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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Use of can

I would like to ask you more about the word 'can'.
I know that it mostly implies ability. But what does it imply in these sentences? Ability or possibility?

Can this word be used in this sentence?
Can this supplement be beneficial for health?

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

Can this word be used in this sentence? Seems to me possibility . Can this supplement be beneficial for health?

— Clive

  • Can this word be used in this sentence?
  • Seems to me possibility .
  • Can this supplement be beneficial for health?
  • Seems to me like both,
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6 Answers
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Can this word be used in this sentence? Seems to me possibility.
Can this supplement be beneficial for health? Seems to me like both,
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CliveCan this word be used in this sentence? Seems to me possibility.Can this supplement be beneficial for health? Seems to me like both,
Thanks a lot for your help, Clive.

So it OK to use ‘can’ in such sentences? In other words, is ‘can’ the appropriate word in these sentences (is this a function of ‘can’) or are there other words that should be used
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The dividing lines between ability, possibility, appropriateness and permission are very blurred.
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CliveYes, to all that.
Great! Thank you very much for your help and confirmation.
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Thanks for your input, teacher.
fivejedjonThe dividing lines between ability, possibility, appropriateness and permission are very blurred.
I also agree and thought about that. Does that mean that I should not think about these when using ‘can’ in the examples above, and these distinctions are not so relevant in such cases?
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