
5. (expressing disbelief, puzzlement) that cannot be! → ¡eso no puede ser!, ¡es imposible!
he can't have said that → no puede haber dicho eso
they can't have left already! → ¡no es posible que ya se han ido!
how could you lie to me! → ¿cómo pudiste mentirme?
how can you say that? → ¿cómo te atreves a decir eso?
you can't be serious! → ¿lo dices en serio?
it can't be true! → ¡no puede ser!
what can he want? → ¿qué querrá?
where on earth can she be? → ¿dónde demonios puede estar?
he can't have said that → no puede haber dicho eso
they can't have left already! → ¡no es posible que ya se han ido!
how could you lie to me! → ¿cómo pudiste mentirme?
how can you say that? → ¿cómo te atreves a decir eso?
you can't be serious! → ¿lo dices en serio?
it can't be true! → ¡no puede ser!
what can he want? → ¿qué querrá?
where on earth can she be? → ¿dónde demonios puede estar?
6. (expressing possibility, suggestion etc) he could be in the library → puede que esté en la biblioteca
you could try telephoning his office → ¿por qué no le llamas a su despacho?
they could have forgotten → puede (ser) que se hayan olvidado
you could have told me! → ¡podías habérmelo dicho!
it could have been a wolf → podía ser un lobo
I reckon you could have got a job last year → creo que podías obtener un trabajo el año pasado
you could try telephoning his office → ¿por qué no le llamas a su despacho?
they could have forgotten → puede (ser) que se hayan olvidado
you could have told me! → ¡podías habérmelo dicho!
it could have been a wolf → podía ser un lobo
I reckon you could have got a job last year → creo que podías obtener un trabajo el año pasado
7. (= want to)
I'm so happy I could cry → soy tan feliz que me dan ganas de llorar or que me voy a echar a llorar
I could have cried → me daban ganas de llorar
I could scream! → ¡es para volverse loco!
I'm so happy I could cry → soy tan feliz que me dan ganas de llorar or que me voy a echar a llorar
I could have cried → me daban ganas de llorar
I could scream! → ¡es para volverse loco!
8. (= be occasionally capable of) she can be very annoying → a veces te pone negro
it can get very cold here → aquí puede llegar a hacer mucho frío
it can get very cold here → aquí puede llegar a hacer mucho frío
9. (in comparisons) I'm doing it as well as I can → lo hago lo mejor que puedo
as cheap as can be → lo más barato posible
as big as big can be → lo más grande posible
she was as happy as could be → estaba de lo más feliz
as cheap as can be → lo más barato posible
as big as big can be → lo más grande posible
she was as happy as could be → estaba de lo más feliz
10. could do with: I could do with a drink → ¡qué bien me vendría una copa!
we could do with a bigger house → nos convendría una casa más grande ABLE, CAN
we could do with a bigger house → nos convendría una casa más grande ABLE, CAN
can
2 [kæn]A. N
1. (= container) (for foodstuffs) → bote m, lata f; (for oil, water etc) → bidón m
a can of beer → una lata de cerveza
a can of worms → un asunto peliagudo
to open a can of worms → abrir la caja de Pandora
(to be left) to carry the can (Brit) → pagar el pato
a can of beer → una lata de cerveza
a can of worms → un asunto peliagudo
to open a can of worms → abrir la caja de Pandora
(to be left) to carry the can (Brit) → pagar el pato
2. (esp US) (= garbage can) → cubo m or (LAm) bote m or tarro m de la basura
4. (US) (= prison) → chirona f
5. (US) (= toilet) → wáter m
6. (US) (= buttocks) → culo m
B. VT
2. (US) (= dismiss) [+ employee] → despedir
C. CPD can opener N → abrelatas m inv
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
can
1 [ˈkæn] n
(= tin) [vegetables, fruit, fish] → boîte f (de conserve); [beer, coke] → cannette f
a can of sweetcorn → une boîte de maïs
a can of beer → une cannette de bière
it's in the can → c'est dans la boîte
a can of sweetcorn → une boîte de maïs
a can of beer → une cannette de bière
it's in the can → c'est dans la boîte
to carry the can (British) (= take responsibility) → payer les pots cassés
He had to carry the can → Il a dû payer les pots cassés.
He had to carry the can → Il a dû payer les pots cassés.
vt [+ food] → mettre en conserve
can
2 [ˈkæn](STRONG) [kən] [cannot, can't] (negative) [could] (conditional and pt) modal aux vb (= be able to) → pouvoir
You can do it if you try → Vous pouvez le faire si vous essayez.
I can't come → Je ne peux pas venir.
I can't hear you
BUT Je ne t'entends pas.
I can't remember
BUT Je ne m'en souviens pas.
You can do it if you try → Vous pouvez le faire si vous essayez.
I can't come → Je ne peux pas venir.
I can't hear you
BUT Je ne t'entends pas.
I can't remember
BUT Je ne m'en souviens pas.
(= know how to) → savoir
I can swim → Je sais nager.
He can't drive → Il ne sait pas conduire.
I can play tennis → Je sais jouer au tennis.
Can you speak French?
BUT Parlez-vous français?.
I can swim → Je sais nager.
He can't drive → Il ne sait pas conduire.
I can play tennis → Je sais jouer au tennis.
Can you speak French?
BUT Parlez-vous français?.
(= may) → pouvoir
Can I use your phone? → Est-ce que je peux me servir de votre téléphone?
can I help you? → est-ce que je peux vous aider?
Can I use your phone? → Est-ce que je peux me servir de votre téléphone?
can I help you? → est-ce que je peux vous aider?
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
can
in cpds → Büchsen-, Dosen-can
1 pret <could>modal aux vb (defective parts supplied by to be able to)
(= be able to) → können; can you come tomorrow? → kannst du morgen kommen?; I can’t or cannot go to the theatre tomorrow → ich kann morgen nicht ins Theater (gehen); I’ll do it if I can → wenn ich kann(, tue ich es); he’ll help you all he can → er wird sein Möglichstes tun, er wird tun, was in seinen Kräften steht; as soon as it can be arranged → sobald es sich machen lässt; could you tell me … → können or könnten Sie mir sagen, …; can you speak German? → können or sprechen Sie Deutsch?; we can but hope that…, we can only hope that … → wir können nur hoffen, dass …; they could not (help) but condemn it → sie konnten nicht anders, als das zu verurteilen
(= may) → dürfen, können; can I come too? → kann ich mitkommen?; can or could I take some more? → darf ich mir noch etwas or noch einmal nehmen?; you can go now → Sie können jetzt gehen; can I help? → darf or kann ich Ihnen helfen?; could I possibly go with you? → könnte or dürfte ich vielleicht mitkommen?; I’d like to go, can I? — no, you can’t → ich würde gerne gehen, darf ich? — nein, du darfst nicht; can I use your car? — no, you can’t → kann or darf ich dein Auto nehmen? — nein
(expressing surprise etc) → können; how can/could you say such a thing! → wie können/konnten Sie nur or bloß so etwas sagen!; where can it be? → wo kann das bloß sein?; where can they have gone? → wo können sie denn nur hingegangen sein?; you can’t be serious → das kann doch wohl nicht dein Ernst sein
(expressing possibility) → können; it could be that he’s got lost → vielleicht hat er sich verlaufen, (es ist) möglich, dass er sich verlaufen hat; could he have got lost? → ob er sich wohl or vielleicht verlaufen hat?; he could be on the next train → er könnte im nächsten Zug sein; and it could have been such a good party! → und es hätte so eine gute Party sein können!; to think he could have become a doctor → wenn man bedenkt, dass er hätte Arzt werden können
(= be capable of occasionally) → können; she can be very nice when she wants to → wenn sie will, kann sie sehr nett sein
(indicating suggestion) → können; you could try telephoning him → Sie könnten ihn ja mal anrufen; you could have been a little more polite → Sie hätten etwas höflicher sein können; you could have told me → das hätten Sie mir auch sagen können
we could do with some new furniture → wir könnten neue Möbel gebrauchen; I could do with a drink now → ich könnte jetzt etwas zu trinken vertragen; this room could do with a coat of paint → das Zimmer könnte mal wieder gestrichen werden; he looks as though he could do with a wash/haircut → ich glaube, er müsste sich mal waschen/er müsste sich (dat) → mal wieder die Haare schneiden lassen
can
2n
(= container) → Kanister m; (= milk can) → Kanne f; (esp US: = garbage can) → (Müll)eimer m; in the can (Film) → im Kasten; the contract’s in the can (inf) → wir haben den Vertrag in der Tasche (inf); to carry the can (Brit fig inf) → die Sache ausbaden (inf)
(= tin) → Dose f; (of food also) → Büchse f; a can of beer → eine Dose Bier; a beer can → eine Bierdose; a can of paint → eine Dose Farbe; (with handle) → ein Eimer m → Farbe ? worm N a
(US inf: = prison) → Knast m (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
can
2 [kæn]1. n (container, for foodstuffs) → scatola; (for oil, water) → latta (esp Am) (garbage can) → bidone m
a can of beer → una lattina di birra
to carry the can (Brit) (fam) → prendere la colpa
a can of beer → una lattina di birra
to carry the can (Brit) (fam) → prendere la colpa
2. vt (food) → inscatolare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
can1
(kӕn) – negative can't (kaːnt) cannot (ˈkӕnət) – verb1. to be able to. You can do it if you try hard.
2. to know how to. Can you drive a car?
3. (usually may) to have permission to. You can go if you behave yourself.
4. used in questions to indicate surprise, disbelief etc. What can he be doing all this time?
can2
(kӕn) noun a metal container for liquids and many types of food. oil-can; beer-can; six cans of beer.
verb – past tense, past participle canned – to put (especially food) into cans, usually to preserve it. a factory for canning raspberries.
canned adjective put in cans. canned peas.
ˈcannery – plural ˈcanneries – noun a factory where goods are canned.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
can
→ عُلْبَة, يَسْتَطِيعُ moci, plechovka dåse, kan Dose, können κουτάκι, μπορώ lata, poder osata, tölkki cannette, pouvoir limenka, moći lattina, sapere ･･･できる, 缶 ...할 수 있다, 깡통 blik, kunnen boks, kan móc, puszka lata, poder консервная банка, мочь burk, kunna กระป๋อง, สามารถ kutu, yapabilmek bình đựng, có thể 罐, 能Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
can
n. lata, bote, envase;
v. aux could (de able to) poder.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009