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Lcchang Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

can and can't

1b00Dear teachers,02b02br
02br
01b00When native speakers say "01font00can02font00" or "01font00can't02font00", they sometimes speak so fast that I can't make sure if they mean 01font00can02font00 or 01font00cannot02font00, especially in the movies. I know we can know better by understanding the context of the sentence they made. To improve it, I wonder if they have anything to do with the tone change or is there any better way to catch the correct meaning quicker? 02b02br
02br
01b00Do you, the native speakers, also have the same problem? Please advise.02b02br
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01b00LCChang02b0-
  

Top answer

0When there is a main verb, 01i 00can02i 00 is pronounced /kn/ and 01i 00can't i02i 00s pronounced /kaen/, and the latter is stressed more:02br 02br 01i 00I can swim02i 00 = / ai kn 'swim /02br 01i 00I can't swim02i 00 = / ai 'kaen 'swim /02br 02br 00When there is no main verb, 01i 00can02i 00 is pronounced /kaen/ and 01i 00can't 02i 00is pronounced /kaent/, and the stresses are about equal:02br 02br 01i 00Can you swim? 02i 00= / kn ju: 'swim / 02br 01i 00I can02i 00. = / ai 'kaen /02br 01i 00I can't02i 00.

— Mister Micawber

  • 0When there is a main verb, 01i 00can02i 00 is pronounced /kn/ and 01i 00can't i02i 00s pronounced /kaen/, and the latter is stressed more:02br 02br 01i 00I can swim02i 00 = / ai kn 'swim /02br 01i 00I can't swim02i 00 = / ai 'kaen 'swim /02br 02br 00When there is no main verb, 01i 00can02i 00 is pronounced /kaen/ and 01i 00can't 02i 00is pronounced /kaent/, and the stresses are about equal:02br 02br 01i 00Can you swim?
  • 02i 00= / kn ju: 'swim / 02br 01i 00I can02i 00.
  • = / ai 'kaen /02br 01i 00I can't02i 00.
  • = / ai 'kaent /0-
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9 Answers
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0When there is a main verb, 01i00can02i00 is pronounced /kn/ and 01i00can't i02i00s pronounced /kaen/, and the latter is stressed more:02br
02br
01i00I can swim02i00 = / ai kn 'swim /02br
01i00I can't swim02i00 = / ai 'kaen 'swim /02br
02br
00When there is no ma
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0 I think the pronounciation in British English for "can't" is [kant], [kaent] is Am. English. 0-
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LcchangDear teachers,

When native speakers say "can" or "can't", they sometimes speak so fast that I can't make sure if they mean can or cannot, especially in the movies. I know we can know better by understanding the context of the senten
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Hi Goodman,

Did you forget to sign in? In the past couple of days, your messages are shown as 'Anonymous' messages? Emotion: smile
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Hi,

Yuh! I had automatic logon before. I keep forgetting to sign on. The configuration somehow changed.

By the way, how did you know it's me?
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AnonymousHi,

Yuh! I had automatic logon before. I keep forgetting to sign on. The configuration somehow changed.

By the way, how did you know it's me?
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Compared to other words, it's not uncommon for native speakers to have difficulty distinguishing between the two if someone is speaking softly or facing away from the person listening.
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I love you all for your precious advice.

LCChang
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Rishonly
Anonymous
Hi,

Yuh! I had automatic logon before. I keep forgetting to sign on. The configuration somehow changed.

By the way, how did you know it's me?
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