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Pructus Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Cannot VS can not

Hello,

Is it true that "I can not do that" means "I am allowed to not do that" or "It's possible that I will not do that" and "I cannot do that" means "I don't have the ability to do that"?

Or, the two means the same thing, simply meaning "I don't have the ability to do that"?
  

Top answer

pructus Is it true that "I can not do that" means "I am allowed to not do that" or "It's possible that I will not do that" Possible but intentionally awkward and murky. pructus Is it true that "I cannot do that" means "I don't have the ability to do that"? Yes.

— Mister Micawber

  • pructus Is it true that "I can not do that" means "I am allowed to not do that" or "It's possible that I will not do that" Possible but intentionally awkward and murky.
  • pructus Is it true that "I cannot do that" means "I don't have the ability to do that"?
  • Yes.
  • pructus Or, the two means the same thing, simply meaning "I don't have the ability to do that"?
  • That also, since 'cannot' is still occasionally written as two words.
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2 Answers
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pructusIs it true that "I can not do that" means "I am allowed to not do that" or "It's possible that I will not do that"
Possible but intentionally awkward and murky.
pructusIs it true that "I cannot do that" means "I don't have the ability to do that"?
Yes.
pructusOr, the two means the same thing,
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I see.... I see...

Thanks for the concise and to-the-point explanations, Mister Micawber!!
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