| 释义 |
can¹ /强 kæn， 弱 kən/ v. aux. | phr.
v. aux.
(现在式否定连写形式 can·not /ˈkænɒt/ 或 can't /kɑːnt； kænt/， 〈古〉现在式第二人称单数 canst /强 kænst， 弱 kənst/； 过去式 could /强 kʊd， 弱 kəd/， 过去式否定连写形式 could·n't /ˈkʊdnt/， 〈古〉过去式第二人称单数 couldst /kʊdst/ 或 could·est /ˈkʊdɪst/)
1. [表示能力、技能、功能等]能，能够，会
Can a child lift such a weight? 一个孩子能举起这么重的东西吗?
He can tell right from wrong. 他能明辨是非。
There are plants that can catch insects. 有些植物能捕捉昆虫。
Tie the dog up so that it can't escape. 把狗拴住，别让它逃跑。
He can drive a tractor. 他会开拖拉机。
She could speak French fluently when she was a teenager. 她十几岁时曾能说一口流利的法语。
This is not something money can buy. 这可不是金钱所能买到的。
a car that can seat five persons 能坐5人的轿车
[表示过去拥有的某种能力时，若无状语限定条件、时间等，一般不用 could, 而用 used to be able to 代替；表示过去一次得以作成某事时，除在从句中外，一般不用 could 而用 be able to, manage to, succeed in 等词组。此外，因 can 不能表示将来时、完成体等语法概念，必要时亦须由 be able to 等词组代替]
2. [表示拥有某种职能、权力、论据等]有权；得以，可以
Only the House can originate financial measures. 只有众议院才有权制定财政措施。
The police can confiscate the bikes. 警察有权没收自行车。
From the above-mentioned facts we can conclude that... 从上述事实，我们可以得出结论…
3. [表示从内心感情上可以接受]可以，能够
You can hardly blame him for doing that. 因为做了那件事而责备他是不大说得过去的。
I can't take your coat without paying you for it. 我可不能不给钱就拿你的上衣。
I can forgive anything but that. 我什么都能原谅，就是不能原谅那种事。
4. 〈口〉[表示允准、请求、要求、建议等]可以
You can go now. 现在你可以走了。
Can (或 Could) I speak to you a moment? 我可以跟你说几句话吗?
Can I open the door for you? 让我替你开门好吗?
The children were told they could not fly a kite near a telegraph pole. 孩子们被告诫不得在电线杆附近放风筝。
[在上述诸例中can和could的用法在意义上与may和might相当，在正式的书写文字中，比较多用may和might，而在日常口语，尤其是口语的疑问句及否定句中多用can和could]
Joe and Bob can stand there and Tom can sit behind them. (导演指挥演员时用语)乔和鲍勃请站到那边去，汤姆请在他们后面坐下。
You could be answering these letters for me while I'm away. (对秘书人员等交待任务时用语)我外出时，请替我把这几封信回复了。
You can read these two chapters before tomorrow (if you like). (如果愿意)你可以在明天以前把这两章看一遍。
5. [用 you can 表示命令]：(你)得，必须
If you don't be quiet you can leave the room. 你如果不安静点儿，就离开这房间。
“And you can take that expression off your face!” he snapped. “你别这么装模作样吧!”他厉声说。
6. [只用 could, 用于婉转的劝告或责备]该，当，可以；不妨
You could try to be a little more careful. 你该更小心一点才好。
You could have told me everything. 你本来满可以把事情原原本本告诉我。
7. [只用 could, 表示愿望]想要，真想，简直可以
I could smack your face. 我真想给你个耳刮子。
I'm so hungry. I could eat a horse. 我真饿坏了，简直可以吞下一匹马。
8. [can 和 could 可换用，表示可能性]可能，会
The problem can and must be solved. 这个问题能够而且必须解决。
Can the news be true? 这消息会是真的吗?
You can't be hungry yet; you had a big cake only half an hour ago. 你现在还不可能饿，半个小时以前你才吃过一只大蛋糕呀。
One cannot have done it single-handed. 谁也不可能单枪匹马做成这件事的。
Nothing could be more wrong. 错误之大，莫过于此。
A: Do you think it's Arabic? B: Yes, (it) could be. 甲： 你看这是不是阿拉伯文? 乙： 可能是。
9. [表示偶然发生的可能性，常与表示频率、时间等的状语连用]时而有可能，有时会
The bay here can be very rough at times. 这儿的海湾有时风浪很大。
It can be pretty cold here, even in spring. 即使在春季，这一带有时仍然会很冷。
When aroused, he could be terrible. 谁惹了他，他有时也会大发雷霆。
Even expert drivers can make mistakes. 即使是熟练的驾驶员有时也会出岔子。
10. [can 和 could 可换用，置句首疑问词后并重读，表示惊讶、迷惑、不耐烦等]到底可能，居然会，竟至于，竟能
What can he mean? 他到底是什么意思?
Where can it be? 这东西究竟放到哪儿去了?
How could you be so careless? 你怎么竟这样粗心?
11. [与生理或心理上的感觉动词连用，代替该动词的一般现在或过去式]
I can smell (=I smell) something burning. 我闻到有东西烧煳的气味。
It was so dark that I could see (=I saw) nothing. 周围一片漆黑，我啥也看不见。
◇注解1. can和could 后面的主动词有时省略，如：I'll do what I can. /We ought to get away as soon as we can. /How could you! 2. 表示允准、提出要求、估计可能以及用于疑问词后表示惊讶等感情色彩时，用 could 比用 can 语气更婉转，美国英语中尤多用 [< OE cunnan to know, know how, be able] phr. as... as (...) can be …得不能再…，再…不过，非常…的 as good as (good) can be 好得不能再好 This is as plain as plain can be. 这是再明显不过的。as best one can 见 best
can but 只能，只好；充其量不过
I can but wait. 我只能等着。
I can but lose a few days' rest. 我充其量不过少休息几天。
can do 〈口〉可以，可行
A: One hundred kilometres an hour. B: Can do (=I can do it). 甲： 每小时100公里。乙： 行。
I've tried everything to make him talk and no can do (=I can't do it). 我想尽了办法使他开口，但是不成功。
cannot but [后接原形动词]
1. 不得不
He cannot but agree. 他不得不同意。
2. 不能不，不禁要
I cannot but admire him. 我不能不钦佩他。
We could not but weep at the sad news. 听到这悲痛的消息，我们不禁怆然泪下。
When your country calls you for help, you cannot but go. 当祖国要求你出力时，你必然会去的。
cannot... enough (或 sufficient(ly)) …无论怎样…也不会过分，越…越好
You cannot be careful enough. (或 You cannot take enough care.) 你不论怎样小心都不会过分。
cannot (或 can never)... too...= cannot... enough (或 sufficient(ly)) ...
can only〈口〉= can but |