0
Hanuman_2000 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Can
Hello,
1. She can swim.
Does it indicate "permission" or "ability"?
How do we judge that in a given sentence "can" suggests "permission", 'ability" or "possibility"?
Could any explain it?
Thanks.
1. She can swim.
Does it indicate "permission" or "ability"?
How do we judge that in a given sentence "can" suggests "permission", 'ability" or "possibility"?
Could any explain it?
Thanks.
Top answer
With no other context or information, "She can swim" would normally be understood to refer to ability (it seems more likely that someone would be mentioning ability to swim than permission to swim). In certain contexts it could refer to permission; for example, a parent giving their child permission to swim at some event. There is no way to be certain without the full context.
- With no other context or information, "She can swim" would normally be understood to refer to ability (it seems more likely that someone would be mentioning ability to swim than permission to swim).
- In certain contexts it could refer to permission; for example, a parent giving their child permission to swim at some event.
- There is no way to be certain without the full context.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
With no other context or information, "She can swim" would normally be understood to refer to ability (it seems more likely that someone would be mentioning ability to swim than permission to swim). In certain contexts it could refer to permission; for example, a parent giving their child permission to swim at some event. There is no way to be certain without the full context.
0
Related Questions