We use can to talk about things which we think are usually, but not always, true: Reducing cholesterol through diet can be difficult. (It’s not always difficult for everyone, but in general it is difficult.) CAN definition: to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to. See examples of can used in a sentence. We sometimes use be able to instead of can or could for ability. Be able to is possible in all tenses - but can is possible only in the present and could is possible only in the past for ability. Do you use “can” and “could” correctly in English? Join me and learn how to use these two important modal verbs, in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Can is the most used modal verb in English, yet most English learners don't still know all its usages and when not to use it. This detailed post explains everything about the modal can. I visit her whenever I can. I don't know if I'll be able to fix the problem, but I'll do what I can. Please help us if you can. Define can. can synonyms, can pronunciation, can translation, English dictionary definition of can. to be able to, have the power or skill to: I can take a bus to the airport. Can is usually used in standard spoken English when asking for permission. It is acceptable in most forms of written English, although in very formal writing, such as official instructions, may is often used instead: Persons under 14 unaccompanied by an adult may not enter. This article explains the core meanings of can: ability, permission, and possibility. It shows how to use it for skills, daily permission requests, and informal general possibility, plus question and negative forms, common phrases, typical learner mistakes, and practice tasks. Can and may are most frequently interchangeable in uses indicating possibility; because the possibility of one's doing something may depend on another's compliance, they have also become interchangeable in the sense that means to have permission. .